Pollinators

Drawing of a garden path with beehives

Piedmont Arts Awarded $1,000 Green Grant

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Drawing of a garden path with beehives Piedmont Arts is all abuzz with a $1,000 Green Grant for their Community Beautification plans, as part of our 13th Annual Green Grants Program.

Located in the heart of Martinsville’s Arts and Cultural District in Southwest Virginia, Piedmont Arts is an award-winning art museum that curates thought-provoking exhibitions by international, national and regional artists. The museum also offers performing arts, from concerts to plays to children’s performances, and art classes for all ages. Educational programming is offered for students of all ages, including in gallery classes as well as organizing events for in-school outreach. Piedmont Arts is the hub for arts of all varieties and arts education in Martinsville and Henry County.

Funds provided by the Green Grants award will be used to purchase bee hives, beekeeping supplies, and bees for the Art Garden and attached pollinator garden trail.

The beekeeping program will take place along the pollinator path, which is located on an area of unused land that runs from the museum’s parking lot to the Gravely-Lester Art Garden. The pathway is made of ADA-compliant crush-and-run gravel to create an accessible and beautiful space that will function as a trail and community garden. Martinsville is a Bee City, meaning the city is dedicated to the protection and stewardship of native pollinators.  The pathway will be lined with garden plots and raised beds that can be adopted by the community that will be filled with native and noninvasive pollinator plants.

The garden will have a compost station and educational signage posted throughout so that even people who do not want to plant and maintain a garden can still learn from the pollinator.  Piedmont Arts is working to create opportunities for local artists to paint signage, birdhouses, and other structures so the garden path will be filled with compelling and beautiful artwork.

The bees and butterflies will thank you by pollinating the flowers and gardens that you’re planting!

Purple meadow flowers with butterfly

City of Salem Awarded $1,000 Green Grant for Community Beautification

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Purple meadow flowers with butterflyThe City of Salem is awarded a $1,000 Green Grant in the Community Beautification category as part of our 13th Annual Green Grants Program.

Located in the Roanoke Valley along the Allegheny/Blue Ridge mountains, the City of Salem, is comprised of 15 square miles and has a population of about 25,000 residents. The City’s Landscape Management Division has a horticulturist at its helm with full and part-time employees tasked with urban forestry, landscaping of municipal parks, schools, and greenways.

In anLarge grass area on a hill in Longwood Park, City of Salem, VA effort to increase the acreage of naturalized areas for pollinators on public land, the City will convert existing turf grass to a working native prairie. They will start with a pilot plot of about half of an acre at Longwood Park, one of Salem’s largest parks.  They will plant native seed/species to (re)introduced into that area. This will serve to benefit future pollinators by inviting a diversity of species and create an attractive area in the park for the public to enjoy.  It will also reduce the need for mowing the area, which will decrease the amount of emissions put into the atmosphere.

Funds provided by the Green Grant will be used to remove current grass, prepare the ground, purchase seeds and plant by hydroseeding.  Information and educational signs will be posted to enlighten the public about the value of having a wildflower area in the park.  The signage will also help visitors understand the slow, natural process and to exercise patience.

Prairies take some time to produce the look that most people associate with a beautiful, naturalized, flowering meadow. Often, people mistake these fledgling endeavors as eyesores or weedy, unkept messes, not understanding that the native plants need a season or two to establish a hearty root system before flowering.  But by year two or three, the seeds and plants will have matured enough to begin to “wow” patrons with their flowers and provide a great food source for pollinators.

Thank you Salem, for introducing the sustainable practice of converting large areas of turf grass into a wonderland of blossoms.  The bees, butterflies, and visitors are sure to love it!

 

Kaity at Parallel Nursery

Local Businesses Sell Native Plants

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Monarch butterfly on Joe Pye Weed
Monarch butterfly on Joe Pye Weed, VNPS Wildflower of the Year

Spring is the perfect time of year to add plants to your landscape.  When selecting plants, think native!

