They like ponds, vegetation, food and safe nesting areas. Fairfax County has ponds, vegetation, food and safe nesting areas.

Therefore, Fairfax County has resident Canada geese.

Prior to the late 1960s, the V-shaped flying formation of geese migrating along the Atlantic Flyway marked the change of seasons. However, geese are now part of everyday life in our parks. Geese took up residency possibly because of birds that were propagated to stock local hunting preserves.

Most of the county’s Canada geese are full-time residents. They have no reason to leave because we have created ideal conditions for them, and their goslings, which learn to nest, breed and travel from their parents, don’t learn to migrate.

Canada geese weigh 20 to 25 pounds and live some 20 years. They mate for life and remain together as pairs year-round. If one dies, the other will find a new mate. Mating season is early February through early April, with nesting season for those three years of age and older from late March through mid-May. They lay about one egg per day until there are around five eggs in the nest. Incubation begins after all the eggs are laid and lasts 28 to 30 days. Normally, all eggs hatch on the same day.

When the geese molt from early June to late July, they lose their flight feathers and can’t fly for several weeks. By early August, new flight feathers are fully developed and the birds are back in the air. During the molting period, geese need to be near water so they can escape from predators by swimming. Their natural predators include large owls, raccoons, foxes, coyotes and snapping turtles.

Environmental Concerns Fairfax County’s 2010 Annual Report on the Environment says problems with geese

are “not so much the animals per se but rather the fecal contamination they bring to our

The Ubiquitous Resident Canada Goose

NATure, HIsTory AND HorTICulTure IN FAIrFAx CouNTy VoluMe 11, No. 2 suMMer 2011

Fairfax County Park Authority • Fairfax, VA 22035 • 703-324-8695 • Fax 703-324-3996 • TTY 703-803-3354 • www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

continued on page 2

Why can’t we feed the geese?

Mowed grass near a pond, such as at the county Government Center, is an ideal feeding spot for geese. People like those areas as well, and they often feed the geese. It’s a cute interaction, but it’s unhealthy for the geese. Human foods, like bread or popcorn, can make an entire flock sick, and geese can become dependent upon humans for food. Fairfax County Wildlife Biologist Vicky Monroe says, “A poor diet, comprised of non-natural foods, can lead to metabolic bone disease and many other problems for geese.” Feeding them also keeps them nearby and defecating.

remember, geese are wild animals. They sometimes become aggressive if they feel threatened. They’ll honk and hiss to warn other geese of trouble nearby. They might become aggressive if they’re expecting food from people and don’t get it. There are county residents who have been innocently sitting at picnic tables and have dis-covered the origin of the word “goose” as a verb. It is a painful discovery.

2 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

N AT u r e

Editor/Writer: David OchsPhotos: Don Sweeney, FCPA David ochsProduction: Joanne Kearney, FCPA

Published quarterly by the Fairfax County Park Authority, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035-1118

NaTURal ResOURCe aNd HisTORiC siTes

Burke Lake Park 7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station

703-323-6600

CoLvin run MiLL 10017 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls

703-759-2771

eLLanor C. LawrenCe Park 5040 Walney Road, Chantilly

703-631-0013

Frying Pan FarM Park 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon

703-437-9101

green SPring gardenS Park 4603 Green Spring Rd, Alexandria

703-642-5173

Hidden oakS nature Center 7701 Royce Street, Annandale

703-941-1065

Hidden Pond nature Center 8511 Greeley Blvd., springfield

703-451-9588

HuntLey MeadowS Park 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria

703-768-2525

Lake aCCotink Park 7500 Accotink Park Rd., Springfield

703-569-3464

Lake FairFax Park 1400 Lake Fairfax Park, Reston

703-471-5414

riverBend Park 8700 Potomac Hills Street, Great Falls

703-759-9018

SuLLy HiStoriC Site 3650 Historic sully Way, Chantilly

703-437-1794

HiStoriC ProPertieS rentaL ServiCeS www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/weddings.htm

703-827-0269

Need directions or more information? Go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks

water bodies and watercourses and their fouling of grassy open areas.” Geese waste is a source of fecal coliform bacterial contamination. stormwater can carry droppings into water, triggering algae growth that affects vegetation and aquatic life.

Droppings are icky, though scientific studies of disease transmission from droppings to humans have been inconclusive. Geese can chase away or kill smaller waterfowl and can denude shoreline vegetation, which leads to soil erosion and pond sedimentation.

Geese also damage marshes, where they feed on sprouting plants so voraciously that some once plentiful aquatic and land plant species have all but disappeared. Park Authority Naturalist Charles smith says geese “cause significant disruption and economic damage” to areas with managed turf, such as golf courses or athletic fields.

Management Techniques so what do we do about them?

The first step to managing geese is to reduce the things that attract them. Barriers work. since geese prefer easy access among food, water and a nesting site, barriers can discourage resident geese. large plants and tall grass can create physical and sight barriers.

on personal property, if you have water that attracts geese, plant a goose “un-friendly” landscape. Plant and maintain shrubs and tall grasses, or mow less often. A railing or fence that makes it hard for geese to walk from food to water will discourage them.

Although geese are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Act, the u.s. Fish and Wildlife service (usFWs) recognizes resident geese can be problematic. some steps have been taken. extended hunting seasons and increased bag limits have helped reduce populations. Addling, which requires training and a federal registration with the usFWs, is a technique in which goose eggs are coated with corn oil to prevent embryos from developing. With no goslings, adult geese are more likely to leave an area. Property owners can register for a free federal permit online at https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR/geSI.aspx.

For more information, visit the Fairfax County wildlife website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/animals/wildlife or contact the Fairfax County Wildlife Biologist at 703-246-6868.

