NATURE, HISTORY AND HORTICULTURE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY VOLUME 4, NO. 4 FALL 2004

p Fairfax County Park Authority • Fairfax, VA 22035 • 703-324-8695 • FAX 703-324-3996 • TTY 703-324-3988 • www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Coyotes play a big role in American culture, whether they arewreaking havoc in Native American folk tales or baying atthe moon in the movies. In mythology, coyotes are ever the

clever mischief-maker, a reputation earned from their real-life stealth,swiftness and adaptability.

There has been some press lately about coyotes in the county.But what’s the real story? Is it just a lot of hype? ResOURces spokewith Fairfax County Police Department wildlife biologist Earl Hodnettto straighten out some of myths about surrounding our very owncounty coyotes. Still rare and with a small population, coyotes aren’tmore or less a concern than any other wildlife we have in the county,be it bears, raccoons, deer or snakes.

What’s the big picture?The big picture is thatcoyotes are now inevery region of the nation, exceptmaybe Hawaii.They’re hardlyunique tothis area.Everybody’sgot them.

Are there benefits to having coyotes?The good news for Fairfax County is that coyotes will help normalizetwo animal populations that have become overgrown due to thelack of a natural predator, and have presented a nuisance problemfor citizens. These are rats and Canada geese.

Coyotes will help clean up the high rat population and otherrodents as well, which is a welcome activity. In the case of Canadageese, coyotes like eating goose eggs (and occasionally a goosedinner), which should help to mitigate the big soiling problem thecounty has when geese overrun sports fields, parks, school groundsand lawns.

Coyotes in Fairfax County—Fact or Fiction

Eastern coyotes (Canis latrans) are brownish-graywith an average weight of 35 pounds.

Are we likely to see a coyote?Probably not. Coyotes are smart, secretive and nocturnal. They alsotend to avoid humans.

What do they look like?The Eastern coyote is different from the Western coyote. They’rebigger for one thing, having cross-bred over recent decades withwolves. They’re brownish-gray with an average weight of about 35pounds. Although you might hear one, they are not as vocal astheir Western cousins.

What do you do if you actually spot one?Nothing. The county knows they’re here so you shouldn’t do anythingmore than you would if you saw a skunk or raccoon. Often, peoplecall saying they’ve seen a coyote when in fact, they’ve seen a grayfox or a mangy red fox. It’s rare to see one.

Should we be concerned?Not really. They’re part of our wildlife now. Coyotes, just like in theold Western movies, are primarily a concern to farmers. For FairfaxCounty citizens, the big concern is letting out pets at night — cats orsmall dogs, which could be killed if they wander into coyote territory.

It’s important not to leave food sources out at night, like dogfood or food on compost piles, and be sure to secure garbage can lids.

Can coyotes bescared off?Yes. Just yell at them. Coyotesgenerally aren’t confrontationaland would rather avoid humansand run away than get into afight, although they might getinto a tug-of-war if you tried tograb away their catch.

However, if a coyote isbehaving abnormally or aggres-sively, like a rabid dog, thencall the county police non-emergency number —703-691-213 — and they will dispatch ananimal control officer.

What’s inside. . .

Events and News .............. 2

Falll at Colvin Run Mill ..... 3

Backyard Birding ............. 4

Virginia’s Heritage............ 5

Hidden Oaks Top Ten ....... 6

Champion Trees ............. 8

Sully Slave Quarter ........ 10

Fall Almanac ..................11

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F A L L N E W S A N D E V E N T S

Editor/Writer: Natasha Peterson

Photos: Don Sweeney

Administration: Linda Crone

Production: Innovative Projects, Inc.

Published quarterly by the Fairfax County ParkAuthority, 12055 Government Center Parkway,Fairfax, VA 22035-1118. Available at park siteslisted on the back cover and Fairfax Countylibraries.

Visit ResOURces online atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

c ResOURces is printed on 100% recycled paper.

p Equal Access/Special Accommodations

The Fairfax County Park Authorityis committed to equal access in allprograms and services. Specialaccommodations will be providedupon request. Please call the ADA/Access coordinator at 703-324-8563,at least 10 working days in advanceof the date services are needed.

ADA/Access Coordinator703-324-8563

TTY 703-803-3354www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/

ada.htm

What’s RMD?RMD stands for Resource Management Division.It is the part of the Park Authority responsible for

natural, historical and horticultural resources.

LECTUREWatershed Ecology: Studying the Effectsof Land and Water on Each OtherHUNTLEY MEADOWS VISITOR CENTER,Wednesday, October 20th, 7:30 to 8:30pm, $3Reservations Required. 703-768-2525

We all live in a watershed, which is an area of land thatdrains into a common body of water, such as a wetland,lake, river or bay. Join Laura Grape, ecologist with the FairfaxCounty Stormwater Planning Division, in discussing thecounty initiatives that study the effects of urban and sub-urban life on local and downstream water quality. Also,learn how citizens can get involved in the CountywideWatershed Planning effort by the Stormwater PlanningDivision’s Watershed Assessment and Planning Branch.

