Branching Out Fall 2023

• Calendar 4

• Kids Corner: Decomposers 6

• Don’t Waste the Leaves 7

• Halloween 8

BRANCHING OUT

Nature Notes

By Pam Findley

SEPTEMBER

• Eastern Rat snake eggs hatch.

• White-tailed Deer bucks grow antlers.

• White Wood Asters are in bloom.

• Pokeberry fruits are ripe.

• September 23 – Equinox – First day of Autumn

OCTOBER

• Box turtles look for winter hibernation sites.

• Deer rut (mating season) begins.

• Tree nuts are ripe.

• Fragrant asters have purple blooms.

• October 23 – the planet Venus is visible in the eastern sky before sunrise.

NOVEMBER

• Frogs and turtles are burrowing.

• Black Gum and dogwood trees have red leaves.

• Kinglets and Hermit Thrushes return.

• Viburnum shrub leaves turn red.

• November 27 – Full moon is known as the Beaver or Frosty Moon.

The Fruits of a Fall Forest

By Susan Sims

When the leaves begin to fall, the days get cooler and shorter, and the pumpkins are ripe for picking, the forest begins to burst with the various shapes and colors of mushrooms. Autumn is an ideal time to acquaint oneself with some of the exciting fungi that thrive and support our Reston forests. Mushrooms are the spore-bearing, fruiting body of a fungus, similar to a flower on a tree or shrub. Fungus spends most of its life below ground as mycelium, a dense mass of fine, white filaments called hyphae that do important work.

Fungi decompose waste and release it into the soil as necessary elements, including phosphorus and nitrogen, feeding surrounding plants and organisms and creating a healthy soil matrix. Additionally, they remove carbon and sequester it, helping to offset the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Mushrooms are a robust food source for many mammals and insects, and even humans. Mushrooms also add an element of interest, surprise and beauty to any autumn walk. In celebration of these vital decomposers, check out the following four favorites this autumn that have common names celebrating traditions of the season.

The mushroom with the most ubiquitous fall-related common name is certainly the Eastern American Jack O’Lantern (Omphalotus illudens) . This bright orange

to yellow mushroom grows in clusters on hardwood trees, roots and decaying stumps. The cap of the Jack O’Lantern can be up to eight inches across and is supported by a thick stalk between two to eight inches tall with decurrent gills, meaning they run down the stalk itself.

These gills contribute to the most unique feature of the fungus - its bioluminescence. The gills of the Jack O’Lantern mushroom glow in the dark casting a soft, green light. The light is caused by the presence of luciferase which is found only in the gills of the mushroom. This is the same enzyme that is responsible for the firefly’s glow. These mushrooms may look similar to the edible chanterelle mushrooms, but don’t make that mistake - this mushroom is toxic if consumed.

Witch’s Finger is an interesting fungus that can be found in the cooler months during autumn and spring. It appears as a pointed, pinkish-orange, craggy finger rising from the soil. Sometimes the fungus can be covered in a dark goo called gleba which smells like rotting meat. This smelly concoction attracts flies and ants who wade around in the slime and then carry it away dropping spores in a mucky version of seed dispersal.

Continued on page 2

WALKER NATURE CENTER

11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191

Dawn to dusk, enjoy year-round access to trails, restrooms and free parking.

CONTACT

703-476-9689

naturecenter@reston.org

FEATURES

72 acres of forested land, a picnic pavilion, demonstration gardens, educational signage, a fire ring, two streams, a pond, a Little Free Library, the entrance to 44-acre Lake Audubon and our education building, known as Nature House.

NATURE HOUSE HOURS

Mon. & Wed.-Fri. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Closed Tuesdays

Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sunday 1– 4 p.m.

HOLIDAY CLOSURES:

Sept. 4 Labor Day

Oct. 9 Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Nov. 10 Veterans’ Day Observed

Nov. 23 Thanksgiving Day

Nov. 24 Day After Thanksgiving

www.facebook.com/WalkerNatureCtr

@restonnature

@walkernaturecenter

Groups: Please call ahead to arrange your visit.

Branching Out is a quarterly publication of the Walker Nature Center (WNC), owned and operated by Reston Association.