Geese, from page 1

liberty swing Open at Clemyjontri ParkA year ago, in the Spring of 2010, resources invited you to join

the Fairfax County Park Foundation in raising money for a liberty swing at Clemyjontri Park in Mclean, Va. The swing is a unique apparatus that makes it possible for all children to enjoy the freedom and delight of a swing – even those in wheelchairs.

Well, swing away!

The liberty swing is installed and in action at Clemyjontri. “Many wheelchair users will experience the exhilaration of swinging, perhaps for the first time in their lives,” said Park Foundation executive Director Bobbi longworth.

The Park Foundation thanks Capital one Bank, HITT Contracting, Inc., the Friends of Clemyjontri Park and you for the donations that made this $117,000 project possible.

Clemyjontri Park is located at 6317 Georgetown Pike, McLean, Va. Visit us online for more information. For information on how you can contribute to this wonderful playground, visit the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

3summer 2011

PA R K F O u n D AT i O n

Now open to the public!

That phrase is great news when it involves parks.

Phase one of The Family Recreation Area at lee District Park is now open, and it’s unlike anything else in the Washington metro-politan area. It’s a magical place, a dedicated outdoor recreation area that engages children in physical activity and sparks their imaginations with creative play. It will bring families together by blending old-fashioned and thoroughly modern play elements that are accessible to everyone, including people with special needs.

Drop by the 138-acre park at 6601 Tele-graph Road in Franconia to see this fully ac-cessible Family Recreation Area that includes:

• A unique Treehouse overlooking a forest and stream valley, funded through a gener-ous bequest from the elisabeth Guerry Newton estate. The Treehouse entrance includes gently-sloping ramps accessible to children and adults in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. There is also a seating area funded by springfield Toyota and gifts made to honor the life of landscape Architect robert W. Good.

• The fully-accessible ‘Our Special Harbor’ sprayground, an in-kind gift from The Joey Pizzano Memorial Fund, a non-profit orga-nization dedicated to improving the lives of children with special needs. This Chesa-peake Bay-themed sprayground features water showers from fanciful structures and provides a safe and fun activity on hot summer days. It is designed to break down barriers, encourage interaction, and to provide families and children of all abilities a place to play and have fun together.

restrooms, changing rooms and other support facilities are conveniently nearby.

Support is needed yet there is more to be done, and the Fair-

fax County Park Foundation is seeking sup-port to complete The Family recreation Area.

Community help is needed to fund the construction of Phase II, which will include Chessie’s Big Backyard playground with slides, swings and other equipment specially designed for use by all children, including those with disabilities, as well as a family picnic pavilion. A fully-accessible carousel will serve as the finishing touch.

opportunities exist for major donors to sponsor elements which will be enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of children and family members each year.

For more information about how you or your organization can support this unique project, con-tact the Park Foundation at 703-324-8582 or e-mail ParkFoundation@Fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Fairfax County Park Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that helps pick up where tax dollars leave off in meeting community needs for parkland, facilities and services. Contributions to the Park Foundation are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. www.fairfaxparkfoundation.org

The Family Recreation area Opens!By Roberta A. Longworth, Park Foundation Executive Director

The design plan for the Family Recreation Area at Lee District Park.

with a Park Authority Gift Card!

http://parktakes.fairfaxcounty.gov/giftcards/

Thank a coach,

thank a teacher,

thank a friend

Our Special Harbor highlights a new accessible playground.

4 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

If you want to eat local produce, you can’t get any more local than your own balcony or backyard. even without much

garden space, there’s a lot you can do with a container and a little know-how.

Horticulturist Nancy olney, who oversees a dozen gardens at Green Spring Gardens, says the key to any garden is “right plant, right place.” If the only place you have is a small patch of yard, a deck or a balcony,

container gardens are the way to go. olney says the type of container doesn’t matter, as long as it allows for drainage. some ceramic pots may be beautiful, but if they don’t have a hole in the bottom, keep looking. Terra cotta is popular, though plants dry out faster in terra cotta than in plastic pots.

Garden shops, catalogs and online retail-ers sell a host of containers specifically for small gardens. Purchase kits to build your own wooden or plastic frames for raised beds, or go with something light and collaps-ible like a potato bag. olney says these are especially good for balcony gardens. Hang-ing plant bags are another alternative.

once you’ve chosen your container, fill it with “soil-less soil.” In other words, olney recommends buying a potting mix that com-bines peat moss, perlite and time-release

fertilizer. Don’t fill your container with heavy clay soil from the back yard. Mix in some sand to help with drainage. Fertilize the soil weekly with a fertilizer used at half-strength.

When it comes to choosing your plants, olney says you need to consider “size, sun, shade and dampness.” If you’re short on space, you probably don’t want to plant perennial vegetables, such as asparagus, or something large like corn or okra. If a plant needs full sun, that usually means sunshine for at least six hours a day. How-ever, if your heart is set on tomatoes and you have a shady balcony, olney says “give it a try.” your tomatoes may be a bit smaller and ripen later than your neighbor’s, but you’ll still have the satisfaction of growing your own.

olney suggests buying starter tomato plants, rather than growing them from seed. If you want to try some heirloom varieties, local farmers’ markets are a good source for plants.

salad greens are a good, economical choice for container gardens because you can plant them early from seed and reseed as needed through the growing season. you don’t need to spend much. olney says seeds from discount stores grow just fine. other popular choices for container gardens are peppers and squash. use stakes and trellises to help plants grow up rather

than out. Peas and beans are easy to grow, but olney says if your space is limited, it may be hard to grow enough plants to yield meal-size servings.

olney doesn’t use any pesticides in her gardens. she and her volunteers at Green spring pick and squish any offending insects. If that’s not your idea of fun, you can invest in special covers and netting to protect your plants.