Burke Lake Park7315 Ox Road, Fairfax StationCall 703-323-6600

Colvin Run Mill10017 Colvin Run Road, Great FallsCall 703-759-2771

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park5040 Walney Road, ChantillyCall 703-631-0013

Frying Pan Park2709 West Ox Road, HerndonCall 703-437-9101

Green Spring Gardens Park4603 Green Spring Rd., AlexandriaCall 703-642-5173

Hidden Oaks Nature Center7701 Royce Street, AnnandaleCall 703-941-1065

Hidden Pond Nature Center8511 Greeley Blvd., SpringfieldCall 703-451-9588

Huntley Meadows Park3701 Lockheed Blvd., AlexandriaCall 703-768-2525

Lake Accotink Park7500 Accotink Park Rd., SpringfieldCall 703-569-3464

Lake Fairfax Park1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, RestonCall 703-471-5414

Riverbend Park8700 Potomac Hills StreetGreat FallsCall 703-759-9018

Sully Historic SiteSully Road, ChantillyCall 703-437-1794

Need directions ormore information?

VISITwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks

Unusual HolidayArrangementsGREEN SPRING GARDENS PARKFriday, November 5th,1 to 3:30pm, $12

Tired of decorating your holiday tablewith the same old cornucopia or pine-cone turkey? Let Chris Polychrones,noted floral designer, show you howto jazz up your holiday arrangements.Chris will delight you with an awesomedemonstration of holiday designs.Maybe you’ll be the lucky door prizewinner! 703-642-5173

Park Authority ProsShare their ExpertisePros from the Resource ManagementDivision of the Fairfax County ParkAuthority are in high demand whenit comes to national and statewidemeetings and conventions. HeatherMelchior, manager for Natural ResourceProtection; Elizabeth Crowell, man-ager for Cultural Resource Protection;and Michael McDonnell, site managerfor Riverbend; recently led sessionsat the annual Virginia Recreation andParks Society convention. JeannieNiccolls of Historic Collections lent herexpertise to colleagues at the VirginiaMuseum Fundamentals Forum forSmall and Emerging Museums.

War of 1812Muster at SullyHistoric SiteSaturday,October 23rdfrom noonto 4pm

In the 18th and 19th centuries, musters were a timeof recruitment and training for the Army and Navy andsocializing for civilians. At Sully’s Muster, drill with troopsand learn about early military life, including the role ofAfrican Americans. Dance to period tunes and sing alongwith Ships Company Chanteymen. Play outdoor gamesand see picnic foods prepared in the open hearth kitchen.Rain or shine. House tour included. ($6 adult, $4 senior& child.)

Evening Camp and House Tours 6 to 8pmTour the 1812 military camps and the home of RichardBland Lee by lantern light, including evening live music andperiod gaming enjoyed by both the military and civiliansduring the Federal period. ($6 adult, $4 senior & child.Combination ticket for both day and evening programs:$8 adult, $6 senior & child.)

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F A L L N E W S A N D E V E N T S

When you were little, did youlove running around outside

wild and happy with your friends?Did you love exploring the woods,tuned in to the bugs, trees andanimals? Did you love telling storiesaround the campfire about days ofyore? Was that a resounding YES?

Then you may be a natural-bornpark volunteer and/or heritageinterpreter. When you volunteer, youjoin hundreds of dedicated (andfun!) folks who share your passionfor nature and Virginia’s rich history.Call your local park listed on page2, or call/email the following Volun-teer Coordinators:

Volunteeringerin.chernisky@fairfaxcounty.gov

703-324-8750

Interpretive Servicesmona.enquist-

johnston@fairfaxcounty.gov703-324-8750

Archaeology and CollectionsCultural Resource Protectionrobert.wharton@fairfaxcounty.gov

703-534-3881

Master Gardeners Programsandra.flowers@fairfaxcounty.gov

703-941-7987

Were You anOutdoors Kind

of Kid?

Are You New toFairfax County?Discover our area’s beautiful forests,gardens and historical sites. What betterway to enjoy our county’s rich history andnatural resources? When you visit ourcounty parks, you become part of themand begin your own family history inNorthern Virginia.

Civil War EncampmentSunday, September 19th,noon to 4pm

Celebrate the return of September’s coolerweather by meeting Civil War soldiers fromthe Virginia 49th Volunteer Infantry, visitingtheir encampment and watching as they drilland fire their authentic period guns. Free.

Scarecrow MakingSaturday, October2nd, noon to 2pm;Sunday, October 3,1 to 3pm

In October, you canmake a real scare-crow for your yard

out of straw, old clothing and imagination.$5 per scarecrow.

