ResOURces

VOLUME 11, NO. 3 FALL 2011

NATURE, HISTORY AND HORTICULTURE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY

Hitch a Ride Through the Parks Park Authority expands its popular wagon rides It was once a specialty of Frying Pan Farm Park. However, the wagon rides of Frying Pan have been so popular that the Park Authority is spreading the fun across the county. Now there‟s probably a wagon ride in a park close to you.

Frying Pan has hosted tractor-pulled wagon rides for years, and this fall the rides are rolling out to four other large parks, all of them rich in natural and cultural resources. It‟s a new way to experience the stories and beauty of the parks, and you‟ll see large areas of the sites without having to walk long distances. The rides allow access to parts of newer parks, like Laurel Hill, before the construction of trails or buildings. As Halloween nears, some parks will offer haunted hayrides.

For many residents, the rides are a backstage pass to their favorite show, a behind-thescenes tour of a favorite place. Wagon rides can take visitors to sections of parks that are difficult to reach. With a naturalist or historian riding along as an interpretive guide, the 20- to 90-minute tours are a way for county residents to connect to their resources. Operation Branch Manager Todd Brown of the agency‟s Resource Management Division (RMD) came up with the idea and spurred the initiative to expand the rides, which he calls “a moveable classroom.”

“You‟ll get to see parts of the park that most others don„t,” says Huntley Meadows Park Manager Kevin Munroe. The rides are a “great way to use areas of the park and equipment that weren‟t being used for programs.”

The guides tailor their rides to their audience. “First-timers learn about the park, and repeat visitors are presented with new facts and experiences. If it is a school group that needs SOL (Standards of Learning) requirements met, guides will cover those on the trip,” Brown says.

Take a wagon ride at these Fairfax County Park Authority sites: Frying Pan Farm Park (703-437-9101) Huntley Meadows Park (703-768-2525) Laurel Hill (contact Hidden Pond Nature Center, 703-4519588) Riverbend Park (703-759-9018) Sully Historic Site (703-437-1794)

continued on page 2 Fairfax County Park Authority | Fairfax, VA 22035 | 703-324-8695 | Fax 703-324-3996 | TTY 703-803-3354 | www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources Fall 2011

1

VISIT THE PARKS 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

Wagon Rides, from page 1 The interpreters work from talking points, but the best parts of the rides aren‟t scripted. They happen naturally, like the huge swarm of migrating dragonflies and the osprey that Munroe saw on one of his rides, or the frog convention that was taking place on a blue tarp used to control invasive plants that captivated riders on another trip.

Wagon rides in the parks are fun and informative. The invasive plant

became a topic for this tour of the woods and water at Brown says, “The rides give the mile-a-minute Huntley Meadows. audience an inexpensive way to do something different than the usual park visit. They allow site staff to directly educate and entertain a lot of visitors.” One staff member or volunteer can reach a group of 25 people on a single trip.

“This has the potential to be a gateway program for us,” Munroe added, noting that many rivers said it was the first program they‟ve taken at Huntley Meadows.

Riverbend Park has added weekend rides and rides by reservation that explore natural resources along the Potomac River, and Sully Historic Site has introduced rides that delve into 18th century history. Staff at Hidden Pond Nature Center organize wagon ride tours of Laurel Hill, an unstaffed park that‟s rich in cultural and natural resources. Hidden Pond Manager Jim Pomeroy says, “The wagon rides are a great way to introduce people to our larger parks, including persons with disabilities, helping us serve a wide range of the population.”

The wagon rides support the county‟s vision of practicing environmental stewardship, are extensions of RMD‟s stated goal to build stewardship within the community, and fulfill RMD‟s mission to “interpret and preserve Fairfax County's natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment, health and inspiration of current and future generations.”

RMD Education and Outreach Manager Tammy Schwab is a strong supporter of the new rides. “The program reaches a lot of people, generates revenue and interprets the mission,” she said. “It causes little impact on park resources and even helps educate visitors on the need to protect our resources. It allows the park to continue to develop new programs and to re-energize existing ones. It is a moveable program and people love action. It gives visitors a reason to extend their stay at our park and to come again.”

Need directions or more information?

Editor/Writer:

David Ochs

Photos:

Don Sweeney, FCPA David Ochs

Production:

Brenna Kleiman

Published quarterly by the Fairfax County Park Authority, 12055 Government Center Parkway,, Fairfax, VA 22035-1118 Riders on some Park Authority wagon rides get a chance to explore their parks up close and in detail.

2

ResOURces

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

PARK FOUNDATION

Go Out and Play in Chessie’s Big Backyard A new, fully-accessible playground, Chessie‟s Big Backyard, is coming to the Family Recreation Area at Lee District Park. Following the successful opening of the accessible treehouse and Our Special Harbor sprayground earlier this year, the Fairfax County Park Foundation is leading a fundraising effort to create a playground area in the spirit of Clemyjontri Park to help complete Lee District.

The creation of the fully accessible treehouse and sprayground completed the first phase of additions at Lee District Park. Phase two of the Family Recreation Area will include a Chessie‟s Big Backyard playground area, a fully accessible carousel and a new picnic shelter. The future playground will maintain the Chesapeake Bay and treehouse themes of the park to help highlight the challenges facing the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the environmental stewardship values of the Park Authority.

The accessible playground and carousel at Clemyjontri Park enjoy enormous popularity, demonstrating that the demand for such facilities is rapidly increasing. Clemyjontri‟s success is a signal to increase the supply of such facilities, and Chessie‟s Big Backyard aims to meet this demand.