The mission of the WNC is to foster an environmental stewardship ethic in the community. It is named after Reston’s first Open Space and Nature Center Director, Vernon J. Walker.

The Fruits of a Fall Forest continued from page 1

Also known as stinkpots, these fungi are beneficial to both soil and creatures. Rain will wash away the spore-filled slime and the remaining mushroom will be consumed by beetles and snails. Witch’s Fingers are good decomposers and break down materials in the soil leaving behind stringy mycelium to continue the important cycle of fungi.

Another fall-themed fungi that can be found throughout Reston’s woods is Turkey-tail (Trametes versicolor). This fungi grows in semicircle caps around tree trunks on 70 genera of hardwoods throughout the forest and can be found any time of the year. It’s identifiable by its concentric zones of colors with undulating borders. The outer edge is frequently the lightest on the mushroom. It is stalkless with a cup up to four inches wide and grows in large clusters along tree trunks.

Sometimes confused with the False Turkey-tail, the true Turkey-tail can be discerned from the look-alike by its visible pores and alternating zones with velvet-like fuzz. The former doesn’t contain any visible pores. Turkey-tail is xylophagous, meaning it digests rotting wood. The fanned out tail we see is the fruiting body of the fungus and provides food for box turtles and squirrels, as well as shelter for fungus gnats. Keep an eye out during your fall hikes and you’ll spot this fancy fungus adding a pop of color to the woodlands as we drift into winter.

The Turkey-tail isn’t the only poultry-themed mushroom. Meet Hen of the Woods (Grifola frondosa), an impressive clustering species with overlapping, wavy caps featuring ombre bands of gray to brown. It is a perennial species and the fruiting body will often be found in the same place over multiple years in succession. They weigh between five to 10 pounds with very large finds clocking in at 50 or more! They’re frequently found in the fall around mature and aging trees, with a prevalence near oak species.

The Hen of the Woods is a polypore mushroom like the Turkey-tail. They’re an important part of nutrient cycling in an ecosystem, and aid in absorption of carbon dioxide. Polypores are known for their geotropism which means the fruiting body will grow in accordance with gravitational pull, even changing direction of growth if their host tree is felled.

Autumn provides many opportunities to get outdoors and observe the beauty and interest of mushrooms while appreciating the interconnectivity that thrives beneath our feet. With an abundance of natural habitat at Walker Nature Center and around Reston, who knows how many Jack O’Lanterns or Witch’s Fingers are waiting to be found. Share your findings on the Reston Biodiversity project on iNaturalist and enjoy the search.

Branching Out is printed on 100 percent recycled paper using soy ink. It is produced using 100 percent wind power. Please recycle.

Native Shrub & Tree

SALE

Beautiful gardens and healthy woodlands have vibrant shrub layers, understories and canopies. Pre-order some Nature Center favorites and enjoy the savings. Trees sold as saplings, approx. 2-5 feet tall.

Place orders by Friday, September 22, 5 p.m. Pickup on Saturday, Sept. 30, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Shop online at https://bit.ly/WNCPlantSale or contact naturecenter@reston.org for an order form.

Attention Scout Leaders

The Walker Nature Center can help your scouts to earn patches and badges.

Education Programs

Fun and educational programs are available in achievement areas such as Forester, Naturalist, Wildlife, Eco-action, Earth Connections, Earth is Our Home, Earth and Sky, Water Everywhere, Senses, Animals and more.

Fee: $6 per participant (minimum charge $60), RA members $8 per participant (minimum charge $80), Non-members

Campfire Programs

Campfire Fun programs are available upon request.

Fee: $7 per participant (minimum charge $70), RA members $9 per participant (minimum charge $90), Non-members

The Fire Ring can also be rented for self-use.

Fee: $25/hr. for RA members and $35/hr. for Non-members

You bring the wood and the water.

Service Projects

Community service projects such as planting and trail maintenance days can be arranged for your group. FREE.

Activity Kits

Activity kits are available on loan for Birds, Trees and Watershed requirements. Call 703-476-9689 and press 3 or email naturecenter@reston.org for details and reservations.