A Taste of Colvin Run MillSunday, October 17, noon to 4pm

Sample delicious goods baked from cornmealand wheat flour stone-ground right in themill! Enjoy breads, muffins and other goodieswashed down with fresh apple cider you pressyourself. $5 adult/$3 children.

Down By the Old Mill Stream

Close your eyes and let your senses take you back in time. The touch of straw pokingthrough your clothes, the crackle of the bonfire, the ring of the dulcimer in your ears,fingers sticky with melted marshmallow. Frolic this autumn at Colvin Run Mill Historic

Site. There’s fun (for everybody!) down by the old mill stream. Call 703-759-2771 for moreinformation.

Hallowe’en FunOctober 24th, 2 to 4pmRecommended forchildren of all ages.

Listen to spine-tinglingand funnyHallowe’en tales told by master storytellerGary Lloyd. And what would be an afternoonaround the campfire without melting s’moresover a bonfire? $4.

Mill Run Dulcimer Band ConcertsSunday, September 12th, andOctober 10th, 2 to 4pm;Saturday, November 20th, 7 to 9pm

A joy to the community, the delightful Mill RunDulcimer Band has held concerts at Colvin RunMill for nearly 25 years. Free.

Holiday Ornament WorkshopNovember 14th, 2 to 3:30pm

In November, begin your preparations forthe upcoming festive season by making yourown holiday ornaments. Leave one behind todecorate a tree at the mill. $12(Reservationsrequired by November 1.)

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Asurvey conducted by the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service reports thatmore than 50 million Americans

watch birds. By considering the fourelements emphasized in the National Wild-life Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitatprogram — food, water, cover and a placeto raise young — you can be assured of avariety of birds to watch, right from thewindows of your home. Some of your visi-tors will be just that, visiting birds passingthrough on their long flights of migration,and others will become familiar, year-roundresidents.

Their needs aren’t so different fromyours. Birds just define their desires a littledifferently.

FOOD:Bird feeders can supplement natural foodsources, though principally only seed-eaters(or, in winter months, suet-eaters) will usefeeders. Be sure to place feeders at leasteight feet from trees or other squirrel launch-ing pads, or use free-standing poles. Feederswill be busiest from late October throughthe winter, and it is important to rememberthat late spring, when natural food suppliesare still low, is a critical time to continueoffering food.

Bird feeders can be host to bacteria andparasites that can spread disease throughthe wild bird population if the feeders arenot regularly cleaned and sanitized. Manyhomeowners are concerned about attract-ing the “wrong element” such as crows,starlings, squirrels or rats. Putting out aminimal amount of seed per day, usingshelled seeds or certain types of seeds canalleviate the problem. Spillage and thearoma from discarded shells is often thecause for attracting unwanted creatures.Providing just water can bring in some birds,help them out and eliminate the nuisanceanimal issue.

Here’s a winter tip from naturalistSuzanne Holland at Hidden Oaks Nature CenterBirds can and do find food on their own in the fall and winter. Theproblem occurs when birds get trained to stay in one area due to aready supply of food, and then the food is inconsistent and they haveto scramble to find sustenance. So once started, feeding shouldcontinue through late spring. If a homeowner is away over winter, it’sbest not to start feeding in the late fall because birds can come todepend on the food source. Yet even offering fresh, clean waterprovides a much-needed service.

Backyard Birding Through Fall and All Winter LongBy Lee Ann Kinzer, Volunteer

WATER:Birds will happily drink or bathe in ponds,streams, ditches, puddles or birdbaths. Abirdbath should be set in a sunny clearing,ideally 15 feet from trees or shrubs wherepredators can lurk but with nearby branchesto use as an escape route. Baths should beno more than 2-3 inches deep and shouldbe rough surfaced. Birds will be especiallyattracted to baths or pools with dripping orrunning water.

In winter, when birds continue to needwater, birdbath heaters are available, or youcan break or melt the ice on baths or pools.Year-round, it is important that water is clean.Note: Water additives that keep ice fromforming negatively affect birds’ feathers,which can prove deadly for them.

SHELTER & A PLACETO RAISE YOUNG:Birdhouses, nesting platforms (preferred bysome species) and winter roosting boxes can

supplement garden plantings. Some 50bird species will accept nestboxes, while

about 35 will use them regularly. Ifyou use birdhouses, remember

that you will need to clean themout between broods and at the

end of the nesting season.

Park Authority nature centers featuremany birding programs and resources,which are listed in Parktakes, or, visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/nature.htm.The Fairfax County Audubon Society cambe reached by calling 703-256-6895 or visitwww.fairfaxaudubon.org.

House sparrow (Passer domesticus).

Red-bellied woodpecker(Melanerpes carolinus).

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H I S T O R I C P R O P E R T Y R E N T A L S

It’s time to take advantage of eight charming historic propertiesthat are available to rent for corporate and nonprofit meetingsand events, or family celebrations such as reunions, birthdays,

weddings and anniversaries. They’re right here in Fairfax County!What an excellent way to add flair and atmosphere to your nextevent or celebration.

