Spring Nature Festival Saturday April 16th 9am-3pm

(reprint from the April Broadlands newsletter)

In celebration of Spring, Arbor Day, and Earth Day, Broadlands will hold a Spring Nature Festival from 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday April 16th. The festival will be held at the corner of Glebe View Drive and Broadlands. Look for the big tents!

Take part in a tree rescue on the Broadlands Regional Medical Center property (BRMC). Listen and learn from representatives of the Loudoun County Master Gardeners who will be present to identify trees and give advice on planting. A representative from the Virginia State Department of Forestry will display native plants and explain their benefit to our habitat. Take a tree walk and learn to identify our most prevalent species.

Stop by the petting zoo and get a close-up of many different kinds of live animals.

Experts from the Virginia Bluebird Society and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will have information about Bluebirds, how we can help them and how they benefit us. Loudoun is in need of more volunteers to monitor the bluebird trails. Learn what it takes to do this very special (and very easy) task. Bluebird nesting boxes will be available for purchase.

Chidren can make their own terrariums to take home, complete with live plants.

Kids under 12 can take a jump on the moon - Moonbounce that is! From 9am to 1pm.

Webelos Scouts - Two badge workshops will be presented: Forester from 10am to 11am and Outdoorsman from 2pm to 3pm. You must sign up for the workshop by calling the Nature Center 703-729-9704 before Friday April 15th. The cost for each workshop is $3 per scout which includes materials and the pin.

Brownies - Come earn the Watching Wildlife Try-It from 11am to noon. The cost for the workshop is $3 per scout which includes materials and the patch. You must sign up for the workshop by calling the Nature Center 703-729-9704 before Friday April 15th.

Junior Girl Scouts - Earn the Wildlife Badge from 1pm to 3pm. The cost of the badge workshop is $3 per scout which includes materials and the patch. You must sign up for the workshop by calling the Nature Center 703-729-9704 before Friday April 15th.

The Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department (in uniform of course) will show off their Fire Engines and Rescue trucks. Learn what it takes to be a volunteer fireman in Loudoun County, sign-ups accepted.

Refreshments for sale by BRMC with all proceeds going to the Nature Center.

Stop by and visit and enjoy the fun!

 

will they help us identify the poison ivy, too?

 

Who is coming from the Redskins ???

 

Yes, poison ivy will be identified, per the Nature Center.

And very sorry, I just heard that the Redskins will be a no-show on that date. (It would have been awesome if they could have shown a little support, but we will survive.)

 

A reminder of the Spring Festival in Broadlands tomorrow. It is from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the intersection of Glebe View and Broadlands Boulevard. If you are coming from Ashburn Farm on Claiborne Pkwy., turn right at Broadlands Boulevard and go to the end of the street. If you are coming from Waxpool and Claiborne Pkwky., turn left at Broadlands Boulevard.

There will also be a tree and plant rescue on the Boulder Glen trail. The areas are marked in pink where you can dig up the plants and trees. Exercise equipment will be installed by the builder in those areas, so some of the trees/plants must go. The trail is located off of Chickacoan Trail, just outside of Bluestone Court or you can get to it from Vestals Gap/Gentle Heights Court.

This is a great opportunity to have free trees and native Virginia plants. Also, if you can, help is needed in transplanting some of the plants to other sections of Boulder Glen. Please bring a shovel and containers or bags in which to put the trees and plants. A wagon would be a good idea so you don't have to carry them.

Note: Some of the native plants have not yet bloomed, such as Jack in the Pulpits and Solomon's Seal, so ask for help from the Master Gardeners or Dept of Forestry in identifying each species on April 16th. There are also May Apples, ferns, plants with white flowers, very pretty spice bushes with yellow flowers, Red Bud trees, Paw Paw trees and many other plants and trees that are gorgeous. Those can all be rescued before construction takes place on Boulder Glen Trail. Please remember to stay within the circumference of the pink ribbon when choosing plants and trees to dig up and rescue.

For more information, please call Linda Schlosser, the Nature Center director, at 703-729-9704, ext 104.

 

For how long can we got into the woods and dig up trees to take home? Was this just yesterday or can we do this whenever time allows? Thanks.

 

We had special permission and insurance coverage (on the day of the event only)from the land owners. If you are still interested in rescueing trees you do have another chance.

Boulder Glen trail (runs behind Awbrey Place and Tithables and Gatehouse)has some sections that are going to have execise equipment installed along the pathway. The sections are roped off in pink. Feel free to transplant trees and bushes from WITHIN the pink markers only. This is NOT free license to take plants or trees from anywhere along common property. ONLY the sections on Boulder Glen marked by pink ribbons!