RVF Spring Newsletter

MARCH 2016 UPDATE

Native Plant Walk

A major initiative for 2016, this project is in addition to completion work on the Children’s Nature Trail. It is a 450 foot native plant walk being designed and installed along Spruce Creek. Our advisor is Fran Boninti and our landscape designer pro bono is Anne Henley. See link to her bio. This is the trail laid out by Zach Barnes and parts are up for adoption by families in the community.

https://www.rockfishvalley.org/native-plant-walk-anne-henley/

Butterfly Trail Recognized by Commonwealth

Volunteers Needed – for Natural History Center to stay open

This is the 10th anniversary year of Rockfish Valley Foundation.  We have grown a lot with our trials and natural history center.  Just imagine our growing pains!  To survive as an all volunteer organization without any paid staff is not easy. As we prepare to open the natural history center on April 2 for its 5th year we have a major need. We do not have the volunteers to stay open from 10 to 4 on Saturdays and Sundays. We are discussing reducing the hours unfortunately. We do not have the volunteers to open mid week for students and school groups.  We are  beginning a major effort to locate volunteers to share a shift at the natural history center on a weekend day from either 10 to 1 or 1 to 4.  That is only 3 hours and we have Kim Grosner to organize our calendar.  We have Kim, John Zawatsky and Peter Agelasto and others to train our new volunteers.  PLEASE CONTACT US at info@rockfishvalley.org or 434 226 0446 which is our google telephone messaging system. There is a Master Naturalist course under way in Nelson and we expect many graduates will add to our volunteer ranks. Our website is www.rockfishvalley.org

Volunteer needs:

1. Helping to install replacement brochure boxes at kiosks, install a brand new enclosed weather proof bulletin board on the porch of the natural history center, install brochure boxes on our tourist info center kiosk, and open and install new trail maps at the kiosks. Need someone with a good screw gun.

2. Docent volunteers to take 3 hour shift, on a Saturday or Sunday from 10-1 or 1-4 with another volunteer in the natural history center. You help the visitor enjoy the experience in whatever way you feel comfortable.

3. Adopt a plant and interpret once or twice a year a small section of the new native plant walk, or help maintain the Children’s nature trail in Spruce Creek Park.

4. KITE FESTIVAL – volunteer to help with parking and or putting kites together for children at the kite festival which is April 10, 11:00-3:00 off Glenthorne loop.

3 Important books for sale

Important: we have 10 copies of the out of print new book on native plants for the piedmont. The other two are published by the VA Department of Forestry. Each is $5.  Check the link below for the three best books for your garden library. See photos: https://www.rockfishvalley.org/spring-2016-new-store-items/

Full Moons 2016

Link to list of 2016 Nelson County full moons and where the names originate: https://www.rockfishvalley.org/2016-full-moons-in-nelson-county/

Much more is on the horizon

Monarch site development is more significant with  news from Mexico of increase in the 2016 butterfly development; dedication of 3 picnic tables in the park and along the trails; work on the children’s nature trail; dedication of the rebuilt Bridge over an unnamed tributary; addition of sculptures by Yates Spencer, garden art metal artisan from Lexington VA.  His garden art is worth a look: http://mingum.com/ 

Pipeline Update

ACP Pipeline has suggested a route through Beech Grove at Blue Toad Cider, the ELK HILL meadow bottoms along the South Rockfish River and the walking trails, crossing 151 close to the downstream  birding and walking trails over to Glenthorne Loop.  That is within 500 feet of the ELK HILL residence, the Camille Trail head parking etc.  If this is selected, the concern for those living in Horizons Village, Elk Hill and River Bluff would become  a major issue.  That is to be compared with the preferred route which destroys the Coleman Mills and Old Wintergreen Village archaeology site and newly recognized Butterfly trail as well as other natural and cultural resources which adjoin Bold Rock Cider.  Not a pretty picture.  But you need to know.