Here are some highlights of the rental properties, all of whichare formally recognized on state and/or national registries for thedynamic role they have played in our cultural heritage.

To rent an historic property or learn more, please call 703-938-8835 (TTY 703/750-2402), email hprs@fairfaxcounty.gov, or visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/weddings.htm

CABELL’S MILLin Ellanor C. LawrencePark, ChantillyA Rustic Sawmill thatBecame VIP CentralCabell’s Mill was probably built byWilloughby Newton between 1753and 1759. Ellanor C. Lawrence,

wife of U.S. News and World Report founder and publisher, DavidLawrence, purchased the mill in 1944 and used it as a guesthousefor many Washington VIPs. The mill was also the site of Mr.Lawrence’s weekly news broadcasts on the NBC network from 1945-1970. In 1971, under the terms of Mrs. Lawrence’s will, the FairfaxCounty Park Authority received the mill, the miller’s house and thesurrounding woodlands (660 glorious acres) that now compriseEllanor C. Lawrence Park.

DRANESVILLE TAVERN in HerndonWatering Hole for Civil War SoldiersDranesville Tavern was built circa 1824 by Sanford Cockerille to servetravelers on the Leesburg-Alexandria and Georgetown Turnpikes.

During the Civil War, thearea around the tavern servedas one of the outermost picketpoints for the defense ofWashington. Troops passed ontheir way to ford the Potomacand head north. In December1861 the village was enveloped in battle between Union troops ofGen. McCall and the Confederate forces of Gen. J.E.B Stuart. Skir-mishes continued until March 1865. In 1865, the Virginia Gazettewrote that the tavern was “one of the best roadside inns in thestate of Virginia.”

Add the Spirit of Virginia’s Heritageto Your Next Event

STONEMANSIONin SouthAlexandriaHome to anAmericanRevolutionHeroThe Stone Mansion began life in circa 1780 as the manor home forthe 400-acre plantation belonging to Revolutionary War naval officerCommodore Walter Brooke, grandson of George Mason II. Legendhas it that when Brooke was eight years old, he went to sea as acabin boy and later as a midshipman in the British Navy. Later in lifehe served as the master of the merchant ship Martha. In 1772,when George Washington needed goods for Mt. Vernon, Brooketraveled to London, selected the goods and brought them back onthe Martha. Washington became a friend and the commodore wasa frequent guest at Mt. Vernon.

During the American Revolution, Brooke was charged by then-Governor Patrick Henry to defend the Eastern Shore. Brooke servedaboard the sloop Liberty in the Virginia Naval Forces until he wasforced to retire due to gout. He then moved to his new home,naming it “Retirement.”

WAKEFIELDCHAPELin AnnandaleThe Country GothicDream of a Charis-matic MinisterAt the end of the CivilWar, Oliver G. and MaryBesley were living nearthe Ash Grove estate inTysons Corner. Desiring more land, Besley purchased a tract thatincluded the future Wakefield Chapel parcel. In Annandale, Maryjoined a Methodist Bible Study group. The group held their meet-ings in members’ homes under the leadership of Rev. Elhanan W.Wakefield. Wakefield had served in the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalryand had been wounded and left for dead at Tom’s Brook, Virginia.After the Civil War, he settled in the capital area and was noted forhis evangelism and colorful personality.

In 1897, Oliver Besley donated the land and building materialsfor this country Gothic chapel, which Wakefield himself designedand helped to build.

Historic Property Rentals continued on page 9

Hidden Oaks Nature Center Top TenBy Suzanne Holland, Naturalist

Happy Birthday, Hidden Oaks Nature Center! For 35 years,Hidden Oaks has delighted visitors of all ages with inter-active exhibits, creative play areas and resources to explore

the flora and fauna of Fairfax County. Minutes inside the Beltway,tucked away in the woodland of Annandale District Park, it was thecounty’s first nature center and now, recently renovated, continues tobe a much-loved destination for young families throughout themetropolitan area. Take a break and discover (or rediscover) HiddenOaks Nature Center.

From Story Tree to CanopyThe new Urban Woodlands: Habitats and Havens exhibit

features a 1600 square-foot discovery room highlighting the hundredsof creatures that live in ourwoods, backyards, streamsand beyond. Look at a squir-rel the way a snake does,check out the insides of anearthworm or listen for thecall of birds and insects inthe canopy. Older childrenexplore the world of sciencein our hands-on junior sci-entist corner, complete withlab coats! Young childrenlove our “A-corner” areawhere they can dress up inanimal costumes, create sto-ries on an 8’x15’ fabric walland play with puppets, ac-tivity boxes and games.