“We hope to create a special type of park where all individuals, including those with special needs, can enjoy a full-day park experience with family and friends. It will truly be a unique park and set a new standard for fully accessible parks,” said Roberta A. Longworth, Executive Director of the Fairfax County Park Foundation. “We have a strong steering committee, chaired by former Lee District Supervisor Dana Kauffman. We hope to attract a large base of donors to help us launch the first section of the playground in three years.”

Park Foundation Receives National Humanitarian Award

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has named the Fairfax County Park Foundation as the recipient of its 2011 National Corporate Humanitarian Award. The award is given annually to a corporation or foundation that has made The Fairfax County Park Foundation hopes this project will empower children with special significant and consistent contributions to the recreation, parks and conservation field by needs and ease the financial burden that disabilities may place on families by providing a sponsorship, creation or implementation of a program free recreation facility where children of all ability levels may interact. The Foundation be- or project. It will be presented in November at the lieves this interaction will build friendships and foster respect for and tolerance of people NRPA‟s Congress and Exposition in Atlanta. NRPA is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to with special needs so they may be defined by who they are and not by their disability. advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts The Fairfax County Park Foundation (www.fairfaxparkfoundation.org) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that that enhance quality of life for all people. 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.

Fall 2011

3

RESOURCE PROTECTION

If You Build Them, They Will Come

By Carol Ochs, Park Authority Volunteer

Ever wonder why your favorite trail meanders here and not there?

Fairfax County residents love their trails. Trails are the number one reason people visit county parks. Designing a trail may take years from start to finish. Liz Cronauer, project manager for the Fairfax County Park Authority Planning and Development Division, says building a new trail is a team effort that balances the public‟s wants and the need to preserve and protect public parkland.

How does the Park Authority decide where a new trail should go? “We look at logical places that we would want to connect to existing trails, to existing neighborhoods, to facilities like RECenters or libraries or just nice things within the park,” says Cronauer. She also says the Park Authority considers which trails should get highest priority, how funding should be applied and what type of maintenance will be required.

Just as important as where a trail should go is where it shouldn‟t. Cronauer notes that planners consider public concerns and what areas should be avoided because of cultural resources, archaeological artifacts or “plant communities or wildlife habitats that can‟t tolerate human interaction.”

The flow of water is a major consideration in any trail project, and trails ideally should be “not too flat and not too steep.” Cronauer says a flat trail can have drainage problems. Frequent flooding could make it muddy and hard to maintain. Trails built into a steep hillside may have erosion problems.

Trail surface materials need to be selected, too. Natural surface trails are popular with horseback riders, mountain bikers and some joggers. They can be narrower than paved trails, easier to build and easier “to meander” through the woods. Cronauer says “sustainable is the buzz word” today in natural trail construction. Planners strive to locate and design trails that require little maintenance and that are made from natural materials such as gravel and stone dust, rather than asphalt.

Impact on Animals Though trails may be popular with people, they can create hardships for the plants and animals that people want to enjoy along the trail. Charles Smith, a Natural Resources Specialist with the Resource Management Division of the Park Authority, says, “The very presence of humans and their dogs can greatly influence animals and how they behave.”

Smith says domestic dogs have a huge impact in the parks. He notes that even when dogs are on a leash, the smells they leave behind can influence animals as far as 300 feet from a trail. Deer, foxes and raccoons may thrive around people and their pets, but more sensitive species, such as the ovenbird, may avoid the trail area. The stress of a new trail can affect the birds‟ breeding success and how they gain weight to migrate. When a trail is topped with asphalt the movement of amphibians who cross those paths that will be used by dogs, hikers and bikers must be considered. continued on page 5 4

ResOURces

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

RESOURCE PROTECTION

Building Trails, from page 4 Impact on Plants Smith says it‟s important to keep trails away from rare plants or plant communities. A traditional asphalt trail may require a significant clearing of woodlands. He notes that “trails introduce a lot of invasive species” that can harm the natural balance in a park system. Non-native seeds can enter an area through trail construction equipment, a hiker‟s clothing, a mountain bike‟s muddy tires or a dog‟s fur.

Protect While Hiking

To protect the county’s parks, it’s important to stay on the trail as much as possible. If you need to stray from the path, Natural Resources Specialist Charles Smith Cronauer says the Park Authority likes to take a “minimal footprint approach” when layadvises you follow these ing out trails, so trails are sometimes placed above sewer lines. She explains, “That land precautions: Bridges may be popular with people, but they can come at great cost financially and in the amount of plants and trees that must be cleared to build a bridge. Trails through wetland areas need to be avoided because a trail can completely change an area‟s hydrology, even creating dams where none existed.

has already been disturbed and it‟s already been cleared, and if trees have grown back up on it, there‟s a good chance they‟re going to be cut down again. The problem is that sewer lines are straight. So, you have a trail that goes straight, which is not the most aesthetically pleasing.”

With well over 300 miles of trails, the Fairfax County Park Authority has something for everyone from hikers and birdwatchers to mountain bikers and equestrians. To find a trail near you, go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/trailsframe.htm and start exploring.



  



Go off trail in smaller, community parks where there‟s already significant impact from people.

Don‟t go off trail in large groups.

Be careful of vegetation. Don‟t trample it.

Be quiet and walk carefully. You‟ll see more if you try to blend with the landscape.

Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but memories. Try to make your visit as unmemorable as possible for the park‟s permanent residents.

