Hyla Versicolor, the Grey Tree Frog
The June woods are alive at night with the call of Hyla versicolor, Grey Tree Frogs. They breed from April to August, with males gathering in trees near water and calling to the females.
A June Nature Ramble
Here on our Virginia Blue Ridge Mountain farm we are still having some cool nights in the 50's, but many days are sunny and warm and nature is in full growth and reproduction mode.
Blue Ridge Explorers Overnight Camp
Fourteen intrepid explorers joined BRDC for four days and three nights of adventure packed fun during the Blue Ridge Explorers Camp. We kayaked, hike Whitetop Mountain, and swam in the New River, but most importantly we learned what it means to be a Naturalist.
June is a Frenzy of Life
Here on our VA Blue Ridge Mountain farm, June is a time of rebirth and renewal in nature. Creatures seem to be in a rush to breed and of course must consume many resources to raise their young. It is a life and death struggle but an absolutely spectacular show for the nature lover.
Explorers Adventure Day Camp I
BRDC's first week of Explorers Adventure Day Camp offered a variety of opportunities for kids to investigate mud and weeds, ponds, woodlands, creeks and river- five days of nature exploration and wonder.
Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally Biological Survey
As part of the Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally this spring, participants joined BRDC guide Devin Floyd for a biological survey of the rich forest at Grindstone Campground.
Grayson 1st Graders Visit Matthews Farm
On May 13th, BRDC participated in Matthews Living History Farm Museum's Farm Day for Grayson County 1st graders.
The Blue Ridge Turning Green
The predominant color of middle May in the Blue Ridge mountains of SW VA is green.
2016 Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally
What a fantastic Rally weekend! There was so much to explore and share!
Milkweeds: Common and Native to NC/VA
2016 Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally speaker Sarah Ross shared a list of native milkweeds for our region that you should consider planting as an alternative to showy non-natives.
Signs of Spring
Spring is a wonderful time of year, with leaves and blooms emerging, birds singing, and amphibian reproduction in full swing. But breeding occurs over a prolonged period since different species have distinct tolerances and adaptations for seasonal progression in temperature and related habitat changes.
Young Explorers Hit the New River Trail
The Young Explorers Club set out for a wildflower walk on Saturday, April 23rd in search of spring wildflowers and birds.
Explorers Club Spring Wildflower Walk
Carol Broderson led a group of 17 explorers on an early spring, wildflower walk along the New River Trail last Saturday.
Galax Enrichment Pond Exploration
Galax Middle School students explored a nearby pond last Friday, as part of BRDC's Galax Enrichment program. The students had a great time building salamander traps and searching for frogs- they discovered spring peepers and eastern newts.
Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis
Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, is one of our lovely spring ephemerals.
Bringing Nature Home
"Chances are, you have never thought of your garden — indeed, of all of the space on your property — as a wildlife preserve that represents the last chance we have for sustaining plants and animals that were once common throughout the U.S. But that is exactly the role our suburban landscapes are now playing and will play even more in the near future." Doug Tallamy
Trout in the Classroom Release
For four months, the 7th grade class at Grayson Highlands School have been raising trout from eggs to fry in a 50 gallon aquarium. On March 24, the students celebrated their success with the release of 80 small fry into Wallen's Creek.
BRDC partners with the Independence Farmers Market for Rally Dinner
Friday Night Rally Dinner goes local for the finest and freshest ingredients!
Galax Middle School Visits Matthews Museum
Galax Middle School students went on a field trip to the Mathews Museum Friday, March 11th, as part of the Galax Enrichment program. The kids were given a scavenger hunt list that challenged them to explore all the amazing exhibits.