Wildlife — Up Close and PersonalLive animal exhibits feature many of the reptiles and amphib-

ians of Fairfax County including the area’s only venomous snakespecies, the northern copperhead. Other seasonal exhibits includetoads, tadpoles, and insectsincluding praying mantises andmonarch butterflies. An indoorand outdoor pond gives visitorsa chance to peek at wildlife ina more natural environment.

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Children love dressing up in animalcostumes in the interactive A-corner.

3 Explore the DiscoveryClassroom/Library

In addition to the woodland exhibit, Hidden Oaks boasts a largeclassroom. School groups, scouts, home school groups and familiesenjoy multi-media and interactive presentations on topics rangingfrom native animals to geology to habitats. When programs are notin session, the classroom library is open for reading and research.Naturalists guide young scientists in researching their book reportsor science fair topics.

Climb a Tree & Put on a Show!The classroom features the “tree house” — a floor-to-ceiling

rock maple play structure. Puppets and a puppet stage on “the groundfloor” invite children and their families to put on a show.

At Home with WildlifeFound a snake or a spider in your backyard? Curious about a

caterpillar? Visit the nature center naturalists for assistance in identi-fying the unusual visitors to your backyard. Visitors especiallyconcerned about snakes can learn through photos and a live speci-men how to identify a copperhead snake. Once visitors learn how toproperly identify potentially hazardous wildlife, they can be morecomfortable sharing their world with wildlife.

Woodpeckers & Orchids:Special Finds, Special Seasons

Visit the center often, especially in different seasons, to appreciatethe wealth of flora and fauna that lives nearby. In the winter, sixspecies of woodpeckers flock to the birdfeeders. In the spring, thepink lady’s slipper, a wild orchid, blooms amongst the pines. Sum-mer brings swallowtails and monarchs to the butterfly garden and inthe fall, the warblers take a break from their migration.

The UrbanWoodlandsexhibitfascinatesvisitorsyoungand old.

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Hidden Oaks’ “Top Ten”would be incomplete withoutremembering volunteer andfriend, Katie Rheuark (1919-2004). Although physicallytiny, she was a giant in spiritand vitality. Her soothingvoice, with its Southern drawl,charmed callers and visitorsalike. For eight years, shemade a big difference atHidden Oaks.

– Mona Enquist-Johnston,Volunteer Interpretive Services

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To volunteer at Hidden Oaks, call 703-324-8513.For more information, please call 703-941-1065, TTY 703-324-3988

or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/nature.htm

Katie Rheuark andfriends at the rock mapleplayhouse she graciouslydonated.

Community — Making a DifferenceWith over 40 volunteers ranging in age from 10 to 85, the

staff represents a range of cultures as well as ages, experiences andbackgrounds. Each volunteer finds a niche as they assist the naturalistsin meeting the center’s dual mission of natural resource educationand protection. Naturalists share the joy of nature, bringing programsto area schools and libraries.

Both as a place to relax and to educate, Hidden Oaks provides thecommunity with a place to connect to our natural and culturalresources, and become stewards of our natural and cultural heritage,plus the opportunity to make a difference by joining Friends of HiddenOaks Nature Center.

HOURSMonday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am-5pm.Weekends/holidays from 12-5 pm. Jan./Feb. hours may vary.Closed Tuesdays and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days.

DIRECTIONSFrom the Capital Beltway, follow Little River Turnpike (Rt.236) eastto first left on Hummer Road to the park entrance on the left. Mainparking lot is next to the Packard Center in Annandale District Park.Handicapped access and limited parking at 7701 Royce Streetentrance. Follow signs to nature center.

To Join The Friends of Hidden Oaks Nature CenterVisit www.hiddenoaks.info/ or call 703-941-1065.

Take a HikeMost visitors enjoy the one-third-mile loop Old Oak Trail

which starts at the nature center. Seasonal trail guides note points ofinterest and our free Discovery Bags provide hands-on trailsideactivities for young children. Additional trails to the two creeks inAnnandale District Park cover approximately two miles.

Or take a drive…There are numerous nature and history van tripsthroughout the year. Travel the hills of Warrenton to follow theadventures of Confederate John S. Mosby or travel to Delaware toview shorebirds. Early birds can enjoy a free Monday morning birdwalk at Eakin Community Park in Fairfax to peek at songbirds, blue-birds, owls and more.

Hidden Oaks’ programs and van trips are detailed in Parktakes andon Hidden Oaks’ website (listed below).

Discover Cultural History, TooIncluded inside Annandale District Park are some of the remains

of the Civil War-era unfinished railroad bed which was to be part ofthe Manassas Gap Railroad, connecting the Shenandoah region toAlexandria. In the fall, the nature center highlights the easternwoodland native peoples who lived in the area in the 1500s withcrafts, lore and games.

Designed for DiversityVisitors of all cultures find Hidden Oaks a welcoming, educa-

tional and enjoyable adventure. The new exhibit is visual and interac-tive with text available in both a Korean and a Spanish translation.