Fall 2011

5

STEWARDSHIP

Huntley Meadows: Got Boardwalk?

Recycled milk jugs key to environmentallyresponsible boardwalk Huntley Meadows will have new surface boards on its wetlands boardwalk this fall.

More than one million screws will ultimately be needed to replace cracked, splintered and dated boards. The current boardwalk was updated to American with Disabilities Act standards in 1993, and the park got 18 years of use from pressure-treated lumber that was forecast to have a 15-year life span. The support structure underneath the boards will last another 12 to 15 years, and Huntley Meadows Manager Kevin Munroe says the boardwalk “is staying in exactly the same place.”

Remember all those milk jugs you recycled? They helped create the new surface boards, which are made from 100% high density polyethylene (HDPE), 90% of which comes from recycled milk jugs. This is the most environmentally friendly, non-toxic plastic “lumber” product on the market and is used nationwide by parks and wildlife refuges. Huntley Meadows is the first public property in Northern Virginia to use HDPE lumber.

Set-up and temporary trail closures began in July. The replacement is scheduled to be completed by October. Park visitation is relatively low in August. “August and September is when the wetland is usually at its lowest and driest, so animals have been moving out of it anyway,” Munroe said.

The board replacement opens the way for the park‟s approximately 200,000 annual visitors to continue enjoying the 1,500 acres of Huntley Meadows‟ majestic forests, wildflower-speckled meadows and vast wetlands bursting with life.

Drop by this fall to walk the new boardwalk and spot some of the more than 200 species of birds that have been identified in the park.

Parts of the Huntley Meadows boardwalk will be closed until October while surface boards are replaced.

Funding for the $665,000 board replacement project at Huntley Meadows is provided through a 2008 park bond.

Call 703-768-2525 or check the park’s website (www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley/) or Facebook page for updates on the repairs.

Historic Huntley Opening The house that was built for Thomson Francis Mason will be opening to the public soon.

The grandson of George Mason lived at Historic Huntley, a federal period villa built in 1825. The historic house, near the entrance to Huntley Meadows Park, has been undergoing renovation. In recent years, it has been open only for school or scout tours and during semiannual events.

There‟s more about the house online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/histhunt/ and coming in the next issue of ResOURces. Look for the grand re-opening of the historic house in the spring.

6

ResOURces

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

CULTURAL RESOURCES

History in Suburbia

By Aimee Wells, Park Authority Historical Archaeologist Finding History in the Suburbs Though hard to realize when engulfed by traffic congestion, tall buildings and other trappings of modern suburban life, history is all around you. The Park Authority's Cultural Resource Management and Protection Section's staff preserves, protects and interprets that history for county residents.

The job has not been made easier by the county‟s rapid and intense development over the last 40 years, but the Park Authority is proud of the islands of preservation it maintains throughout the community. Some exist where you'd least expect them.

One example is the county's system of stream valley parks. These buffers against human activities that harm the Chesapeake Bay watershed often are home to ancient camping and hunting sites that American Indians used as long as 10,000 years ago. By protecting the watershed, the Park Authority also protects these unique archaeological sites.

Supporting American Indian festivals is one way that the Fairfax County Park Authority preserves and interprets the county’s cultural resources.

In busy Springfield, the Park Authority offers residents the opportunity to relax in a canoe on Lake Accotink. What you might not realize is that while you are paddling around the lake, you are floating over land that surrounded the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. This railroad was of great strategic importance during the Civil War, and the fight to control the flow of troops and supplies along its route was fierce. You can walk along a large section of the old railroad bed in the park, and a well-preserved bridge abutment can be seen near the park office.

Even in perpetually-under-construction Tyson's Corner, the Park Authority preserves such sites as Ash Grove, a home built in the late 1700s for Thomas Fairfax, whose family gives the county its name. The house, along with a detached kitchen and smokehouse structure, sits nestled on parkland in the heart of Tyson's Corner.

These are examples of the history all around us. There are many clues to the historic landscape in everyday features such as the names and alignments of roads, subdivisions and towns which often reflect land use over time.

If you‟re looking at the history of Fairfax County, the Cultural Resource Management and Protection staff can help. They‟re at 703534-3881 and www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/resources-crp.htm.

Fairfax County's 7th Annual History Conference: "The Civil War Comes to Fairfax County" Saturday, November 12, 2011 8:30 am - 4:15 pm Stacy C. Sherwood Conference Center City of Fairfax $20 per person in advance Information and Registration: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/histcomm/event.htm Fall 2011

7

WILDLIFE

How Many Deer Are There, Anyway?

Northern Virginia’s deer problems are well known – auto accidents, munched gardens, woods stripped of undergrowth. There are too many deer for the land.

How many is too many? What‟s normal? How many are there? What do we do about it?

Those are some of the questions Huntley Meadows Park Resource Manager Dave Lawlor set out to answer when he conducted an infrared camera survey to estimate the deer population in Old Colchester on Mason Neck. Four cameras and feeding stations were set up in different sections of the park in January, and a picture was taken when an infrared beam was tripped. Infrared flash reduced any impact on the deer.

Over 16 days, the cameras snapped almost 4,000 photos. Lawlor, who has extensive experience with such surveys in the county, analyzed those photos, learned to identify each deer, and used antlers to identify individual bucks. At times, it was a bit monotonous. “You‟re looking at the same exact background the whole time, just things in the middle and the inside of the frame are changing, so it really makes your eyes go fuzzy after a while,” Lawlor said.

He divided the deer into two groups -- branch-antler bucks and does.