Don’t be afraid to crowd plants in your container. As olney says, “one lettuce plant won’t go far unless you just want to top a BlT.” If you want a salad, “grow enough to eat.” When it’s time to eat,

small-space GardeningBy Carol ochs, Park authority volunteer

H o r T I C u lT u r e

Herbs are a great way to start container gardening.

Container gardening can bring color to your deck or patio.

5summer 2011

H o r T I C u lT u r e

“you can pull by leaf or plant.” If things are getting too crowded, just yank out the whole plant.

If you really want to start small, you can’t go wrong with herbs. you can move them from indoors to outdoors and back again. As with any plants, just be sure you don’t overwater.

It’s not too late to put that green thumb to work this summer. Grab a container and get your hands a little dirty. your stomach will be thanking you for eating local produce in a matter of weeks.

Salad greens are a good, economical choice for container gardens. Photos by Carol Ochs

Fairfax County has become the second-largest community in the nation to be certified as a National Wildlife Federa-tion Community Wildlife Habitat. Over 1,750 county homes, schools, parks, businesses and churches have been certified

in the program — more than twice as many as needed for countywide certification.

A site must provide wildlife with food and water sources, cover and a place to raise young in order to be certified.

County Friendly Toward Wildlife

6 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Fairfax County is known for its fabulous Gold Medal park sys-tem, nature centers and recreational facilities. But did you know that you can get away from it all just minutes from your front

door in one of your neighborhood parks?

Many county residents live near parks that trace various “runs” and streams, places like south run, Cub run, Difficult run, Holmes run, Pohick and Accotink Creeks. I live about 10 minutes from lake Mercer along south run and recently had the pleasure of walking through my neighborhood park with Charles smith, a naturalist with the Fairfax County Park Authority.

lake Mercer is circled by a loop trail of about four miles near south run reCenter. It has paved and natural surfaces and plenty of places to enjoy sun and shade. unstaffed neighborhood parks don’t have bathrooms or concessions, although some have playgrounds.

They don’t have garbage cans, so if you or your dog take it in, take it out.

For two hours, I felt like I had been transported to another world, far away from the stress of daily life. I heard all manner of birds singing and was captivated by a flowing stream on my way to my ultimate reward – the lake. I could sit by the shore, lounge on the grass or put in a kayak.

Trails like the one around lake Mercer are popular with county residents – indeed, trails are the most heavily used facilities in the park system, smith said. some 80 percent of respondents to county surveys say they use the trails for walking (with or without dogs) and biking. We saw a few people with dogs on our journey, but it was a rainy Wednesday morning in mid-April, so we pretty much had the trail to ourselves.

You don’t Have to Go Far to enjoy the OutdoorsBy Lori K. Weinraub, Park Authority Volunteer

V i S i T T H E PA R K S

There’s a Fairfax County park and an experience like this near you!

Mercer Lake is one of more than 400 Fairfax County Park Authority parks that offer you a chance to get away from it all.

7summer 2011

As we get started, smith discusses the health of the park, noting that it has a decent forest stand. I’m surprised at how thin it appears at eye level. That’s because the deer are eating us out of house and home, which is not good for the overall health of the park. But on this day, I’m not going to worry about it; instead, I’m going to focus on the delightful sounds of spring, of which there are plenty.

smith says the birds and their sing-song mating calls are the best sounds of spring, and I agree. We stand quietly while smith lists the birds he hears calling: American Robin, Tufted Titmouse, louisiana Waterthrush, Blue Jay, red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker. smith is excited to see two Barred owls (it helps that he has binoculars.)

I ask him what types of trees are in the park. The forest is dominat-ed by oaks and hickories, he tells me, but he also spots maple, tulip and sycamore trees. He points out an arrowwood viburnum, which Native Americans used to make arrows. How do you know all this, I ask? Through reading books, talking to people and best of all, “dirt time,” or just time outside, smith says.

As we continue, I notice we seem to be right on top of the stream that was further away as we began our walk. It’s very pretty, and that’s a good thing because a meandering stream is a healthy stream, smith says.

We turn our attention to the ground and the spring plants that are in full bloom. smith spies a nice patch of skunk cabbage, some mayapple, bellwort, fiddlehead fern and Christmas fern. smith says many plants are blooming now so they can get their work done for the insects before “leaf out.” If I take this walk again in the beginning of May, most of the leaves will be out on the trees. smith tells me that green starts to show up early in the park because of the non-native invasive species that seem to be sprouting everywhere.

We keep walking, and Smith gives me some news: by next winter, the path that we are on will be paved. That means the main loop around the lake will be entirely paved. soon we hook up with the service road that will take us to the lake, created in 1985 as part of a federally-funded storm water control program.

As we make our way to the lake, Smith points out more plants: pines, Japanese honeysuckle, invasive multiflora rose, even one producing edible blackberries.

Finally, we see the lake. smith takes note of the large number of dead trees in the water. He points out the low growl of a pickerel frog as he counts the number of Double-crested Cormorants on the water, maybe 60 he figures. He says it reminds him of the movie, “The Birds.” I enjoy the view and imagine lazing on the grass with a book for awhile.

The path ends and we have a choice – detour to continue our walk to the dam or turn back. unfortunately, we were out of time and turned back. With all our starts and stops we didn’t have time to finish the loop.

on our walk back, I tell smith I’ve lived near lake Mercer for nearly 12 years and can’t believe I haven’t done this walk before. “everybody lives near something,” Smith said. “There are a lot of little ‘pocket’ parks that can surprise you.”

I make a note to myself to come back in June to enjoy the park in its full summer splendor, then again in october to marvel at the fall colors. And if it’s not too cold one day, I may even return in the dead of winter so I can fully appreciate all that my neighborhood park has to offer.