Interactiveexhibits mix funwith learningat Hidden Oaks.The center alsosponsors numerousnature and historyvan trips andprograms.

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Along the northern edge of Huntley Meadows are two championtrees. These trees, swamp chestnut oaks (Quercus michauxii) areestimated to be about 200 years old. They are enormous, the largestbeing over 16 feet in circumference and over 75 feet high. Theeffort to save these majestic trees began over a year ago.

The Friends of Huntley Meadows became aware of these treesin early 2003 and learned that they desperately needed someattention by professional arborists. In partnership with our sisterorganization, the Friends of Historic Huntley (which focuses oncultural history and the historic Huntley House), we sought grants torescue a precious bit of our heritage—these champion trees. Wesucceeded when our grant to the Virginia Department of Forestry’sUrban and Community Forestry program was approved. Coupledwith several private donations, we could proceed.

We selected two companies in the area to do the work, Grow-ing Tree Professional Tree Care, Inc. of Ashburn and Bartlett TreeExperts of Springfield. Each company worked in one tree, and thework was completed in about six hours. The Fairfax County UrbanForestry Division helped to coordinate and supervise the project.

The work took place on May 26th. Throughout the day, theclimbers exchanged shouts of encouragement and kept up the kid-ding , turning the experience into great fun. Those on the groundwatched enviously as the climbers swung through the trees andshouted the arborist’s warning, HEADACHE!, as they dropped cutlimbs. We all helped drag the branches to be turned into fragrantwood chips by Growing Earth’s chipper machine. We left the chipswith the adjacent Frog Pond Early Learning Center as thanks forallowing us to use their property to access the trees.

Division of Urban Forestry arborists inspected both live and deadbranches for signs of disease and infestation, and the general healthof both trees. Both passed with flying colors and we all have beenimpressed with the vigor of new growth these 200-year-old giantsproduced. Opinions were fairly universal: barring any accidents, thesetrees have at least another 100 years in them, if not more.

When it was done, and all the equipment had been packed away, pictures had been taken, handshakes all around, and the truckspulled away, I stood for a while, alone with trees. Now, I’m apractical man and I don’t buy into humanizing inanimate objects,but I’m fairly certain that as I started to walk away, the light breezepassing through the freshly trimmed branches seemed to whisper,ever so faintly, thank you.

Champion Trees Savedby Tree ChampionsBy Harry Glasgowpresident of the Federation of Friends Groups

e all travel the milky way together,trees and men; but it never occurred

to me until this stormday, while swinging in thewind, that trees are travelers, in the ordinarysense. They make many journeys, not extensiveones, it is true; but our own little journeys, awayand back again, are only little more than tree-wavings — many of them not so much.

When the storm began to abate, I dismountedand sauntered down through the calmingwoods. The storm-tones died away, and, turningtoward the east, I beheld the countless hosts ofthe forests hushed and tranquil, towering aboveone another on the slopes of the hills like adevout audience. The setting sun filled themwith amber light, and seemed to say, whilethey listened, My peace I give unto you.

As I gazed on the impressive scene, all theso-called ruin of the storm was forgotten, andnever before did these noble woods appear so fresh,so joyous, so immortal.

– From A Wind-Storm In The Forestsby John Muir

P A R T N E R S H I P S

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Historic Property Rentals continued from page 5

VOLUNTEER WISH LIST

HUNTER HOUSE in ViennaA Civil War Family and“Virginia Maid” WineFrom 1921 to 1940 the property washome to the family of William Davidson,the son of a Civil War hero and a closefriend of then-Governor George Parry.They operated a fruit orchard and afterProhibition, in 1933, a winery. The win-ery was bonded as Distillery No. 4 of theCommonwealth of Virginia and produceda wine called “Virginia Maid.” Some ofthe imported grapevine stock, now gonewild, can still be found at the front wood-land edges of Nottoway Park. The prop-erty was purchased by the Park Author-ity in 1972, and renamed the HunterHouse after its original owner, John C.Hunter, who built this gracious home-stead in 1890.

CLARK HOUSE in AnnandaleFarmhouse ProsperityThe Clark House was built in 1902 bylocal builder Henry Manchester, who waspaid two dollars a day plus his dinner. Itis the last surviving architectural remnantof a large dairy farm that operated inAnnandale for over 50 years. Four gen-erations of Clarks lived on the 200+ acrefarm, until the bulk of the property wassold to a developer in the 1950s.

The house was built with four equallysized walls, representative of the “four-square” vernacular architecture commonto farmhouses at the turn of the century.The Clark home had one of the first tele-phones in the area, installed around 1918.

