On March 11, 2021, the National Sporting Library & Museum held a public webinar with staff from PEC about the importance of using native plants in our landscapes.
Celia Vuocolo
Celia Vuocolo is the habitat and stewardship specialist for The Piedmont Environmental Council.
Action Alert: Study on the Sale of Invasive Plants in Virginia
Contact your legislators now and ask them to vote for legislation which will help guide Virginia in controlling the sale of invasive plants.
The Piedmont Memorial Overlook
The Piedmont Memorial Overlook sits on 50 acres owned by The Piedmont Environmental Council, and is part of a corridor of the Blue Ridge Mountains that is permanently protected by Sky Meadows State Park, the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and private land under conservation easement.
What’s That Pollinator?
It’s the time of year when butterflies and bees are starting to flutter around the Larson Native Plant Garden at PEC’s Warrenton office. Last spring, we began studying those fluttering insect pollinators, and have some initial data to share with you.
A Buzz Worthy Home
You don’t have to be a genuine bee keeper to help our native bees. You can create a place for them to thrive right in your backyard garden. First, assess your location. Is your project area in full sun, partial sun or is it fully shaded? Soil drainage also matters, whether it’s average, dry or wet soil. Once you know this, pick the plants that would thrive in that specific environment.
Choosing native plants is best for native bees, as they have adapted to each other over time. You can visit the Virginia Plant Atlas at vaplantatlas.org to see a selection of native species or review PEC’s “Go Native Go Local” guide at pecva.org/gonative to find retailers selling natives.
Larval Host Plants of Selected Lepidoptera (e.g. Butterflies, Moths, Skippers) in Virginia
This list of larval host plants for common Virginia butterfly species was compiled by Bob Glennon and David Bryan, NRCS Private Lands Biologists, and Celia Vuocolo, PEC’s Habitat and Stewardship Specialist:
A Quest for Wildlife Habitat Restoration at Home
When you first visit Bruce Jones’ property, you’re apt to get overwhelmed. Everywhere you turn, something is fluttering, flowers are blooming, and life is happening. “Once you get it in your blood,” Bruce says, “it’s hard to switch to TV.”
Black Bear Primer
A nationwide decline in hunting, combined with hunting restrictions in heavily populated areas has helped to increase black bear populations.