V i S i T T H E PA R K S

Wildlife is abundant at Mercer Lake and other parks in Fairfax County.

8 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

History requires preservationI recently read a newspaper article about

the caretaker of a loudoun County cemetery who was worried about the site’s future after he retired or passed away. He’d begun volun-tarily caring for the cemetery more than 50 years ago when he noticed the site that was home to many of his deceased loved ones was in disrepair. His main concern was that no one would step up and take care of the cemetery when he passed, and it would again fall into disrepair.

The article got me thinking about my cemetery, the one that I had spent a semester investigating as a requirement for a history course at George Mason University. What would happen to it once all of the descen-dants had moved or passed on themselves? Would anyone care enough to maintain it? Frying Pan Park Baptist Cemetery is quite lucky in that respect. It is on the grounds of the Frying Pan spring Meeting House building, which has been designated a historic landmark in Fairfax County and is protected and maintained by the Fairfax County Park Authority. My cemetery will remain in good condition as long as the Park Authority exists.

No longer anxious over the idea of my cemetery being in a state of disrepair any-time soon, I allowed my mind to wonder about the other 700 cemeteries sprinkled across Fairfax County, let alone those across the entire united states. Who is going to protect them? Who will see to their maintenance?

some will be maintained by the few local organizations, such as the Fairfax County Cemetery Preservation Association, that were founded by local citizens who wanted

to protect cemeteries from constant vandal-ism. unfortunately, they are often non-profit organizations with little to no funding, which makes it practically impossible for any single organization to care for all of the cemeteries in one county.

Although this project started as a George Mason university history course, for me it has become much more. This course has given me a rare window into the past through research into a local cemetery. Not only did I learn about the lives of the people buried there, but I learned interesting tidbits about the local area that I could not have found on Wikipedia. For example, Herndon’s main export in the 1800s/early 1900s was milk. Farmers would load train cars full of milk to be taken from the stop in Herndon into Wash-ington. Herndon is no longer filled with dairy farms and the train station was closed in the

1950s, but the history remains in the form of a museum in the old train station.

To me, spending time researching a cemetery is not creepy or bizarre. It’s simply fascinating.

Cemeteries on parkland in Fairfax County are overseen by the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Cultural Resource Management and Protection Section.

Author Kimberly Harney is a George Mason University student who was enrolled in a spring 2011 history class entitled Dead in Virginia. Using small cemeteries as an example, the class teaches students to mine history “as a real historian, not just a student finding out what historians do.” ResOURces is grateful to GMU Global Affairs Program Director T. Mills Kelly for his help in producing this story.

a student’s Unexpected Cemetery discoveryBy Kimberly Harney

H i S T O R Y / PA R T n E R S i P

GMU student Kimberly Harney found the small cemetery at the Frying Pan Meeting House a fascinating window into the past.

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learn about the events and resources in your parks. Subscribe to the quarterly newsletter ResOURces. We’ll send you an email with the link each time it’s published.

learn about events, programs and services in your parks through your Facebook account.

The Fairfax County Park Authority now is on Facebook.

9summer 2011

Pohick Rangers Program Turns 20

e N V I r o N M e N TA l e D u C AT I o N

one of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s longest-running and most successful nature programs is 20 years old. The Pohick rangers program at Hidden Pond Nature Center (HPNC) in springfield is marking two decades of turning youth into

outdoor adventurers.

Pohick rangers is a series of classes offered to about 20 kids each spring and fall at Hidden Pond. They learn about forestry, geology, biology, aquatic life, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals by using the woods and wetlands of Hid-den Pond and Pohick Stream Valley Parks as their classroom.

HPNC Assistant Manager Mike McCaffrey has been at the helm all the way. up close and personal is the teaching mode

for Pohick rangers. “If the subject is soils, we dig. If the subject is stream life, we look under rocks in the stream bed to see what lives there,” said McCaffrey.

Parents picking up their children after a rangers program are often heard to say, “you’re filthy.”

over the years, hundreds of kids have experienced the muck of Hidden Pond, been covered in the burs of weedy fall wildflowers, or examined the pellets of undigested fur and bones regurgitated by owls. The program often produces teen volunteers for Hidden Pond and, either in spite of or because of their experiences, more than a few have found career paths in the natural sciences.

Pohick rangers “is the one program that I have done over the years where I am able to see the importance of hands-on science study in the field with young people

at an early age,” said McCaffrey. “It seems to instill a greater longing for further study of our natural world or science in general as they grow older.”

Mike McCaffrey has been at the head of the Pohick Rang-ers program for 20 years

Pohick Rangers get up close and personal with wildlife

Learning what’s in the woods and water is a big part of the Pohick Rangers program.

Pohick Rangers aren’t afraid to get a little wet and dirty.

Circles at Frying Pan Farm Park

The arena is not the only place for equestrians at Frying Pan Farm Park to mount up.

The Allan Herschell carousel that used to reside at Lee District Park is up and running at Frying Pan on the grounds near the Country Store, playground and old Floris Schoolhouse.

The carousel was moved to make room for a new Family Recreation Area featur-ing a spray park and accessible tree house at lee District.

Take a ride this summer on a nearly century-old carousel at Frying Pan Farm Park.

The Park Authority’s Allan Herschell carousel has been moved from Lee District Park to Frying Pan Farm Park. Lee District has a new Family Recreation Area.

10 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

H I s T o r y

The Fairfax County Courthouse skirmish

The first Confederate officer to die in the Civil War was Captain John Quincy Marr, who died

June 1, 1861, at Fairfax Courthouse. The county takes note of his death 150 years ago with two commemorative programs in early June.

starting at 6 p.m. on June 1, the City of Fairfax Civil War sesquicen-tennial Committee and the Fairfax County sesquicentennial Committee will present a commemorative pro-gram at the John Quincy Marr Marker in front of the Massey Building (4100 Chain Bridge rd.). The marker stands at the spot where Captain Marr died.