That created a male-female ratio. Lawlor identified 60 deer in the 139-acre park. That‟s equivalent to 278 deer per square mile. He said an estimated healthy population in an eastern forest is 15 to 20 deer per square mile.

The deer population in Northern Virginia is abnormally high because the area has limited hunting, no natural deer predator and plenty of food.

Huntley Meadows Manager Kevin Munroe said, “There‟s actually more food for deer often in suburbia than in a pristine wilderness. People often think suburbia takes away habitat for deer, and to some extent it does, but it actually provides them more food than they would naturally have.”

“The amount of nutrients they can gather in suburbs is probably close to 10 times what they could in a natural system,” Lawlor added. “We‟re increasing carrying capacity. Everybody‟s fertilizing their yards, which is actually nutrients to a deer. We just think we‟re feeding a plant, but feeding that plant feeds deer, too.”

A lot of people feed deer. “You get people in neighborhoods that think they‟re doing a service,” said Lawlor. “They think the poor deer don‟t have anything to eat.”

Lawlor said the impact of deer can be seen by the browse line in some parks. “There‟ll be basically no vegetation for four or five feet off the ground. What vegetation is there is food they just refuse to eat, basically. Mostly invasive plants.”

Three of the Old Colchester cameras revealed a normal, for this area, doe-to-buck ratio of 6.5 to 7.7 does per buck. The fourth camera had a 53-to-1 ratio, indicating either the data somehow was skewed, perhaps by bucks that had dropped their antlers, or maybe bucks don‟t frequent that part of the tract because of the habitat.

There are more does than bucks because bucks are a little more rambunctious than does, a little more risky in life. More bucks roam across roads, more are struck by cars, more are shot, and they fight with each other.

“This is the first reliable deer survey that‟s been done on the whole Mason Neck area,” Lawlor said. Natural Resources Specialist Charles Smith said the survey cost less than $5,000, and he estimated the Park Authority may have saved $10,000 to $15,000 by using in-house skills rather than hiring a contractor. The information garnered from the survey will be published near the end of the year and used by the Park Authority to implement a deer management plan for Old Colchester.

8

ResOURces

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

STEWARDSHIP

Know Your Invasives Identification of non-native invasive plants is now much easier because of the Non-Native Invasive ID and Control Handbook. The Fairfax County Park Authority handbook recently won the 2011 Kudos Marketing Piece Award presented by the National Recreation and Park Association. The award is presented annually to an agency for the most effective piece of collateral material created or distributed in the previous year.

The handbook guides good stewardship of county resources by: • Teaching you about the impact of non-native, invasive plants • Teaching you how to identify invasive plants • Teaching you to determine native from non-native plants • Providing tips for control and eradication of invasive plants • Promoting native species • Inviting residents to care about county parkland • Supporting volunteerism in the county’s Invasive Management Area program The handbook can be purchased at nature centers, riverfront parks and other park sites.

———————

Invasive Management Area Scheduled Workdays Want to help with parkland restoration?

Use cool tools?

Need community service hours?

Support the Invasive Management Area Volunteer Program (IMA) and reduce invasive plants on parkland. Register by noon the day before a workday.

Information is online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/IMA/.

Here are this fall’s scheduled IMA field days: Wed., Sept. 7, Lake Accotink, 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Wed., Sept. 14, Americana Park, 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Wed., Sept. 21, Lake Accotink, 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Sat., Sept 24, Nottoway Park, 9 a.m.-noon Sat., Sept. 24, Pohick Stream Valley-Burke, 10 a.m.-noon Wed., Sept. 28, Lake Accotink, 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 5, Lake Accotink, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 12, Americana, 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 19, Lake Accotink, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 22, Various sites, 9 a.m.-noon Wed., Oct. 26, Lake Accotink, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Wed., Nov. 2, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wed., Nov. 9, Americana, 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Wed., Nov. 16, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 19, Pohick Stream Valley-Burke, 10 a.m.-noon Wed., Nov. 23, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wed., Nov. 30, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Sticky, Purple Things Have you seen one of these purple things dangling in a tree? It’s a glue trap, used to detect the emerald ash borer, an insect that kills ash trees. For more information, call the Fairfax County Forest Pest Branch at 703-324-5304.

Fall 2011

9

STEWARDSHIP

The Problem of Encroachment

By Brenna Kleiman, Park Authority Intern When I think of the term "encroachment," the first thing that comes to mind is a fox sneaking up on unsuspecting prey. While that might not be the actual definition, the general meaning is essentially the same as encroachment on park property, and encroachment is a serious problem in Fairfax County and all over the country.

Encroachment is "advancing beyond the proper limit." This is particularly applicable to parkland, as so many parks are bordered by residential areas. Some encroachment is obvious, such as a fence or a shed built over the property line, but most acts of encroachment are more subtle.

Most people do not intend to encroach on parkland, but merely to clean up or beautify an area so it reflects well on their homes.

However, simple acts such as mowing or cleaning up dead leaves can have a negative impact on the local ecosystem.

Clearing undergrowth on parkland may be an attempt to make an area more aesthetically appealing, but removing undergrowth affects multiple levels of the food web. Without the dead leaves and mold, insects won't have food, which affects birds, rodents and larger mammals. This is similar to the problems caused when deer overbrowse.

Hauling your own lawn trimmings, branches or other items onto park property alters the makeup of a delicate ecosystem, possibly throwing it off balance and causing a variety of consequences, not all of which are desirable. Any fertilizer or pesticide used on your yard would be transferred to the park, causing damage to the area and the watershed.