Please and Thank You

By Ken Rosenthal

As I write this, summer has nearly passed us by. Many thanks go out to the volunteers who helped us get through all we had set out to accomplish this summer. We had great teen volunteers during summer camps. Dozens of volunteers helped us catalog some of Reston’s biodiversity through three of our annual summer wildlife counts (Bird, Butterfly and Dragonfly), the Caterpillars Count surveys, and monitoring nest boxes. Some of these volunteers also lead our Sunday bird walks. Still more volunteers helped us run our Spring Festival in May and the Fairy Festival in July. Employees from Kimley-Horn volunteered to maintain our trails by spreading wood chips in early June.

There are still opportunities to volunteer at the nature center. We currently need a front desk volunteer for Thursday mornings. And, it seems far away, but Halloween is just around the corner…

Thanks to our donors:

Julie & Charlie Bond and the Reston Garden Club for the seasonal container gardens, delightful mantel creations, and the lovely floral arrangements at the Welcome Desk.

Thanks to our volunteers:

Rishi Anangi; Adrin Andalib; Mostafa Asef; Ayisha Asharaf; Caroline Ayres; Emma Ayres; Joanne & David Bauer; Matt Bender; Julie & Charlie Bond; Lichelle Boukens; AJ & Steve Bowen; Martha Garcia Brooks; William Burks; Devo Burto; Bill Burton; Eva Byrd; Nicole Byrd-Donetezzi; Ian Carmack; Aarush Chaurasia; Weizhi Chen; Don Coram; Isabelle D’Achille; Norma De Beer; Richard DeLeon; Matthew Donetezzi; Jody Douglas; Robin Duska; Davios Egloff; John Eppler; Williams Errico; Lori Faunce; June Ferrara; Melissa Frost; Linda Fuller; Martha Furniss; Helen Guo; Sharon Gurtz; Siddarth Gurung; Ed Hass; Don Hawks; Barbara Heubner; Bev Horton; Chris Jones; Christine Jones; Diana Kalaly; Manasa Keshavachandra; Manahil Khattak; Chavosh Khazeni; Evan Kim; Kimley-Horn; Ryan Kovacs; Gloria and Sarah Lammers; Lindsay Lloyd; Gayda Makki; Sharon McHugh; Ilene & Jim McNeal; Tiago Lobo Meier; Farideh Mimirani; Ande Mitchell; Koroush Mostafa; Ruhan Movva; Anna Najafi; Ines Nedelcovic; Anya Nehra; Khanh Loc Nguyen; Sophia Deligianis Niemi; William O’Brien; Camden Oeur; Nitany Oulai; Jayla Panyasithavong; Barbara Paolucci; Brinda Patel; Angela Pham; Lindsay Pham; Sara & Mike Piper; Kanika Poply; Candy Quinn; Jim Seret; Aabha Shakya; Alessandra Shalim; Mary Shedlock; Lisa Shey; Abigail Skinner; Zack Suhr; Laird Sutherland; Abbas Tabatabaie; Bill Taylor; Jeff Tessein; Claudia Thompson-Deahl; Christina Truong; Brenda van Doorn; Matthew Webb; Verna Webb; Jaden Weil; Ellen and Peter Whalen; Joanne Williams; Mei Zhang.

All programs will be held at the Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, unless otherwise noted. Refunds are available with two weeks’ notice or if we cancel for any reason. Activities may be canceled due to severe weather, severe weather warnings or low enrollment. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

SEPTEMBER

NOCTURNAL NATURE CAMPFIRE

Kick off Labor Day weekend with campfire fun. Learn about nocturnal animals that call Reston home. Sing songs, listen to a nature story, and make a s’more. Register by August 29.

306011003

9/1

Fri 7:00 pm–8:30 pm

WNC Fire Ring on Soapstone Drive between Glade Drive and Lawyers Road

All Ages $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

ANTS GO MARCHING

Why do ants always seem to be on the go? Follow a trail of ants and discover more about these curious insects. See if you’re as strong as an ant and make an ant craft. We won’t let them spoil our picnic! Register by Sept. 7.

306111001

Tue 9/11 10:00 am–11:00 am

Or Wed 9/12 10:00 am–11:00 am

Ages 18-35 months $8/RA Member, $10/Non-member

LAKE ANNE SUNSET PADDLE

Canoe or kayak on Lake Anne with a naturalist. Search for wildlife and learn about lake history. Relax and watch the sunset from the water. Boats and safety equipment provided. Register by September 11.