What is the value of having plants in your yard that are native to Virginia?  And how do I know if this plant native to my region?  According to the Virginia Native Plant Society, the authority on native plants, some suppliers will label a plant “native” if it naturally occurs in the United States. An example of this is Blue Spruce which grows natively in Colorado but not in Virginia. While plants such as this will grow here, they do not provide the same ecosystem services as a plant from Virginia. In other words, birds and mammals in Colorado have co-evolved with Blue Spruce so they are able to utilize the plant. Organisms in Virginia, however, do not recognize the plant, so it provides little to no wildlife support.  Additionally, plants that are native to the area where planted are easier to maintain because they require less watering, fertilizing, pruning, and pest-control since they are well-suited for the area.

Fortunately, we have some excellent local nurseries who can help you choose native plants that are right for your garden.

Kaity at Parallel NurseryParallel Nursery is a native plant nursery in Richmond.  They are a majority woman-owned and operated nursery specializing in seed-grown native perennials from the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern USA eco-regions.  They are committed to providing you plant that are:  always bee-safe & pollinator friendly, seed-to-soil pledge of 100% pesticide free life cycle; they use ethical seed collectors and sources only; and finished plants are provided in a sustainable, peat-free, renewable, pine-bark medium.

Their broad selection of sustainably grown perennials allows you to create a diverse and healthy ecosystem in your garden, regardless of your landscape conditions or gardening experience.  And if you need a little help with design, you can inquire about landscape design consultations at [email protected]!  Visit their booth at the Lewis Ginter Spring Plantfest on Friday, May 5 & Saturday, May 6.

Seven Bends Nursery in Winchester is committed to providing lovingly curated, high quality native plants that support ecologically functional landscapes.  Their plants are chosen for both their beauty and for their role is supporting the wildlife that keeps our minds peaceful and our landscapes healthy and beautiful.

Their inventory includes an assortment of native perennial flowers, trees, and shrubs important for wildlife within the Shenandoah Valley, Piedmont, and Appalachia.  They grow from seed, cuttings, and plugs, and supplement with larger stock from like-minded nurseries. They practice sustainable resource use, are neonicotinoid-free, and focus on creating healthy plants that have the best chance at fighting off disease and pests. They grow pure species only, and you can purchase plants online here.  You can also find them at the Native Plant Sale on May 6th at Arts Herndon Lawn in Herndon.

Yellow Black Eye Susan flowers and Virginia mountainsThe New River Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society covers the counties of Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe and the towns of Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and City of Radford. Native plants are those plants which have evolved over time in specific areas and with specific pollinators or wildlife that feed on them. Many agricultural crops need native insects to pollinate them. Other native plants including shrubs, vines and trees should be planted too so birds and other wildlife will eat the berries and seeds.  You can visit a demonstration garden by clicking on the areas indicated on this map.  They will also host a Native Plant Sale on June 10th at SEEDS Blacksburg Nature Center.

There are many chapters of the Virginia Native Plant Society throughout the Commonwealth.  Visit this page to find a local chapter near you. Most have their annual native plant sales in the spring, so check out their websites and start digging!

Colorful Autumn Leaves

Leave the Leaves

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Colorful Autumn LeavesWant an excuse to skip raking and bagging all the leaves this Autumn?  There are many good reasons to stop doing this seasonal chore.  Leaves are valuable to wildlife, your plants and lawn, and play an important part in a sustainable environment.

What you see as a messy lawn or an unkept yard is seen as a buffet for a whole host of wildlife!  Earthworms, millepedes, and snails eat the fallen leaves for the nutrients they contain.  This fattens up the insects and makes them a tasty meal for many birds such as nuthatches, robins, blue jays, and bluebirds.

The leaves that are left all winter are also a haven for next year’s pollinators, as butterflies and moths lay their eggs in the leaf litter.  The Luna moth and other species spend their winter in cocoons and rely on the fallen leaves for camouflage, so they’re not eaten by predators.  Turtles, toads and others also enjoy the safety and protection of leaf litter.