Park encroachment, like a fox stalking a rabbit, gradually eats away at the already thin buffer zone between wildlife and people.

While it may be a common problem with serious consequences, it is also completely preventable.

WHAT YOU CAN DO First, make sure you know where your property line is before you build to ensure you won't be encroaching.

Second, be positive that where you're mowing or landscaping is within your property line and does not cross over to parkland.

Third, dispose of yard waste through the proper channels instead of dumping it on parkland.

It really is that simple. Park encroachment can become a smaller problem, the ecosystems of Fairfax County like those of Huntley Meadows, below, can thrive with limited negative human influence, and we can enjoy our parks for years to come.

Thereâ€&#x;s more about encroachment online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/archives/encroachment.htm.

10

ResOURces

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

PARTNERSHIPS

Expanded Celestial Programs Coming to Turner Park Turner Farm excels as a place to explore the sky above us. It‟s one of the darkest spots in Fairfax County and is home to Observatory Park, a sundial garden and a roll-top observatory.

The 13-year-old Analemma Society and the Park Authority have partnered in recent times for programs and to establish the observatory, and now they have taken the next step. A new Memorandum of Understanding, signed this summer, defines each organization‟s rights and responsibilities, Charles Olin of the Analemma Society at Turner Farm. and it will lead to advancements in the park facilities at 925 Springvale Road in Great Falls. The agreement is the next step in developing a place where students can learn about the origin and nature of science, as well as experience firsthand the wonders of the universe.

Give somebody a day in a park!

Fairfax County Park Authority gift cards Get them at county RECenters, historic sites, golf courses, nature centers, and online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/giftcards/

Are you on Facebook? So is the Park Authority.

Like us to know what’s happening in your parks.

Fall 2011

11

HISTORY

Honors for Park Officials The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is presenting its National Voluntary Service Award this fall to Fairfax County Park Authority Board member Harold “Hal” Strickland. The Sully District representative has been on the board since 1992. The award is presented to a citizen whose voluntary contributions improve the quality and quantity of leisure opportunities through recreation, parks and conservation.

Cindy Messinger, COO/Deputy Director of the Park Authority, was recently selected to receive a 2011 Southern Network Distinguished Professional Award from the National Recreation and Park Association. The awards are designed to honor NRPA members for significant efforts in specialized areas of parks and recreation.

Colvin Run Mill hosts SPOOM Conference This fall, visit Colvin Run Mill for the 2011 annual conference of The Society for the Preservation of Old Mills. The honor of hosting the conference coincides with Colvin Run‟s 200th anniversary.

The conference tours, seminars, banquet and meetings are September 22-25. Information and registration forms are online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/crm/spoom/.

Experience History: War of 1812 Muster at Sully Historic Site The closest you’ll get to a time machine America fought two wars for independence. Step into the second clash with England by visiting Sully Historic Site for the annual War of 1812 Muster on Saturday, October 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You‟ll see and hear soldiers fire their muskets, follow a veteran sergeant as he teaches musket drills, watch the Navy exercise the great gun (a six-pounder cannon) and talk with a ship‟s surgeon about early medical practices on land and sea. Sully‟s open hearth kitchen is the place to discover recipes used to prepare an early 19th century dinner.

While you‟re there, tour the home of Richard Bland Lee, Northern Virginia‟s first congressman. Lee and his family lived at Sully from 1794 until just before the War of 1812, and Lee later served as a commissioner helping people who lost property when the British burned Washington, D.C. in 1812. Allow time to investigate the home‟s new East Wing Exhibit.

For more information, call Sully Historic Site at 703-437-1794.

Reprint Articles Promote stewardship by reprinting ResOURces articles in your newsletter. Go to ResOURces Online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ parks/resources/printpub.htm to pull articles. Let us know, and include “Reprinted courtesy of the Fairfax County Park Authority” with the article. Comments or questions about ResOURces to resources@fairfaxcounty.gov.

12

ResOURces

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

FALL EVENTS

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 for information about what’s happening in the parks: Boating/Kayaking Campgrounds Camps Children’s Corner Equestrian Farm Events (Click on the Equestrian/Farm box link to see current program listings) Fishing Classes Gardening (Click on the Gardening box link to see current program listings) Historic Properties Rental Services History (Click on the History box link to see current program listings) Picnic Shelter/Meeting Room Rentals Nature (Click on the Nature box link to see current program listings at nature centers) Scout Programs Upcoming Events

Fall Event Highlights Here are the major events taking place this fall in the parks:

Monday Bird Walks Mondays, 7-9 a.m., Free Eakin Community Park. Call 703-941-1065 (Hidden Oaks Nature Center) for information.

Discover the resident birds of the Accotink Stream Valley. Bring binoculars. Meet at Prosperity Ave. parking lot. Canceled if inclement weather.

Virginia Indian Festival September 10, (All Ages), 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Riverbend Park Visitors Center, 703-759-9018, $5 The 2011 festival includes eight Virginia and Washington, D.C.area tribes, including the Rappahannock dancers and drummers. Indian crafts, pottery and music for sale. Live demonstrations, talks by tribe members, tool-making experts and local archaeologists, plus bow-and-arrow shooting and spear throwing with an atlatl.

Help build an authentic dug-out canoe.

Vendors 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 sewing tools, books and fabric. Northern Virginia Quilters Unlimited members provide quilting 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.

