Each week, C-VILLE’s Green Scene page takes a look at local environmental news. The section’s bulletin board has information on local green events and keeps you up to date on statewide happenings. Got an event or a tip you’d like to see here and in the paper? Write us at news@c-ville.com.
Royal trees: To celebrate Arbor Day 2013, join a group of professional arborists from Arboristry Associates on Friday, April 26, as they prune and trim two willow oak trees that Queen Elizabeth planted in 1976. The event starts at 9am at Piedmont Virginia Community College’s Stultz Center at the corner of College Drive and Highway 20. Arborists will give hands-on pruning demonstrations, and discuss landscape pests and diseases and how to identify troubled trees.
Native plant sale: Want to fill your yard with plants that are native in this area, but don’t know where to start? The Jefferson area of the Virginia Native Plant Society is holding a native plant sale on Sunday, April 28 at 1pm outside the barn at the Ivy Creek Natural Area. Plants will include garden-grown wildflowers, ferns, and trees, and the event will be moved inside the barn in the case of rain.
Green ribbon: Albemarle County’s Stony Point Elementary was one of two Virginia schools recognized by the Green Ribbon Schools Program, a U.S. Department of Education initiative that honors schools nationwide for promoting energy efficiency and environmental awareness. Stony Point has incorporated gardens into lessons and activities and buys much of its food from local farms. The school will receive a green display banner, and is invited to send a delegation to a recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C. this summer.
Work hard, play hard: Want to kick off your weekend with a morning outside? Join a group of local nature lovers for the Ivy Creek Foundation’s monthly volunteer work day Saturday, April 27. Meet in the parking lot at 9a and wear clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting a little dirty, as you could be removing invasive plants, repairing water bars, or widening trails.
Get out: Outdoor Charlottesville—the recently re-named, re-branded Outdoor Adventure Social Club—is hosting a launch party from 6-8pm Thursday, May 2 at Mono Loco to recruit members and celebrate what’s new: More trips, and a much lower monthly membership fee (just $9). Snack on free appetizers and enter for a chance to win a $300 shopping spree at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports—you get one raffle ticket for showing up, and another if you join the club.