306011007 9/14

Thu 6:00 pm–7:30 pm

Lake Anne Plaza Boat Dock

Ages 10-Adult $15/RA Member, $20/Non-member

BATS OF RESTON

See a presentation on Reston’s bats, then stroll to Lake Audubon to look for them. Scan the sky for this amazing, flying mammal and use a bat monitor to detect bat traffic. Learn the latest from the bat world and enjoy some evening wildlife. Register by September 12.

306011008

9/15

Fri 6:30 pm–8:00 pm

Ages 5-Adult $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

CREEPY CRAWLIES

What can you find under logs and rocks? How about down in the dirt? Explore the forest and search for crawling and wiggling critters like bugs, spiders, worms, and salamanders. Observe them under magnifying glasses. Create a unique craft. Register by September 13.

306121008

Sat 9/16 10:30 am–11:30 am

Or Tue 9/19 10:00 am–11:00 am

Ages 3-5 $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

BIRD WALK- LOWER GLADE STREAM VALLEY

306201002

9/17

Sun 7:30 am–10:30 am

Park on Glade Drive near the intersection with Twin Branches Road

SALAMANDERS OF RESTON

Salamanders are fascinating creatures that can sometimes be hard to spot. Discover the species that are common to Reston and where they make their homes. Learn how salamanders are beneficial to our planet. Register by Sept. 20.

306011008

9/23

Sat 10:30 am–12:00 pm

All Ages $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

STEAM WORKSHOP-WONDERS OF WATER

Use a watershed model to see how we are connected to water and how we can keep our aquatic ecosystems healthy. Walk to the stream and measure temperature, water velocity and other variables. Look for evidence of erosion and see what critters call the stream home. Make a unique watercolor painting. Register by September 22.

306131015

9/25

Mon 10:00 am–12:00 pm

Ages 6-12 $9/RA Member, $11/Non-member

OCTOBER

MUSHROOMS OF RESTON

Join local mushroom aficionado and all round “funguy” Colin Mills for a presentation on the diversity of Reston’s fungi. Learn about their amazing life cycles, basic identification, and role in the ecosystem. Then, take a mushroom walk along the trails. Register by September 28.

406201008 10/1

Sun 1:30 pm–3:30 pm

Adults $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

ANIMAL SKELETONS

October is the perfect time to learn about bones! Compare skeletons from an amphibian, reptile, bird, and mammal. Meet a live reptile and learn about their interesting bones. Match animals to their skulls. Search for hidden bones along the trail and make a fun craft to take home. Register by Sept. 29.

406121008

Tue 10/3 10:00 am–11:00 am

Or Sat 10/14 10:30 am–11:30 am

Ages 3-5 $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

FALL FAMILY NATURE CRAFTS

Bring your family to this sensory, seasonal workshop. Try your hand at corn husk crafts, leaf art and make a potpourri of cinnamon, apple and pumpkin pie spices. All supplies provided. Register by October 5.

406011012 10/8

Sun 2:00 pm–3:00 pm

All Ages $8/RA Member, $10/Non-member

AUTUMN CAMPFIRE- WEENIE ROAST

Warm up on a fall evening around a crackling campfire. Roast a hot dog and enjoy campfire popcorn. Listen to forest legends as you enjoy a yummy s’more. Park on Soapstone Drive between Glade Drive and Lawyers Road. Register by Oct. 10.

406011003 10/13

Fri 6:30 pm–7:30 pm

WNC Fire Ring on Soapstone Drive between Glade Drive & Lawyers Road

All Ages $8/RA Member, $10/Non-member

OCTOBER BIRD WALK: BUTTERMILK CREEK

406201002 10/15

Sun 7:30 am–10:30 am

Park at Uplands Pool, 11032 Ring Road

LI’L PUMPKINS HALLOWEEN PARTY

Join the Halloween bash that’s perfect for toddlers. Wear your costume on a walk along the trails. Meet a couple of fun characters and a real Corn Snake. Decorate a pumpkin and collect a goody bag to take home. No frights at this fest! Register by October 13.

