Wildlife-Friendly Habitats & Gardens Tour

Clarke County Wildlife-Friendly Habitats & Gardens Tour
Blandy Experimental Farm at the State Arboretum

An eastern male bluebird showing off his colors. Photo by Don Casavecchia.

Join the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, Blandy Experimental Farm at the State Arboretum and Piedmont Environmental Council staff for the first-ever, Clarke County Wildlife-Friendly Habitats & Gardens Tour on Sunday, May 15th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.


We'll start from Blandy Experimental Farm at the State Arboretum of Virginia in Boyce, VA, where later in the day we will visit state-managed pollinator gardens, wetlands, and native grasslands. The tour begins with a short bus trip to two beautiful private properties in Clarke -demonstrating wildlife-friendly practices and land stewardship through participation in conservation easements, federal cost-share programs such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), organic vegetable and flower gardening, composting, and small-scale poultry rearing.

Learn from real property owners how they manage active farms and manicured gardens while keeping important protections for the watershed, soils and wildlife. Hear about their gardening practices, including successes and failures in getting plants to grow amidst hungry deer, horse pastures, invasive pests, and drought conditions. Find out how you too can turn your farm, field, or backyard into a haven for wildlife!

For a special treat at lunchtime, we'll enjoy a presentation of live native animals by the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center (a portion of the tour cost includes a small donation to BRWC), a great resource to the community for all of the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation they provide.
Admission to this event is $30 and includes the tour, bus trip, and a gourmet boxed lunch from Locke's Store--a $13.00 value for just $5.00. Upon registration, you will be asked to select the Chicken Powerhouse Sandwich or Roasted Veggie Ciabatta Sandwich. (Please note that the boxed lunches can only be purchased in advance, and will not be available on the day of the event)

Or, if you'd prefer to bring your own lunch, admission is $25, and includes the tour and bus trip. Please use the registration button below to sign-up for this event.

Thanks to event Sponsors:
Blandy Experimental Farm at the State Arboretum & Blue Ridge Wildlife Center

Please email Dr. Kim Winter, PEC or call 540-347-2334 with any questions that you may have. We're looking forward to seeing you there!

Date: Sunday, May 15, 2011
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Address:
400 Blandy Farm Lane
Boyce, VA 22620
United States

Follow this to purchase tickets online:
Please register early, as this event is limited to 40 participants.