On June 4, there will be a re-enactment of the first organized land engagement of the Civil War. It will take place west of the Courthouse grounds at the corner of North and Main streets. re-enactors will meet with the public later at Historic Blenheim (3610 old lee Highway).

More details on these and other Civil War commemorative events in Fairfax County are online at www.fxva.com/150/events/fairfax-county/.

Re-enactors will be part of the June 1 ceremony marking the 150th anniver-sary of the death of the first Confederate officer killed in the Civil War.

New exhibit at sully Historic site

There’s a little more history and a little more to see on a tour at Sully Historic Site. Tour patrons now have a new orienta-tion area where they can browse and gain deeper insight into

the people who lived in the late 18th century home of Richard Bland Lee, Northern Virginia’s first Congressman.

The site’s new east Wing exhibit opened in April. It includes color-ful interpretive panels updated with new information and research as well as an interactive touch-screen video display. The room’s former display panels blocked the windows that now open onto beautiful views of the grounds.

Videos running in the exhibit room include information on the house tour and sully’s slave quarters. Future videos are planned on the site’s role in the Civil War and on a children’s squirrel game.

The exhibit boards display information on:

• The history of the land around the house• The Lee family wealth and social position• Lee’s life and contributions to democracy• Mrs. Lee’s role as a household manager• The building architecture and construction• How Sully came to be preserved• A genealogical chart of the Lee family• The site’s farming history• Some of Lee’s enslaved laborers who lived and worked

on the land• House artifacts and archaeological finds from the site• The Lee family’s famed pet white squirrel

The exhibit was funded in part by Fairfax County park bonds and a Mastenbrook matching grant co-sponsored by the Sully Foundation, Ltd., in the name of Henry Mackall. Sully Historic Site is at 3650 Historic Sully Way in Chantilly, VA.

A new exhibit funded by park bonds and a grant co-sponsored by the Sully Foundation is now on display at Sully Historic Site.

Historic Properties Rental services

rustic, privileged, historic.

The resource Management Division of the Fairfax County Park Authority has historic properties available for weddings, corporate and social gatherings. rent one for your next soiree.

Call 703-827-0269 or see the sites on the Web at www.fair-faxcounty.gov/parks/weddings.htm.

Cabell’s Mill in CentrevilleClark House in Falls Church

Dranesville Tavern in DranesvilleGreat Falls Grange in Great Falls

Hunter House in ViennaOld Forestville Schoolhouse in Great Falls

Stone Mansion in AlexandriaWakefield Chapel in Annandale

11summer 2011

N AT u r e

Be an air FilterHelp Keep the Air Clean

summer can bring occasional health advisories because of diminished air quality on hot days in metropolitan Washington.

Help protect our air quality with a few voluntary actions:

• Limit driving; combine trips; telework

• use bus and rail lines or carpool

• use an electric or manual lawn mower instead of gas-powered

• Refuel vehicles after dusk and avoid idling

• Reduce air conditioning use by raising the thermostat one or two degrees

Daily Air Quality Index forecasts and more air quality information are online.

Catch The Buzz on BeesDid you know that most bees do not

sting? In fact, most don’t even have stingers.

learn about bees from the newest member of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s award-winning series of stewardship brochures. Catch the buzz on bees, beavers, Canada geese, deer, wildlife conflicts, fox, coyotes, spiders and snakes, invasive plants, pollen and pets in parks at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/stewardshipbrochures.htm.

The Park Authority has added information about bees to its award-winning lineup of stewardship brochures.

Fishing in the ParksIt’s a common question. Is there fishing in the parks?

yes there is, and it can be quite rewarding if you match the right time and place.

Fairfax County parks offer both river and lake fishing opportuni-ties. you’ll find the information you need to get started online in the Spring 2009 issue of ResOURces.

Wet a line this summer at any of dozens of places to fish in Fairfax County parks. Remember to recycle your used fishing line.

Get Ticked OffAvoid Ticks This summer

Warm summer days bring us out to the parks. enjoy the county’s natural resources this summer without taking any of them home.

That includes ticks.

you’ll find information about avoiding and dealing with ticks in the Spring 2010 issue of ResOURces and on the Fairfax County website.

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12 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

S T E W A R D S H i P / V i S i T T H E PA R K S

Take a liking to your parks.us on Facebook

equal access/special accommodationsThe Fairfax County Park Authority is committed to equal access in all programs and services. special accommodations will be provided upon request. Please call the ADA/Inclusion Coordinator 703-324-8563 • TTY 703-803-3354 • www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ada.htm

A Fairfax County, VA., publication

encouraging start for Parking donation Program

County residents didn’t stand for it when the installation of the park-ing donation box at Huntley Meadows Park was slightly delayed this spring. Site Manager Kevin Munroe said more than “a dozen people came to the front desk and said, ‘i want to give you money anyway.’”

The vandal-proof donation box was installed in the parking lot near the visitors’ center in April, and Munroe says people who were expect-ing to see the box in March donated more than $100 at the front desk before the installation. Munroe said public reaction to the donation box has been “very positive so far,” adding, “I’ve been surprised almost to the point of being alarmed that there have been no objections.” There are no parking fees on a day-to-day basis for county residents at Fairfax County Park Authority sites.

The suggested donation is $2 per car. There are no tickets or fines for not donating, and Munroe feels that’s one of the two keys to the program’s success. The other is that the money goes to a non-profit organization, the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park (FOHMP), to support programs, operations and resource protection in the park.

FoHMP, in cooperation with the Park Authority, is coordinating the pilot program.