Park Manager Walk and Talk September 17, October 15, November 19, (Adults), Huntley Meadows Park, 4-6 p.m., Free Join Park Manager Kevin Munroe on a walk to learn about the wildlife for which the park is known. Canceled if rain.

Fall Stroller Adventures September 10-November 28, (6 -24 months), Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 703-631-0013, 10 a.m.-noon or 2-4 p.m.

Join a naturalist and her little one on a stroller adventure through the park. Includes circle time and a stroller hike. All-terrain jogging stroller or baby carrier needed. $10 per family or five classes for $40. Classes meet on Saturdays and Mondays.

Sully Quilt and Fiber Arts Show and Sale September 11, (All ages), 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794, $9/adult, $8/senior, $6/child

The 2011 Virginia Indian Festival is September 10 at Riverbend Park.

Fall 2011

13

FALL EVENTS

Fall Garden Festival September 17, Green Spring Gardens, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Free admission Green Spring Gardens is in its glory in early fall. Support one of Virginia’s most innovative and exciting public gardens. The 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.

Holding on to Home - A Civil War Story September 17 and 30, Sully Historic Site, 1-2 p.m. $7/adult, $6/student, $5/senior and child Envision a time when you open the door to find J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry in your front yard.

Excerpts from war-time letters are woven through this specialized tour connecting you with Sully’s Civil War-era owners.

Sunset Cruise September 17, (18 yrs. and older), 7-8 p.m., Lake Accotink Park, 703-569-0285, $6 Soak up the sunset and relax as you cruise Lake Accotink’s beautiful shoreline. Beverages served on board. Cruise canceled in case of rain or gusty winds.

Refunds issued only if cruise is canceled.

Capturing Nature’s Beauty— Art Show Opening September 18, Huntley Meadows Park, 2-4 p.m., Free Meet multifaceted artist and photographer Marilyn Aber, whose show features the monarch butterfly. On view through October.

14

ResOURces

Canine Cruise September 18, (Humans 8 yrs. and older; dogs all ages), 7-8 p.m. Lake Accotink Park, 703-569-0285. $6/person Treat your canine companion to a cruise aboard Lake Accotink Park’s pooch-friendly pontoon boat. Limit one dog per person.

Reservations and advance payment required. Cruise canceled if rain or gusty winds.

Refunds only if cruise is cancelled.

Making Light at Sully September 24, (5 yrs. and older), Sully Historic Site, 1-3 p.m., $5 Learn how light was used by the Lee family and by the AfricanAmerican slaves in Sully’s outbuildings. Make a candle and keep warm with cider and cookies.

Art in the Garden September 25, 1-4 p.m. Free The Fourth Annual Walney Garden Guild Art Show and Benefit Sale features naturethemed artwork by local artists.

Bring a picnic and blanket.

Proceeds from sales benefit the park.

Holding on to Home - A Civil War Story September 30, Sully Historic Site, 1-2 p.m. $7/adult, $6/ student, $5/senior and child Envision a time, years ago, opening the door to find J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry in your front yard. Excerpts from war-time letters are woven through this specialized tour connecting you with Sully’s Civil War-era owners.

white, green, oolong, black and puerh teas. Hear the stories behind iconic porcelain patterns from colonial days. Presented by Certified Tea Specialist and Chef Laurie Bell of Great Falls Tea Garden.

Virginia Hunters Horse Show Series October 1, November 5, and December 10, Frying Pan Farm Park, 9 a.m.

Walk, trot, canter, beginner horse show. Classes include hunters, ponies, equitation and more. Held indoors rain or shine.

Spectators free

Catch the Buzz October 2, Colvin Run Mill, 2-4 p.m., $3 Get up close and personal with an observation honeybee hive.

Watch Colvin Run Apiary beekeepers demonstrate honey harvesting. Taste honey on cornbread made from the mill’s cornmeal. Take home a recipe.

War of 1812 Muster October 8, (all ages), Sully Historic Site, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., $8/adult, $6/senior and child The troops gather to prepare for a second war against England.

Learn musket drills, see the great gun fired, visit the doctor and learn the role of slaves in the War of 1812.

ABC’s on Tea and China October 1, Colvin Run Mill, Call 703-759-2771 by 9/28 for reservations, (13 yrs.-adult), 1-3 p.m., $25 Explore, taste and compare

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Visit with re-enactors at Sully’s War of 1812 Muster.

FALL EVENTS

Scarecrow Making Workshop October 8-9, Colvin Run Mill, 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., call 703-759-2771 for reservations. $6 Make a friend for your garden or lawn. Bring pants and shirt plus an old pair of panty hose (for head and body). We supply the stuffing and know-how.

Just Jumpers Horse Show Series October 9, November 13, and December 18, Frying Pan Farm Park, 9 a.m.

Watch local residents compete for a blue ribbon in jumping classes.

Held indoors rain or shine.

Spectators free

The Big Sit - Birds on the Move October 9, Riverbend Park, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Free The Riverbend birding crew counts birds for this national event. Check the tally as the count mounts. Money raised supports Riverbend programs.

Tea and Scrapbooking October 15, (8-12 yrs.), Colvin Run Mill, 1-2:30 p.m., Call 703759-2771 for reservations. $17 How did young ladies spend their time 100 years ago, before cell phones and IM? Take a step back in time, tour a “mall” of yesteryear, visit friends at a social tea and create a scrapbook to capture your memories.

Farm Harvest Day October 15, (All ages), Frying Pan Farm Park, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., $5 Fall is a busy time on the farm.

See the cider press in action, milk a goat, shell corn, peel apples and meet the farm animals.