406111001

Mon 10/16 10:00 am–11:00 am

OR Tue 10/17 10:00 am–11:00 am

Ages 18-35 months$9/RA Member, $11/Non-member

HALLOWEEN HOUSE & TRAIL

See ad on back page.

Fri & Sat 10/27 and 10/28

NOVEMBER

STEAM WORKSHOP- TREE-RIFIC!

Each fall, trees steal the show as they change to brilliant colors before their leaves drop. Make some leaf art and do experiments to learn more about their color change. Discover how seeds move and use household materials to build your own traveling seed. Learn how to ID trees and sample some tree treats. Register by November 3 for this drop-off program.

406131015

11/6

Mon 10:00 am–12:00 pm

Ages 6-12

$9/RA Member, $11/Non-member

NATURE’S HARVEST

What do animals eat during the fall months? How do they prepare for the arrival of winter? Look for animals eating a yummy meal in the forest. Collect natural items found in the forest to create a unique painting! Register by November 3.

406121008

Tue 11/7 10:00 am–11:00 am

Or Sat 11/11 10:30 am– 11:30 am

Ages 3-5 $7/RA Member, $9/Non-member

NOVEMBER BIRD WALK- TWIN BRANCHES

NATURE TRAIL

406201002 11/12

Sun 7:30 am–10:30 am

Adults Free Park on Glade Drive near Twin Branches Road

WHAT A HOOT

Hoot like an owl and listen to owl calls. Look at owl feathers up close and make an owl craft to take home. Take a short walk to look for owls hidden in the woods. Register by Nov. 9.

406111001

Mon 11/13 10:00 am – 11:00 am

OR Tue 11/14 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Ages 18-35 months $8/RA Member, $10/Non-member

THANKSGIVING CENTERPIECES

Make a beautiful centerpiece or arrangement with dried flowers and grasses, plus four simple napkin rings for your home at Thanksgiving ($1 per additional ring). All supplies provided. When making reservations, include the number of people in your party and how many arrangements you wish to make. Register by November 15.

406011012

11/18

Sat 10:30 am–12:00 pm or 1:00 pm–2:30 pm

All Ages $25/arrangement RA Member, $30/arrangement Non-member

TURKEY TRAIL

Let’s get moving after your big Thanksgiving meal. Sharpen your skills of logic as you follow clues from a “wild” turkey to see where they lead you. Discover more about these fascinating birds. Register by November 22.

406011008 11/25

Sat 11:00 am–12:00 pm

All Ages $6/RA Member, $8/Non-member

Decomposer Races

Materials

• Cardboard square from a cereal box or delivery package (around the size of a lunchbox or a little larger)

• Marker, crayon or pencil

• Live decomposers (like worms, slugs, snails or millipedes)

• Critter jar

Instructions:

1. Draw a circle on the cardboard square.

2. Go outside and look for decomposers. Try to find 2-3 different types. Hold them in the critter jar until you’re ready for the race.

3. Place the decomposers in the center of the circle on the cardboard square. Watch to see which one crawls outside the circle first. That’s the winner!

4. Try it again with the same critters or with a different variety.

5. Put all critters back where you found them.

Meet the Decomposers

By Earl the Squirrel (with help from Abby Stocking)

I never grow tired of watching the leaves change color and drift to the forest floor in autumn. Those leaves are not just a pretty sight - they are also important for the health of the forest. The leaves will slowly break apart and become part of the dirt. They add nutrients to the soil that growing plants can use. It is nature’s way of taking vitamins! Healthy soil leads to healthy trees. And healthy trees lead to lots of food like acorns and nuts. You know how I love those! There is a group of living things called “decomposers” that help make all of this possible. Let me introduce you to some of the main recyclers in nature.

• Mushrooms- Most of the mushroom is found underground in long, white strands called “hyphae.” These strands can spread nutrients all over the forest.

• Earthworms- These critters munch on leaves and other plant parts. They leave castings (also known as poop) on the forest floor that are like little packs of nutrients.

• Flies- While many of us may not fully appreciate these insects as they buzz around our heads, they are doing some of the dirtiest jobs of the forest. They eat dead plants and animals. While that may be icky to us, the smell of decay is like honey to them.