The Friends of Huntley Meadows Park are helping support the site through a donation box at the parking lot near the site’s visitor center

archaeology Has Friends

Parks need friends, and the Fairfax County Park Authority

has some good ones. Among the newest are the Friends of Fairfax Archaeology and Cultural resources (FoFA). The group signed a memo-randum of understanding with the Park Authority in March. The agreement formalizes FoFA’s ongoing support of archaeological and cultural resource protection and education activities within the county.

FoFA helps publicize and expand volunteer opportunities in archaeology and historical conservation, including the current archaeological dig at old Colchester in lorton, VA.

sallie lyons of lyonshare studios formed and incorporated FoFA. she promotes preservation and archeology in Colchester and provides pro bono graphic design for historical interpretive trailside displays through her studio.

For information about FoFA, email fofarch@gmail.com.

Fairfax County Park Authority Director John W. Dargle, Jr. and FOFA Presi-dent Sallie Lyons. Standing behind them are Resource Management Division Director Cindy Walsh; FOFA Vice-President Paula Elsey; Cultural Resource Protection Branch Manager Dr. Elizabeth Crowell; and Jerry Lyons of Lysonshare Studios.

life’s a Picnic When You Park it

Come picnic in a park. And bring all your friends.

Got a birthday, church event or big family picnic coming up? The Fairfax County Park Authority has shelters and amphitheaters that make a perfect site for it.

Mason District, ellanor C. lawrence, Twin lakes Golf Course, Burke lake, Colvin run Mill, riverbend, Frying Pan, lake Fairfax, Hidden Pond and lake Accotink are just some of the park sites with reservable picnic areas.

sports equipment bags can be rented at Burke Lake, Brookfield, Frying Pan, Lake Accotink, Lake Fairfax, Lee District and River-bend. For more information call 703-324-8732.

Download and complete a picnic application. Mail it to Picnic Co-ordinator, FCPA Park Services Division, Suite 927, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA, 22035, or fax it to (703) 631-2004.

All of the picnic shelter guidelines are online at www.fairfax-county.gov/parks/picnics/.

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Summer event Highlights

Here are the major events taking place this summer in the parks:

Children’s Fishing Fun derby June 4, (5-17 yrs.), Visitor Center, Riverbend Park, 9:30-10:30 a.m. or 11:30-12:30 p.m.Call park for reservations. $7riverbend is the place for fishing fun. Fishing activities, including casting, rigging your own fishing rod and games. Participants rotate through stations. Mini bank fishing tourna-ments for kids at 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. each tournament is an additional $5. Prizes awarded. Program meets the requirements for Wolf scout fishing. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Cardboard Boat regattaJune 5, (All ages), Lake Accotink Park, 703-569-0285, 12 noon, (Boat judging); 2 p.m. (Races begin)The regatta is back! Cheer on race contes-tants as they sink or float in their cardboard boats. To enter, register your boat(s) in advance: $15 per boat until noon on June 3; after that, $25 until noon on June 5. Admis-sion for spectators and contestants is free. Please note: $4 parking fee per vehicle applies to all vehicles entering the park on race day. Download the registration form at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/accotink.

wood Carving LessonsJune 5 ,19, July 3,17, August 7,21, (8 yrs. and older), Colvin Run Mill, No reserva-tions required, 12 noon-4 p.m., FreeWood carvers lend their tools and expertise to uncover your hidden artistic talent as you create a creature from a block of wood. Free lesson, nominal charge for wood blanks.

grinding demonstrationJune 5, 19, July 3, 17, August 7, 21, Colvin Run Mill, No reservations required, 12 noon-3 p.m, Tour cost: $6/adults, $5/student 16 and up with ID, $4/child and senior. The miller will be grinding, conditions permit-ting. Call 703-759-2771 to confirm.

Café Cattail at Huntley Meadows ParkJune 17, (All ages), No reservations required, 7-9:30 p.m., FreeHuntley Meadows’ very own coffeehouse. enjoy a relaxing evening applauding our community’s talents. Musicians, dancers and poets are encouraged to share their arts with a nature theme.

Huntley Meadows Park Manager walk and talkJune 18, (6 and older), No reservations required, 5:30-7:30 p.m., FreeJoin Park Manager Kevin Munroe and learn about the wetland restoration project and the wildlife for which the park is known. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Start Here: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes/

Classes, programs and events in Fairfax County parks are listed online. Click on the links below and follow any instructions in parentheses for information about what’s happening in the parks:

Boating/Kayaking

Campgrounds

Camps

Children’s Corner

Equestrian

Farm Events (Click on the Equestrian/Farm link box to see current program listings)

Fishing Classes

Gardening (Click on the Gardening link box to see current program listings)

Historic Properties Rental Services

History (Click on the History link box to see current program listings)

Meeting Room/Picnic Shelter Rentals

Nature (Click on the Nature link box to see current program listings at nature centers)

Scout Programs

Upcoming Events

Interested in the environment?All things environmental

are on Fairfax County’s Facebook environment page.

https://www.facebook.com/fairfax-county#!/fairfaxcountyenvironment

Learn about Huntley Meadows on a hike with the park manager this summer.

Phot

o by

Jan

e sc

ully.

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14 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

antique Car ShowJune 19, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794, No reservations required. $9 per adult, $8 per senior, $6 per childCelebrate Father’s Day at sully’s Annual Antique Car show, co-sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Authority and The Model A Ford Club of America. More than 400 antique and classic cars fill the grounds. Buy the car of your dreams at the Car Corral or search for the perfect accessory in the Flea Market with more than 100 vendors. Treat Dad to a delicious lunch and get your toes tapping to the music of Jumpin’ Jupiter. Tour of the first floor of the 1794 house included.

