Planting Natives
Photo: S. Reilly
Protecting the environment is not enough when the ecological integrity of the land has been compromised through deforestation, farming, and development. Restoration efforts of any scale necessarily include reintroducing native plants. Not only are natives better suited to the soil, rainfall, and temperature conditions of the area, but they will also support local wildlife, including insects.
Riparian Buffer Installation
As part of their Watershed Restoration program, the James River Association and the Virginia Department of Forestry provide trees and supplies free of charge to qualifying landowners who commit to keep the forested buffer intact for 15 years. James River Master Naturalists, along with other volunteers, help with the installation. Young trees are protected with collars and supported with stakes until they become established. Volunteers helping with the program will inspect and maintain the installation for three years. Below a JRA representative demonstrates the process.
Photos: R. Reilly
Visit the James River Consortium to learn why riparian buffers matter.
Reforestation at Powhatan State Park
Before the Virginia Department of Conservation Resources obtained the land that became Powhatan State Park, much of it was farmed or was home to poultry and dairy operations. While the Park will maintain much of the former farmland as open space, there are areas where trees are desirable. In the photos below, volunteers are performing maintenance on trees planted a few years before.
Photo: A. Hulth
Photo: D. Girgente
Milkweed Planting Project
Chapter volunteers planted a milkweed patch at Powhatan State Park. Each summer volunteers monitor the plants for monarch eggs and larvae and submit the data to the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (you can read more about this under the Citizen Science section).
Photos: S. Reilly
Photo: S. Reilly
In a few short weeks after installation of the milkweed plugs, monarch butterflies had found the young plants and laid tiny white eggs! Caterpillars were soon feeding hungrily. It was a clear demonstration of appreciation for the hard work of the volunteers!
Photo: S. Reilly
A few years later, and that milkweed is enjoyed by many pollinators besides monarchs!
Photo D. Girgente
Photo R. Reilly
Photo D. Girgente