• Slugs and Snails- Their bodies move on a layer of slime that they ooze as they go. Their mouth, called a radula, is filled with thousands of very tiny teeth that they scrape across whatever they want to eat. Snails have shells but slugs do not.

Decomposer Photo Match

Match a name of a decomposer to one of the photos. Answers at bottom.

A B C D E

1. Mushroom:

2. Earthworm:

4. Slug:

5. Millipede:

• Millipedes- Their name refers to the large number of legs that they have- four tiny ones per body segment, to be exact. They scurry over the forest floor as they eat all kinds of dead plant material.

3. Fly:

This season, look for decomposers in, around and on the fallen leaves. See if you can spot one of each type mentioned above. And be sure to thank them for all that they’re doing to keep our forests healthy and full of good things. Keep those nuts and acorns rolling.

Answers: 1-B, 2-A, 3-E, 4-C, 5-D

Don’t Waste the Leaves

By Abby Stocking

Amazingly, nature rains down a wealth of nutrient-rich material every autumn. Perplexingly, every year many people just throw all that treasure away. It is common to see curbsides lined with bags or piles of fallen leaves that get trucked off to the nearest waste station or recycling center. The power equipment and vehicles used to collect and transport yard waste consume large amounts of fossil fuels and contribute to atmospheric pollution. Homeowners throw away money not only during leaf removal but also when fertilizers or compost are purchased the following growing season to put nutrients back into the soil in gardens and lawns. Instead of perpetuating this cycle of wasteful spending, consider saving and composting the leaves to enrich soil and your pocketbook.

Not sure where to begin? Consider these tips:

• Allow leaves that fall into garden beds to remain where they are. They will naturally decompose and protect the soil in the winter.

• For smaller amounts of leaves on lawns, mow them directly into the grass with a mulching mower. The grass clippings plus leaves provide a healthy combination of nutrients for the lawn.

• Use compostable garden bags to collect and store leaves. To start and maintain a compost pile, a large supply of leaves is essential.

• Every compost pile needs four basic ingredients: carbon (sometimes called brown waste), nitrogen (some times called green waste), air and water.

o Sources of “brown” waste are things like leaves, plant stems, shredded paper or cardboard.

o “Green” waste includes fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags and grass clippings.

o Layer green and brown layers to balance those ingredients. Materials compost faster when a pile is around 4’x4’x4’. Be sure to continue to add balanced layers of “greens” and “browns” until the pile is full. Consider starting a new pile if you have space to do so.

o Turn the pile at least once a week to aerate the materials.

o Water the pile if it gets too dry.

o Purchase a compost thermometer to help you keep track of how your pile is doing. Getting a pile to reach an internal temperature of 130 degrees for a couple days should kill most weed seeds and pathogens. When the temperature dips below 100 degrees, it may indicate that the pile should be turned or watered.

• The compost is “finished” when it looks and smells like soil and it does not have recognizable bits of the original materials. Spread compost in gardens about 1-2 months before planting. The compost will continue to break down and add nutrients to the soil and help plants grow better.

• If you live in Reston, be sure to familiarize yourself with the Design Review Board standards for compost bins and piles. Information can be found here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ryhj5gh97xb8cry/Compost%20Bins%20Revised%202018-%20Cluster.pdf?dl=0.

www.reston.org

Walker Nature Center

11450 Glade Drive

Reston, Virginia 20191

SAVE THE DATE:

Friday, October 27 5:45 pm – 8:30 pm Saturday, October 28 5:45 pm – 8:30 pm

Ages: Recommended for ages 3 and older

Children must be accompanied by a registered adult at all times.

FEE

$15/RA member

$20/Non-member

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED

No walk-ins. No refunds, unless canceled by Reston Association. You will select a time block when you register. Register at https://bit.ly/HalloweenHouseAndTrail.

This is NOT a horror show or a haunted house. Meet a creative cast of characters, including some real animals along our nature themed Trick-or-Treat Trail and inside our decked-out Halloween House. Enjoy hot apple cider, popcorn and games. Participants are encouraged to wear non-scary costumes.

For more information, call 703-476-9689 and press 3 or email naturecenter@reston.org.

To volunteer, contact habrock@reston.org.