Watershed Clean-Up Day October 15, 9-11:30 a.m.

Be part of the International Coastal Cleanup. Individuals, students, families, scouts and other community groups can help.

Give waterways in your community a clean bill of health.

Wear boots, old clothes and bring gloves. Trash bags and appreciation provided. A great community service project.

Help at one of these sites. Call to reserve a watershed section.

Frying Pan Farm Park, 703-437-9101 Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 703-941-1065 Hidden Pond Nature Center, 703-451-9588 Huntley Meadows Park, 703-768-2525 Lake Accotink Park, 703-569-3464 Riverbend Park Visitor Center, 703-759-9018 Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794 Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 703-631-0013 Cub Run RECenter, 703-817-9423. Cub Run’s cleanup is September 17.

Park Manager Walk and Talk October 15, November 19, (Adults), Huntley Meadows Park, 4-6 p.m., Free Join Park Manager Kevin Munroe on a walk to learn about the wildlife for which the park is known. Canceled if rain.

4th Annual Autumn Arts and Crafts Show

Help out on Watershed Clean Day October 15.

Halloween Goblin Golf and Bonfire October 29, (All ages), 6-9 p.m., Lake Accotink Park, 703-569-0285, $7 Join this spooktacular event!

Venture onto the haunted golf course to play a round with glowin-the-dark golf balls. Ride the spooky carousel and join in storytelling over a cup of hot chocolate around a beach bonfire.

Costumes welcome.

Walney Time Travels: Civil War at Walney November 5, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Free Join the Virginia 42nd Infantry reenactment group and park interpreters for a day of Civil War history brought to life. Hear about the experiences of the Machen family during the war.

October 22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

October 23, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

South Run RECenter, $3/adults, 12 and under free Top quality, handmade work by 50 artisans. Apparel, art, floral design, glasswork, jewelry, photography, pottery, ornaments, weaving and woodwork.

Fall 2011

15

FALL EVENTS

Just Jumpers Horse Show Series November 13 and December 18, Frying Pan Farm Park, 9 a.m.

Watch local residents compete in jumping classes. Held indoors rain or shine. Spectators free

Pre-Turkey Quarter Horse Show

Fiddle around with the family at Sully Historic Site’s Colonial day.

Colonial Day at Sully November 5, Sully Historic Site, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., $8/adult, $6/senior and child See Revolutionary War soldiers fire their muskets. Card wool, make a toy, see and smell local Orinoco tobacco, and gather round the cook’s fire to keep warm. House tour included.

Kiln Club Pottery Show and Sale November 5-6, Colvin Run Mill, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Free Hand-crafted holiday gifts at reasonable prices. Members of the Ceramic Guild and the Kiln Club of Washington will display and sell a variety of pottery styles in the Colvin Run Barn. A portion of the sales benefits Colvin Run Mill.

Around the World in a Tea Cup November 12, (13 yrs. to adult), Colvin Run Mill, 1-3 p.m., $25 Taste black teas from around the globe and learn what makes them unique to their growing regions.

Sip and savor flavorful additions used by early Americans to add spark to holiday beverages.

Presented by Certified Tea Specialist and Chef Laurie Bell of Great Falls Tea Garden.

16

ResOURces

November 18-20, Frying Pan Farm Park, 9 a.m.

Cheer on the cowboys and cowgirls in the Quarter Horse Show. Spectators free

Fall Volunteer Clean-up Day November 19, (13 yrs. to adult), Colvin Run Mill, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free Enjoy autumn at a great group and family activity. Work outdoors in a beautiful setting helping to clean the grounds and gardens. Earn service hours for school or scout requirements.

Bring work or garden gloves, a rake and garden clippers. Call 703-759-2771 to sign up or get more information.

Night Sky Festival November 19, Reservations required for groups. 6-8 p.m., Riverbend Park Visitor Center, 703-759-9018, $5 Enjoy guided star gazing, looking through the telescope and listening to ancient stories about the constellations around a campfire. Other activities and games. Hot chocolate and snacks available. Canceled if rain or snow.

Park Manager Walk and Talk November 19, (Adults), Huntley Meadows Park, 4-6 p.m., Free Join Park Manager Kevin Munroe on a walk to learn about the wildlife for which the park is known. Canceled if rain.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Decorated for the Festive Season November 30–December 26 except Tuesdays, Sully Historic Site, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., $7/adult, $6/ student, $5/senior and child Experience the main house at Sully decorated for an 18th century season of celebration.

Relive the 1885 holiday memories of a young Sully visitor seeing the tree decorated in Victorian splendor. Groups require reservations.

Frying Pan Farm Park 50th Anniversary and Holiday Celebration!

December 3, Frying Pan Farm Park, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Celebrate Frying Pan’s 50th Anniversary with holiday festivities. Stroll the 1930s working farm enjoying live music. Watch equestrian demonstrations, and visit the farm house. Children’s Holiday Shopping at the Country Store. Meet Santa in his sleigh.

Wagon rides, warming fires, carolers and holiday photo stations add to the festive atmosphere. Park admission free, some activities have fees.

Children’s Holiday Shopping December 3, Frying Pan Farm Park, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Meet at the Old Floris Schoolhouse.

Volunteers help children shop for everybody on their holiday list.

The Country Store stocks unique items in all price ranges. Free wrapping assures surprises for family and friends. Adults are invited to wait at the schoolhouse.

Inclement weather date 12/10.

FALL EVENTS

Children’s Holiday Shopping

Candlelight Tours

December 3-4, Colvin Run General Store, Saturday 10 a.m.