For your lawn, it’s easier and yields more benefits if you mulch or mow the leaves and leave them on your grass, as

Orange-colored Newt
Easter (red-spotted) Newt

long as they’re not so thick that they block the sunlight from the turf all winter.  Virginia Tech states in its Lawn Leaf Management pamphlet that using a rotary or mulching mower as a leaf management tool has proven to be a relatively cost effective and timesaving means of leaf disposal and it increases soil organic matter content.

If you’re just not able to adjust to a leafy landscape, consider blowing your leaves into your dormant vegetable beds and under bushes in your flower beds.  You could also send them to the outer edges of your property, maybe at a wooded edge or behind a shed, to create a wildlife oasis or two.  Just keep the leaves away from roadways, storm drains, and hardscape paths.  Virginia Tech also has a pamphlet for Landscaping for Less in the Landfill.

Leaves are a valuable part of the landscape that provides nutrients for your lawn and landscape, food insects and birds, and shelter for pollinators.  Best of all, you can avoid the time-consuming chore of putting all those leaves in plastic bags — which is good for you and good for the environment!

Monarch larva on milkweed

$1,000 Green Grant Awarded to Sustainability Matters

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Monarch larva on milkweedOne of thirty grants awarded throughout Virginia in June as part of our 12th Annual “Green Grants” Program is awarded to Sustainability Matters for their “Mowing for Monarchs” Initiative.

Sustainability Matters is a grassroots nonprofit organization rooted in the rural Shenandoah Valley that cultivates community through conservation education.  It aims to empower community members to change the environment and their own lives for the better.  Since its founding in 2018, it has hosted over 200 education and outreach programs!

Like most landfills, the Shenandoah County landfill has many open areas that are mowed twice annually, usually during the summer. Originally planted with turfgrass, the fields have, over the years, become a mixture of the original grass, vital native wildflowers that have self-sown, and invasive plants. Among the native plants is a particularly strong seedbank of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) that is the main host for monarch butterflies.

Unfortunately, under current practices, the milkweed is mowed down just when the monarchs most need it…and the mowing itself likely kills thousands of monarchs and monarch larvae.

To help reframe the mowing schedule at the Shenandoah County landfill to accommodate monarch butterflies’ lifecycles, Sustainability Matters has been awarded a $1,000 Green Grant.  Funding will be utilized to perform a comprehensive, season-long survey of the Shenandoah County landfill fields, documenting the variety and relative concentrations of native and invasive plants, as well as of monarchs and other insects.Sustainability Matters Logo

The survey will be conducted by over a dozen Sustainability Matters volunteers, high school ecology students, and professional entomologists.  The results will help inform an ideal “Mowing for Monarchs” schedule for the landfill.

The results from the study will also help produce a template for other sites with a similar situation, thus scaling the impact of positive benefits.  This is a win for native plants, pollinators of all kinds, and the beautiful monarch butterflies.

 

Butterflies on Flowers

Pollinator Habitat Garden Club is Awarded $1,000 Grant

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Butterflies on FlowersDid you hear the latest buzz?  Students in the Pollinator Habitat Garden Club at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville are addressing the important role pollinators play in the environment by researching, planning, and implementing a pollinator garden.  They are being awarded a $1,000 grant as one of Keep Virginia Beautiful’s 12th Annual Green Grants Program to address the critical need of water in the garden.

The Pollinator Garden is located at the entrance to a walking trail.  When completed, it will be a wonderful spot to take a walk through a variety native plants. The students in the club have all taken the Lewis Ginter web series on growing natives in Virginia.  They’ve learned about invasive species and the importance of getting rid of non-native grass to create an environment that attracts pollinators. They will not use any pesticides or other toxic chemicals to sustain this habitat.