GREAT FALLSGRANGEin Great FallsHailing the GrangeMovement in Craftsman’s StyleThe Great Falls Grange is the last standing unalteredgrange hall in Virginia. Built in 1929 for $12,500 asGrange Hall #738 for the Great Falls Chapter of theFraternal Order of Husbandry, this Craftsman’s stylepublic assembly hall has hosted ice cream socials,dances, carnivals, theatrical productions and politicalevents. A product of the Grange Movement thatswept rural America 100 years ago, it was built asa symbol of commitment to community involve-ment, education and social progress.

THE OLDFORESTVILLESCHOOL-HOUSE inGreat FallsThe Old School-

house is next door to Great Falls Grange. The one-room, wood-stove-heated, Forestville schoolhouseopened in November, 1889. The first schoolteacher was Henry Cornwell who taught, it wassaid, to the tune of the hickory stick.

All of our nature centers and historic sites have an ongoingneed for volunteers. GET STARTED by calling your closest site

directly (see p.2), or contact erin.chernisky@fairfaxcounty.gov(703-324-8750).

• Frying Pan Farm Park needs hayride drivers and farm house docentsfrom 10 am to noon on weekdays.

• The lovely Walney Visitor Center at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park needsweekend VODs (that’s Volunteers On Duty).

• Busy-as-ever Sully Historic Site is looking for house docents andteaching docents, including youth volunteers.

• Bird and critter haven Huntley Meadows Park needs VODs for thefollowing shifts: (1) Two Thursday afternoons per month, from 1-5pm.; (2) Twice a month, do a four-hr weekend shift during Septem-ber/October (when things are hoppin’ and flying); (3) Over the win-ter, volunteer for a monthly five-hour shift from November to March.

• Fall is a beautiful time to volunteer at Colvin Run Mill, currently inneed of weekend docents.

• Cultural Resource Protection/Archaeology volunteers are neededfor all sorts of new projects.

A successful collaboration of Friends Groups helped to save two200-year-old swamp chestnut oaks at Huntley Meadows.

10 ResOURces

Sully’s heritage interpretershave long told the storyof the site’s slave commu-

nity. Using information fromprimary documents such as Leefamily letters has enabled themto tell the story of not justunknown slaves, but individualaccounts of Thornton, Ludwell,Eve and others. This has helpedto create well-rounded schooland public programs that inter-pret both the Lee family andthe enslaved African-Americancommunity.

In 1999, after a decade ofresearch and planning, construc-tion began on recreating theslave quarter dwelling house ontop of the original archaeologi-cal footprint from over 200 years ago. The Sully Foundation, Ltd.,created to support special projects at Sully, provided the funding.The 16'x20' cabin was built by Park Authority restoration crewcarpenters.

Sully’s Site Manager, Carol McDonnell, knew how significantthis event was. The addition of the slave quarter would give visitorsto Sully a more complete picture of how the slaves lived. Further-more, slavery interpretation, telling the story of slave life in an accurateand compelling way, was (and is) the focus of much discussion andstudy by historians and staff at historical sites and museums acrossthe nation.

McDonnell learned the basics of videotaping and began record-ing the construction at Sully once a week during the 10-monthconstruction phase. When Mark Garrah came on board as the newvideo manager, he at once lent his expertise and enthusiasm toMcDonnell’s project. Garrah visited Sully as much as possible torecord programs and tours and then edited down hours of video.With the help of Daphne Hutchinson, manager of ProductionServices (and editor of Parktakes), McDonnell wrote the narrativefor the documentary. She also wrote and received a grant from theVirginia Foundation for the Humanities that helped with narration

From the Ground Up: The Sully Slave QuarterBy Tammy Loxton, Historian, Sully Historic Site

The Sully Slave Quarter: From the Ground Up is an award-winning video produced in-house by ParkAuthority staff. Released less than a year ago, the video has already received the 2004 RMD StewardshipAward and recently received the 2004 National Association of Counties special achievement award.

production costs. This involvedhiring a professional to do thevoice-over and renting specialmicrophone equipment. Thefunding also helped with copy-ing 100 videos for distribution.

The narrator for the video ishistorian Robert Watson fromWilliamsburg, Virginia. Watsonwas the site manager of therecreated slave quar ter atCarter’s Grove Plantation and aresearch consultant for the Sullyslave quarter. In addition, slavemusic, work songs, interviewsand historic photographs arealso part of the documentary,which involved obtaining usagerights from many differentorganizations across the south.

The end result is a 41-minute video relaying a specific story ofthe enslaved community at Sully and their daily living space. Byexamining archaeological evidence, it provides information on thediscovery of where about 30, maybe up to 40 enslaved men, womenand children lived and worked over 200 years ago. The video alsodiscusses the reasons for building a representative structure—forhistorians to study and interpret, and for future generations to learnfrom and participate in public programming. The video is beingshown in museums and schools with the hopes of promoting moreinterest in interpreting slave life. As word spreads, requests for thevideo have come in from as far away as Texas.

This video project is also a way to promote stewardship of thecounty’s heritage within the Park Authority and in the community,and maintain the highest professional standards of preservation andinterpretation in African-American history.