-2 p.m., Sunday, Noon-4 p.m., 703-759-2771.

Children will find the perfect gift for everyone on their lists.

Volunteers help with shopping, and free wrapping assures surprises. Call ahead for groups of six or more. Adults must wait on site.

December 10, 11, 17, Sully Historic Site, 5-7 p.m., tours start every 15 minutes. Prepaid reservations beginning 11/1. $10/adult, $7/senior and child Tour the 1794 home of Northern Virginia’s first congressman, Richard Bland Lee, by candlelight. Hear seasonal music, make an ornament and sample sugar cookies.

Gardeners’ Holiday Open House

Santa at the Mill

Just Jumpers Horse Show Series December 18, Frying Pan Farm Park, 9 a.m.

Watch local residents compete in jumping classes. Held indoors rain or shine. Spectators Free

Teas at Green Spring Gardens For information on teas at Green Spring Gardens, call 703642-5173

December 4, Green Spring Gardens, Noon-4 p.m. Free admission Enjoy a day of holiday fun in the garden. Shop for holiday gifts and plants, make holiday-inspiredcreations, listen to seasonal music, view beautiful decorations and enjoy refreshments with friends.

December 10, Colvin Run Mill, 3-6 p.m. $6 Enjoy old-fashioned family holiday fun. Visit Santa in the mill and see the Christmas tree trimmed with Victorian decorations. Join the 49th Va. Volunteer Infantry caroling around a bonfire. Roast marshmallows and make a family craft.

Tasting Parties at the Historic House

Children’s Holiday Shopping: Self Shop

Huntley Holiday Happening

Garden Stroll & Tea

December 11, Huntley Meadows Park, Noon-3:30 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon of shopping with a 10% discount on merchandise.

September 22, 1-3 p.m., $27 Take a docent-led stroll through the demonstration gardens and enjoy afternoon tea at the Historic House. Hear about the mission and history of Green Spring Gardens, one of the preeminent places for horticulture in the Washington, D.C. area.

Individuals and groups welcome.

December 5, Colvin Run General Store, 1-4 p.m.

Children shop on their own for everyone on their list. The store stocks many unique items in all price ranges. Children can wrap their gifts on their own prior to leaving the store. (Volunteers will assist children with shopping and wrapping on Dec. 3 and 4, but kids will shop and wrap on their own on Dec. 5.)

Huntley Holiday Happening: Photography Contest Opening December 11, Huntley Meadows Park, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Free Enjoy this year’s winning entries from the Friends of Huntley Meadows’ annual photography contest.

Model Train Display December 17-18, Colvin Run Mill, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free See G-gauge trains wind through a miniature western town in the Colvin Run Barn.

Private tasting parties available on request. Indulge 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.

A Taste of Honey Tea September 25, 1-3 p.m., $27 Enter the awe-inspiring world of honeybees. Learn how and why they make honey and why no two honeys are exactly alike. Learn about varietals and blends and how to cook with honey. Enjoy liquid gold with teatime scones.

Fall 2011

17

FALL EVENTS

The Bridal Gown October 2, (13 yrs.-adult), 1-3 p.m., $27 Wedding dresses have reflected culture, social standing and the fashion trends of their day. View an exhibit of vintage bridal fashions and enjoy a slide show of gorgeous gowns and famous brides, highlighting changing styles and designs across time and social lines.

Garden Stroll & Tea October 13, 1-3 p.m., $27 Take a docent-led stroll through the demonstration gardens and enjoy afternoon tea at the Historic House. Hear about the mission and history of Green Spring Gardens, one of the preeminent places for horticulture in the Washington, D.C. area.

Decorative Molding October 16, (13 yrs.-adult), 1-3 p.m., $27 For centuries, decorative molding has been the finishing touch of interior design. Discover its aesthetic and practical value as we demonstrate how to select and install the right moldings for your home.

The Story of Pie October 30, (13 yrs.-adult), 1-3 p.m., $27 Pie is an American tradition, and the history of pie is rich. Pies have been around for thousands of years. See and hear the story of pie throughout history, and taste a mystery pie.

Mother Daughter Storytelling Tea

share the experience of captivating storytelling, and then share their own stories around the tea table.

Cranberry Cornucopia November 20, (13 yrs.-adult), 1-3 p.m., $27 Colorful, versatile and nutritious, cranberries are a year-round treat. Learn the history of this American native fruit, share innovative recipes and demonstrate holiday decorating ideas with cranberries. Sample and take home a cranberry sauce.

Carols by Candlelight December 9 and 11, (8 yrs.adult), 4:30-6 p.m., $27/adult, $18/child under 12 Sip tea by candlelight and trace the origins of Christmas music.

Hear pieces that reflect the spirit of the season and learn how the musical tradition of Christmas began.

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

Fishing Guide at Riverbend Park Through September 30, Thursdays-Mondays, (5 yrs. and older plus adult), reservations and advanced payment

November 12, (8 yrs.-adult), 1-3 p.m., $27/adult, $18/child under 12 Good stories bind us. Storyteller Margaret Chatham spins folktales of mothers and daughters facing problems together. Mothers, daughters and grandmothers will 18

ResOURces

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Birthday Party Packages Celebrate in your favorite park.

With an array of birthday party options and attractions ranging from swimming, fishing, history and nature exploration to carousels, mini-golf and a miniature train, there’s a party style in Fairfax County parks 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 Hidden Oaks Nature Center: 703-941-1065 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