The placement of the Pollinator Garden is at the top of a hill, making it a challenge for students or maintenance crew to get a regular supply of water needed for the plants.  The Green Grant award will install a rainwater harvesting system on a steep roof shed with a gutter that deposits water into a large water storage container.  This system will provide enough water for the native pollinator plants.  The students will also create a sign with QR codes directing visitors to a webpage to learn more about natives and sustainable gardening.Students in new garden area

As well as solving the need for water, the new shed will hold the club’s garden tools, such as the wheel barrel, shovels, and fencing.   Students will create a sign explaining the sustainable harvesting of water. They will also measure the amount of water that comes off the roof and fills the plastic container and track the number of students who work in the pollinator garden.

Congratulations to the students for recognizing the importance of pollinators in our landscape, and for the work they’re doing to educate others!

Hands in heart shape

We’re Giving TO YOU for #Giving Tuesday!

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Hands in heart shapeIt’s #GivingTuesday, and we’re giving thanks (and a gift) to YOU for your helping hands to keep Virginia clean and green!

We were happy to give you the resources you needed throughout 2021 to make a difference in your community, and your impact shows!

Even in this Covid-restricted virtual world, over 2,021 bags of litter were removed from the landscape during Shiver in Virginia statewide cleanup in March!  And there were over 2,500 volunteer hours of service to complete the thirty-five Green Grants projects for 2021.  We’re always grateful to our Adopt-a-Highway permit holders, the road warriors who pick up litter all year round!  And so many people have signed in to take the pledge to end litter in Virginia — we know you care about the scenic and natural environment of our Commonwealth!

That’s why we want to give a little something to you to say “Thank You” on #Giving Tuesday.  All you need to do is use this form to let us know which one of these freebies you’d like!Screen Wipe Cloth

You can choose a KVB screen wipe, a reusable microfiber cloth you can use to clean your phone, glasses, and other devices without the need for disposable lense cleaners that come in a foil package with a single-use wet wipe.  You can keep this one handy in your purse or pocket.

Package of seedsOr let us send you a package of wildflower seeds!  They contain seeds for native plants that grow in Virginia, like Black-eyed Susans and Lupine that will attract butterflies and other pollinators, and come back each year.

Or you can request our very popular KVB stickers (let us choose from the selection on hand).  All of these items are while supplies last!

We also want to remind you that year-round we offer cigarette butt receptacles to help combat the cigarette butt litter problem.  If you have a business that would use and maintain receptacles (or can KVB logo stickersuse and hand out pocket ashtrays), please fill out this interest form to let us know what you need.

If you’d like to support our programs further, everyone who gives a donation in any amount will receive a free-parking pass good for one day at a Virginia State Park; or a Deluxe Cleanup Kit for donations of $100.00 or more.

Thank you for a tremendous year of support and participation!  Happy Giving Tuesday!

Hooray for Bees!

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Bee on FlowerThe humble honey bee does not do its work for praise, but on August 21st we all unite in celebration of this magnificent insect on National Honey Bee Day. Honey bees are incredibly important to our ecosystems, and in fact to life as we know it. We can thank these busy little pollinators for much of the food we eat, as well as their delicious honey and useful beeswax.

The honey bee is one of the most efficient pollinator species in the world. Though they are not native to the U.S., they have become an integral part of U.S. industry. Their supreme pollination skills are responsible for higher crop yields, making them an invaluable asset to farmers. Honey Bees are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat (USDA.gov).  In Virginia they pollinate a variety of crops such as cucumbers, avocados and apples, blueberries and cherries.  Yum!

In addition to their pollination skills, honey bees produce important substances that we use in everyday life. The first, of course, is their namesake – honey! Honey is a sweet substance to put over biscuits or in tea, but it also has some amazing health benefits. Honey is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It has been linked to lower levels of blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Another important substance honey bees produce is beeswax, which is a vital ingredient in many beauty products because it helps skin seal, and it retains moisture. Beeswax is also used to make products such as furniture polish, candles, and anti-rust treatments.