Fathers’ day CruiseJune 19, (All ages), Lake Accotink Park, 703-569-0285. Cruises at noon, 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Boarding fee: $4 for dads, $7 for other adults, $4 for children ages 3 and older.Treat Dad to a special day at lake Accotink Park. sit back and listen while your tour boat guide shares facts about the history of the park, the lake and the surrounding area. refreshments served on board. reservations and advance payment required. Cruise canceled in case of rain or gusty winds. refunds issued only if cruise is canceled.

Sunset CruiseJune 25, 7:00–8:00 p.m., (18 yrs. and older) Lake Accotink Park, 703-569-0285

Summer Hunter Horse Show SeriesJune 28, July 12, July 26, Aug. 16, Aug. 30, 4 p.m., Frying Pan Farm Park, 703-437-9101,Spectators FreeWalk-trot-and-canter beginner horse show. Classes include hunters, ponies, equitation and more. outdoors.

ice Cream MakingJuly 2, 16, 23, Colvin Run Mill, No reservations required, 12 noon-3 p.m., $1.25/cup Here’s the Scoop: July is national ice Cream Month. Celebrate saturdays in July by helping crank a batch of homemade ice cream and tasting the cold, creamy results. Make a different flavor each saturday and visit every week to discover your favorite.

world war ii Living HistoryJuly 9 and 10; 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday; Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794, $8 per adult, $6 per senior and child or two-day ticket $14 per adult, $10 per senior and child. Free to active duty military with ID and to veterans. Travel back to the era of World War II as sully Historic site hosts Allied and Axis re-enactors for a weekend of demonstrations, memories and music. Get an up-close look at what life was like for soldiers and civilians throughout the war and talk to them about their jobs, living quarters, food and life in the 1940s. House tour included.

Concert in the gardenJuly 13, Green Spring Gardens, 7-8 p.m., FreeBe our guests for a musical evening in the gar-dens with the Fairfax symphony Brass Quintet. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy on the lawn. The Friends of Green spring (FroGs) Board serves complimentary cake and lemonade.

Sunset CruiseJuly 16, 7:00–8:00 p.m., (18 yrs. and older), Lake Accotink Park, 703-569-0285

Huntley Meadows Park Manager walk and talkJuly 23, (6 and older), No reservations required, 5:30-7:30 p.m., FreeJoin Park Manager Kevin Munroe and learn about the wetland restoration project and the wildlife for which the park is known. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

the Fairfax Symphony woodwind ensemble ConcertJuly 24, 2-3 p.m., No reservations required, Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794The Fairfax symphony Woodwind ensemble performs a free concert on the lawn at sully Historic site. Bring your blanket, lawn chair and a picnic to enjoy a summer afternoon. Canceled if rain.

Carnival Fun at Frying Pan Farm ParkAugust 4 and 5, (All ages), Frying Pan Farm Park, 703-437-9101, Free parking and admissionCome during the week when the park is less crowded to enjoy free shows at 10 a.m. in addition to the rides, amusements and treats offered during the 4-H Fair. Farmer Jack per-forms kid-friendly songs on Thursday, Aug. 4, and Master Puppeteer Bob Brown performs on Friday, Aug. 5. Visit farm animals, take a wagon ride ($3) or walk the nature trail. $12 per person in advance ($20 if purchased day of) for a daytime ride pass. Contact Frying Pan Farm Park for ride pass details. unlimited ride specials will be sold 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; honored 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Family Carnival Fun night at the FarmAugust 5, (All ages), Frying Pan Farm Park, 703-437-9101sample the carnival fun early as games and rides are open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tasty fair food and beverages for sale. Park open in the evening for regular ticket sales. Free parking and admission on Friday night.

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63rd annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair & Farm ShowAugust 6 and 7, (All ages), Frying Pan Farm Park, 703-437-9101. 4-H Fair runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Carnival rides open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Free admission to the 4-H Fair, $5 parking feeold-fashioned country fun with carnival games, rides and exhibits. Watch the 4-H exhibitors get their farm animals ready for the show, visit exhibit booths, enjoy tasty fair food, watch entertainment on stage, see dog and horse shows. see farmers use antique equipment in the fields and around the barn, watch a tractor pull or touch a big truck. Try your hand at milking a cow or a goat or shelling corn Visit: http://4hfairfax.org/Exhibitors.html

Civil war encampment weekendAugust 13 and 14, 10 a.m.-4p.m. Satur-day; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday; Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794, $8 per adult, $6 per senior and child; or two-day ticket $14 per adult, $10 per senior and childFederal and Confederate troops recreate Civil War daily life as re-enactors demonstrate the work of the army. skirmishes each day include infantry, artillery and cavalry. Visit the weekend encampment and discover a soldier’s lifestyle during this turbulent time in America’s history. enjoy live music and a fashion show. House tour includes artifacts rarely on exhibit belonging to the Haight family, mid-19th century residents at sully.

the doctor is inAugust 20, (5 yrs. and older), No reserva-tions required, 1- 4 p.m., Sully Historic Site, $7/adult, $6/student, $5/childMedical care in the 1700s and 1800s was very different from the way it is today. Visit sully’s 18th century kitchen and learn about the preparation of home remedies.

Sunset CruiseAugust 22, 7:00–8:00 p.m., (18 yrs. and older) Lake Accotink Park, 703-569-0285

29th annual Begonia Show and SaleAugust 27, Green Spring Gardens, 9am-4:30 p.m.August 28, Green Spring Gardens, 12-3:30 p.m., FreeFeast your eyes at this show sponsored by the Potomac Branch of the American Begonia society. expand your plant palette with splashes of color and shape for homes and greenhouses that last long after frosts have put outdoor gardens to bed. The sale offers a wide variety of begonias, including subtropi-cal species.

virginia indian Festival September 10, (All Ages), 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Riverbend Park Visitors Center, 703-759-9018, No reservations required, $5 The 2011 festival includes eight Virginia and Washington, DC-area tribes, including the rappahannock dancers and drummers. Indian crafts, pottery and music for sale. enjoy live demonstrations, talks by tribe members and tool-making experts and local archaeologists, plus bow-and-arrow shooting and spear throwing with an atlatl. Help build an authentic dug-out canoe.

