May 21, 2023
… and butterfly maven Susan McSwain will help you spot and identify them if you join her butterfly walk at the Quarry Gardens Saturday, June 3, at 2 p.m. For the past 12 years, Susan has been in charge of the annual butterfly count that takes place in Nelson County under the auspices of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA).
The featured Red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops), photographed here by Susan, is one of nearly 60 butterfly species so far identified at QGs. It raises its caterpillars on the fallen leaves of sumacs, which are here in abundance.
Susan’s knowledge is deep, so you will learn more than butterfly names, and because she is also a volunteer with Butterflies and Moths of North America, you may also get a moth bonus.
Sign up for this fun walk at quarrygardensatschuyler.org/visit/. Space is limited.
May 7, 2023
More than 50 species of fungi have been identified at The Quarry Gardens at Schuyler—some of them quite tasty. The featured photo (courtesy of the Center for Urban Habitats) shows a few of them. On May 21, Pat Mitchell, co-founder and president of the Blue Ridge Mycological Society (which meets here monthly) will give a presentation and lead a discovery walk. Pat’s talk will cover the world of fungi and their importance to the ecosystems we count on, how to learn more about the fruiting bodies we call mushrooms, and (since what most people want to know about wild mushrooms is how to eat them and not die), how to forage and eat wild mushrooms safely. To join the party, sign up at quarrygardensatschuyler.org/visit. Sunday, May 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. Space is limited.
May 4, 2023
Sixteen Nelson and Albemarle County landowners attended The Woods in Your Backyard workshop at the Quarry Gardens on Wednesday, May 3, where they learned ways to plan for and manage their woodlots. Adam Downing, regional Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent, led a team of instructors from Agriculture and Natural Resources, Forestry, and Wildlife Resources. Most attendees stayed for lunch in the picnic pavilion and a tour of the QGs led by Armand Thieblot. All went home with two award-winning workbooks.
The Woods in Your Backyard will be offered again on June 24 at the Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Raphine. For information or to register: https://tinyurl.com/vawoods.