We all want to continue benefiting from the important work that honey bees do. We challenge Virginians to celebrate National Honey Bee day by taking some simple steps to protect pollinators. Avoid using pesticides, especially during the daytime hours when bees are most active.  You can also plant native, pollinator-friendly plant species. Use a grass seed with clover mixed in.   Plant flowers such as Bee Balm, Milkweed, and Coneflower, as well as trees such as Dogwood, Redbud, and American Persimmon.  Reach out to the Virginia Native Plant Society to learn what to grow in your area of the Commonwealth.

To report or remove a bee swarm, contact the Virginia State Beekeepers Association before you spray.  Or if you want to learn more about beekeeping click here for additional information.

Peppers and Sweet Potatoes

Fabulous Farms

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Peppers and Sweet PotatoesVirginia’s agricultural production is one of the most diverse in the nation. We can see this first hand when we drive or bike through fields of hay, wheat, peanuts, tobacco, sweet potatoes, tomatoes or corn to see it for ourselves.  While the agricultural industry is good for the Commonwealth, if not done properly it can drain the soil of nutrients, pollute nearby waterways, and increase carbon outputs. Fortunately, in Virginia there are organizations working to farm sustainably for the benefit of their communities.

Arcadia Farms, located just miles from Washington DC, is one such organization. The farm uses sustainable growing practices such as rotating crops to protect topsoil, and integrating natural pest-repellents into their landscaping. Because they use proactive measures to deter pests, they are able to grow all their food organically. Their produce is then sold at affordable prices in low income and underserved neighborhoods in the DC area.

Just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains you’ll find Lynchburg Grows, a farm in Lynchburg.  They employ people with disabilities and teach them agricultural skills. They also host workshops for students and community members interested in farming skills or cooking. Lynchburg Grows farms all their produce organically, protecting beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies. Keep Virginia Beautiful recently awarded Lynchburg Grows a $1,000 Green Grant to build a pollinator garden, which will further protect and feed these beneficial insects.

Bellair Farm, just outside of Charlottesville, grows over 50 kinds of produce.  Their farm is Organic Certified and they are committed to farming in a way that preserves the health of the farm’s soil and surrounding ecosystems. They sell their produce using a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) system. Through this system, CSA members can subscribe to a farm and receive a certain share of the produce on a regular basis at local pickup locations.  Bellair also has Barn Store hours on weekends during the Summer, and you can even pick your own produce for the freshest option.

The work of these farms, and others like them, makes our agricultural systems more sustainable and a healthier community for all. Keep Virginia Beautiful is grateful to our local farmers for the important work they do!

People reading a sign

Sustainability Matters Awarded $1,000 Green Grant

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People reading a signCongratulations to today’s award of our 2021 Green Grants, Sustainability Matters, in Shenandoah County, who will receive a grant award of $1000 for its Community Beautification project.

Sustainability Matters is a grassroots organization in rural Shenandoah Valley that provides knowledge, motivation, and a peer support to landowners, farmers, and small business owners, enabling them to implement positive environmental practices, support pollinators and wildlife, and grow their own food. They recently launched the project “Making Trash Bloom,” an initiative to plant landfill trash cells with native perennial meadows instead of turf grass. Landfills seal a 5-acre trash cell every 3-5 years, and the land can never be used to grow crops or be planted with trees. Turf grass, the current preference for planting trash cells, has little ecological value.

The plan for the Community Beautification project from Sustainability Matters is to plant native wildflowers on completed trash cells instead of turf grass, turning this under-used area into a crucial habitat for wildlife and pollinators. It will also be a beautiful area for the public to see as they go to or pass by the landfill. Grant funds will be used to purchase seeds and planting supplies for blossoming gardens at landfills.

Every year, government, non-profit, civic and service organizations in Virginia were invited to apply for grants for $500 to $1,000 describing how they plan to tackle an environmental concern in their community regarding Litter Prevention, Recycling, Cigarette Litter Prevention, or Community Beautification.  Since 2011, Keep Virginia Beautiful has provided $254,500 for 320 different environmental programs and projects all across the Commonwealth, due to the generosity of their partnership with Altria, as well as additional support from Coca-Cola, WestRock and Keep America Beautiful.

 

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