Sully Quilt and Fiber arts Show and SaleSeptember 11, (All ages), 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794, $9 per adult, $8 per senior, $6 per childVendors assemble on the grounds of the 1794 home of Richard Bland Lee at the 37th annual fall event to show and sell new and antique quilts, other fiber arts, quilt-related merchandise, antique linens, antique sew-ing tools, books and fabric. Northern Virginia Quilters unlimited members provide quilt-ing demonstrations and lectures. Hayfield Country Quilters provide a beautiful door prize quilt. show includes children’s activities, quilt appraisals, quilted door prize and food. rain or shine. House tour included.

Fall garden FestivalSeptember 17, Green Spring Gardens, No reservations required, 9am-3 p.m., Free admissionsupport one of Virginia’s most innovative and exciting public gardens. The Fall Festival is a Friends of Green spring sponsored fundraiser filled with activities, music, silent auction and an expanded plant and craft sale. Proceeds help acquire plants for the garden and add to Green spring’s educational efforts.

teas For information on teas at Green Spring Gardens, call 703-642-5173

garden Stroll & teaJune 9, June 23, July 14, August 18, September 22, (13 yrs. and older), Call park for reservations, 1-3 p.m., $27Take a docent-led stroll through the demon-stration gardens and enjoy afternoon tea at the Historic House. learn about Green spring Gardens, one of the preeminent places for horticulture in the Washington, D.C. area.

Hidden Pond’s 2011 envirothon Team claimed 2nd Place this

spring at the Virginia state Envirothon competition in richmond. Team members Neal MacDonald, liam Berigan, owen Mulvey-McFerron, Murjan Hammad, Ben simon and Clairisse Cheniae produced the best finish ever for Hidden Pond at the state event. envirothon is a nationwide natural resources competition for high school students

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16 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

a Jane austen tea PartyJune 26, (13 yrs. and older), Call park for reservations, 1-3 p.m., $27 step back into regency england with a treasury of tea-drinking quotations, anecdotes and recipes from Jane Austen’s novels. Discover that tea was a sign of social stand-ing and fine hospitality.

rangers, raiders and Spies,oh My! July 31, Call park for reservations, 1-3 p.m., $27Hear fascinating stories of Civil War spycraft and the men and women who served as agents for the Blue and the Gray. Meet two important Civil War spies with close con-nections to Green spring whose undercover exploits changed the course of the war.

Hats and gloves tea Party August 28, Call park for reservations, 1-3 p.m., $27Join us for tea in your favorite hat and gloves. explore changing styles, from the sublime to the ridiculous, of fashion accessories throughout history and learn how they found a place at the tea table.

a taste of Honey tea September 25, Call park for reservations, 1-3p, $27enter the awe-inspiring world of honeybees. learn how and why they make honey and why no two honeys are exactly alike. learn about the many varietals and blends and how to cook with honey. enjoy delicious liquid gold with your teatime scones.

tasting Parties at the Historic HouseIndulge your passion for foods and flavors. sample different types of a specific food or drink with accompaniments. learn how to taste with all your senses and expand your culinary knowledge with a lecture and tasting. (english tea not included.) Private tasting parties available on request. Call 703-941-7987.

Birthday Party PackagesWhat better place to celebrate than in your favorite park? With an array of birthday party options and attractions ranging from swim-ming, fishing, history and nature exploration to carousels, mini-golf and a miniature train, there’s a party style to suit every child. For party particulars, check the site listings on www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parties.htm or call the sites directly. Audrey Moore RECenter: 703-321-7081

Burke Lake Park: 703-323-6600

Colvin Run Mill Historic Site: 703-759-2771

Cub Run RECenter: 703-817-9407

Frying Pan Park: 703-437-9101

George Washington RECenter: 703-780-8894

Green Spring Gardens: 703-642-5173

Lake Accotink Park: 703-569-0285.

Lee District RECenter: 703-922-9841

Mt. Vernon RECenter: 703-768-3224

Oak Marr RECenter: 703-281-6501.

Providence RECenter: 703-698-1351

Riverbend Nature Center: 703-759-9018

Sully Historic Site: 703-437-1794

group kayak tours (14 yrs. and older), weekdays only, program length 2 hours, reservations and advanced payment required, canceled if inclement weather or hazardous river conditions. One to six people $312, $52/each additional person, maximum 10.Riverbend Park offers kayak tours on request for friends, office groups or anyone looking for a scenic day out. Paddle amongst the river islands, relax and enjoy the river wildlife. No previous experience required. We’ll get you started with the basics. This is not a whitewater tour. Kayaks provided, one-person and two-person kayaks available.

Fishing Fun Birthday PartiesAvailable through September, (5-12 yrs.), Riverbend Park, Bank fishing parties $175Celebrate your birthday by having fishing fun with your friends and family.

Fishing guide at riverbend ParkJune 1 - September 30, Thursdays- Mondays, (5 yrs. and older plus adult), reservations and advanced payment required. Maximum 3 people, $85Don’t have fishing experience? Want to try fishing from a boat? Go with a park naturalist on a two-hour boat trip in search of sunfish and smallmouth bass.

Fishing Classes at riverbend ParkFishing programs for children and families and fly fishing programs for teens and adults are offered throughout the season. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend/ for the schedule and to register online.