By Rachel Floyd, Center for Urban Habitats Family: Apocynaceae Genus: Asclepias Species: tuberosa Average Height: 24 inches Bloom Time: June through August Elevation Range: All elevations of the Piedmont Geologic/Soil Associations: Prefers lean soils including rocky or sandy soils, but will tolerate clay if not kept too moist. Soil Drainage Regimes: Xeric, Dry-mesic, and Mesic. […]
28
Jun
Jun
By Ezra Staengl, Center for Urban Habitats Center for Urban Habitats recently discovered two ragged fringed orchids (Platanthera lacera) on a survey of an acidic powerline prairie in eastern Albemarle. We found the orchid in a powerline corridor holding a remarkably diverse prairie remnant, especially notable for having multiple plants not previously recorded in Albemarle […]
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Field Note: Albemarle County Record for Little Brown Skink, Scincella lateralis
03
Mar
Mar
Scincella lateralis (little brown skink) VA: Albemarle County, The Hedgerow Property (38° 0’37.39″N 78°34’47.57″W) June 13, 2017. Devin Floyd. Significance of Record: County First. While preforming biological survey transects at the site of the future Albemarle County Park known as “Hedgerow”, I encountered Scincella lateralis on numerous occasions. Dates observed were 05/02/2017, 05/09/2017, 05/30/2018, and […]
03
Mar
Mar
Clemmys guttata (spotted turtle) VA: Albemarle County, Mill Creek / Biscuit Run Floodplain Pools (37°59’51.02″N 78°30’48.82″W) February 28, 2018. Devin Floyd. Significance of Record: County First. On this warm late winter day I ventured into a wetland along the Biscuit Run immediately east of the north end of Biscuit Run State Park. The site is […]
12
Jan
Jan
By Drew Chaney Naturalist and Botanist, Central Virginia As you walk up the hill, you see a gap in the canopy. A sloping outcrop of bedrock lies before you, bordered by gnarled cedars, dwarf hackberries with smooth, cool gray branches, and the olive-green ground cover of the hairy lip fern. You step into the clearing […]
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Notes From the Field: Ecosystem Modeling Under Geological Constraints at Quarry Gardens
21
Nov
Nov
By Ezra Staengl, Center for Urban Habitats The Quarry Gardens property was used as a soapstone quarry between the 1950s and 1970s. After the soapstone industry abandoned it, the community used it as a dump until Armand and Bernice Thieblot bought it in 1991. In 2014 the Thieblots embarked on a mission to create a […]
27
Oct
Oct
Luna moth wrapped in a leaf Thinking about “cleaning up” those autumn native flora? Hold that thought! I will nearly always encourage actions in the landscaping arena that strike a balance between conserving biodiversity and satisfying human aesthetics. Gratefully, modern gardening and landscaping aesthetics are looking to local contexts more, and relying upon observation, inquiry, […]
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Notes From the Field: Khabira Wise’s Gardens, A Story of Native Ecosystem Modeling
09
Oct
Oct
By Ezra Staengl, Center for Urban Habitats Khabira Wise’s gardens in northern Albemarle County are a stunning example of the Center for Urban Habitat’s (CUH) unique approach to landscaping through native ecosystem modeling. When planning a garden, CUH considers factors such as geology, elevation, aspect, and lighting in order to decide which native plant community […]
By Ezra Staengl, Center for Urban Habitats We looked around at the hard greens and browns of the heath, breathing in the crisp morning air. Today, despite being only late July, was one of the first days that you could begin to smell the cool, musty scents of fall. The Center for Urban Habitats was […]
Some Basic Concepts as employed by Center for Urban Habitats Paying attention to local natural systems teaches us how to bring forth the hidden potential of nature in areas where others have lost hope. –D.Floyd Plants grow where they grow for a reason. In order to adequately accomplish so-called “Native” landscape design and installation, CUH […]