By Devin Floyd April 29th, 2020 At this high-traffic urban corner we are engaging the public with an educational exhibit highlighting some rare, local ecosystems. This work has become part of our brand – the creation of outdoor interactive exhibits of local natural history (plants, animals, fungi, geology, etc). With southern exposure and ideal site […]
22
Apr
Apr
The Issue Hiding in the Shadow of Climate Change Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. We are experiencing a significant global ecological event. The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging all of us, mentally and/or physically. In our general state of quarantine, if we have our health, there are things we can do in honor […]
21
Apr
Apr
By Ezra Staengl A long line of fire stretched across the contour of the hill, slowly burning upslope towards the ash coated ground that had already been burned. The fire moved quickly and thoroughly through dense stiltgrass thatch that completely obscured the ground, but when it encountered patches of taller perilla or wingstem it shot […]
28
Mar
Mar
By Devin Floyd On March 16, 2020, The CUH Stewardship Team accomplished a small prescribed burn in an HOA regulated neighborhood. The burn was implemented at the site of a 2,000 sq.ft. prairie restoration experiment. The experiment has been focused on quantifying methods and costs for converting lawns that are dominated by tough non-native species […]
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Question: What are the top 5 things you would like to see changed in Charlottesville/Albemarle that would make our community better? (Part 3 of 5)
27
Feb
Feb
A new aesthetic: The new All-American lawn By Devin Floyd “Punishing residents for taking care of the life we share the land with is irresponsible. It promotes ignorance, and it robs our children of place-based knowledge.” I dream of a new All-American Lawn: one that is beautiful, handles its own storm water (slowing it […]
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Question: What are the top 5 things you would like to see changed in Charlottesville/Albemarle that would make our community better? (Part 2 of 5)
03
Feb
Feb
Daylight Streams By Devin Floyd Devin Floyd, Executive Director of Center for Urban Habitats, was asked to represent the environmental faction of the Charlottesville Area community in a feature article in the Cville Weekly newspaper. Along with other representatives of various factions of society, he contributed short responses to the following question: “What are the […]
Uncategorized
Question: What are the top 5 things you would like to see changed in Charlottesville/Albemarle that would make our community better? (Part 1 of 5)
20
Jan
Jan
Environmental Education By Devin Floyd Devin Floyd, Executive Director of Center for Urban Habitats, was asked to represent the environmental faction of the Charlottesville Area community in a feature article in the Cville Weekly newspaper. Along with other representatives of various factions of society, he contributed short responses to the following question: “What are the […]
09
Dec
Dec
By Ezra Staengl, December 5, 2019 CUH field techs Drew, Emily, and I tromped through our 400 square meter sample plot in a field next to Route 20 near Charlottesville. It was not a high integrity grassland by any means — by far the most abundant species was wingstem, an extremely common species able to […]
05
Dec
Dec
by Olivia Lewis, December 4, 2019 When you visit an open woodland or roadside in the Ragged Mountains of Virginia during the summer, a variety of woodland wildflowers assail you with color. Bright golden Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) and Crownbeard (Verbesina occidentalis) flowers, yellow Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus), green Lespedeza (Lespedeza species) and plumes of Goldenrod […]
05
Dec
Dec
by Rachel Floyd, November 28, 2019 When you’re two, Prairie grasses can tickle your cheeks and your baby doll has to be held very tightly as you push your way through them. When you’re two, a 65 degree day in November might call for first taking off your coat, then your shirt and sitting down […]