H I S T O R Y

A Sully heritage interpreter tells the story of the slavecommunity next to the recreated slave quarter house.

If you are interested in presenting Sully Slave Quarter:From the Ground Up at your museum, site or school, please

email Tammy Loxton at tammy.loxton@fairfaxcounty.govor call 703-437-1794. There is a minimal

charge for shipping and handling.

Fall 2004 11

County Almanac HighlightsNatural Events for Fall 2004From Notes at Hidden Pond Nature Center

To see the full County Almanac, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

OCTOBER1ST WEEK Look for fall butterflies such

as the buckeye which hasdistinctive eye spots on theirfore and hind wings. Snakessearch for winter shelter.

2ND WEEK Young mockingbirds practicetheir repertoire; they seemuncertain and sort of murmurthe calls of other birds tothemselves. Fall honeysucklefragrant. Witch hazel, the lasttree to flower, now in bloom.

3RD WEEK The reddest leaves of theforest belong to the blackgum tree. Red maples arealso red with patches ofyellow and green. Hickoriesand tulip poplars turn yellow,and the oaks turn a darkburgundy or brown. Whitepines drop brown needles(needles that were new ayear and a half ago). Persim-mon fruit may be ripe.

4TH WEEK Full “Hunter” moon October27. Grass stops growing. Afew crickets and grasshop-pers buzz in a melancholyway. The last weekend marksthe end of daylight savingsbut the natural world willtake no notice.

SEPTEMBER1ST WEEK We now lose daylight at a

rate of 20 minutes per week.Ripeness is everywhere.Blindfolded, by smell alonewe could tell what time ofyear it is.

2ND WEEK Spiders are big and fat now.So is almost everything else.Wildlife populations are nowat their peak. Oaks drop theiracorns. Monarch butterfliespass through on their way toMexico.

3RD WEEK Autumn equinox September22 — Sun rises due east andsets due west. Nights arenow longer than days. Thisshortening of the photo-period is the trigger for manychanges in the natural world;fall colors, migration, changesin plumage, appetite, etc.

4TH WEEK Full “Harvest” moonSeptember 28. Beechnuts fall — turkeys gobblethem up and then roost forthe night in nearby trees.Dogwood berries now redand the buds which hold nextyear’s blossoms are now set.

NOVEMBER1ST WEEK Most deciduous trees

become bare, except for theyoung American beech treewhose light brown leaves willpersist throughout the winter.Listen for the arrival of thewhite-throated sparrow.

2ND WEEK Busy beavers store succulentsaplings for the winter. Juncosarrive. Seeds of tulip poplarsare carried by the wind, look-ing like little helicopters.

3RD WEEK Camel crickets — those pale,creepy, jumping things —crowd our basements andgarages. Most leaves areusually down by now andthe woods look gray. Thesquirrels and deer accordinglychange their fur from theirsummer appearance whichhas brown highlights towinter coats which aremostly gray.

4TH WEEK Full “Frost” moon November26. Willow leaves are last toturn. A hard freeze this timeof year in the 18th centurywould have made roadsmuch more passable; mudbeing easier to walk on whenit’s frozen. Nature now seemsprepared for winter.

NATURE QUESTS

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Eco-AdventureELLANOR C. LAWRENCE PARK703-631-0013Saturday, October 2nd1-3pm, 7 yrs. and up.

Learn about the simple things we cando to protect our environment. Makesome “trashy” art, complete groupprojects outdoors and indoors, andplant new trees. (The Junior Girl Scoutecology badge requirements will becovered.) Reservations required. $6.

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Creepy CreaturesHIDDEN POND NATURE CENTER703-451-9588Monday, October 25th10-11 am, 4-6 yrs.

Meet some spiders, toads and snakes! Hearthe superstitions about some animals,learns the facts and have fun in the process.Reservations required. $3.

Geology on thePotomac GorgeRIVERBEND NATURE CENTER703-759-9018Friday, November 29th8am-3pm, 15 years and up.

Explore the unique geology of the PotomacGorge along the river. Reservation/advanced payment required by October29. $20 .

Welcome to ResOURces Onlinewww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Our newly renovated website, representing the ResourceManagement Division (RMD) of the Park Authority and

ResOURces newsletter is now online and ready for you.

On the website, you can learn more about RMD’s work toprotect, preserve and interpret Fairfax County’s natural andcultural heritage. You can Visit the Sites to see the county’sbeautiful nature centers and historical sites, or stop by thecharming Rental Properties to plan your next special event.One of our many new features is Who Do You Call? forconcerns about encroachment, wildlife, county artifacts andmore. In Nature Finder, find out where to see county birdsand flora, visit the Wildflowers, or check the Almanac fornatural and astronomical events. Past issues are available forResOURces newsletter, along with dozens of articles aboutcounty nature, history and horticulture in the Articles Index.