Category: Uncategorized

Want to Learn More about Bees and other Pollinators?

Have you been looking at the bees and other pollinators buzzing about in your garden and want to learn more? Concerned about the decline in insects? Our book, Pollinators of Native Plants, may interest you.

We also have a booklet, Bee Basics – An Introduction to Native Bees, which covers the most common groups of native bees, how they nest and how different bees species use different types of plants. This is also available as a PDF.

Click to access Bee_Basics_North_American_Bee_ID.pdf

To borrow a book enter the name of the book at this link. https://reedycreekcoalition.org/contact-us/ Please allow a day or two for a response which will come to your e-mail.

Quality Outdoor Time with a Purpose

Crooked Branch Ravine Park is a hidden gem above Reedy Creek not far from Forest Hill Park.  At just 18 wooded acres, it presents a unique opportunity for ecological restoration through releasing its potential from the grips of dominant invasive vine and shrub species.  The current priority is removing non-native, invasive plant species.

This is important work. We would appreciate your help.

  • Sunday,  April 3, from 1 – 3 p.m.
  • If you can’t stay the entire time, that is fine.  Every little bit helps.
  • Bring gloves, hand clippers, loppers & a small saw if you can.    An old screwdriver is sometimes helpful for prying vines away from the tree so they are easier to cut.
  • We recommend long pants and long sleeves.
  • Please bring your own water bottle
  • We will meet in the cul de sac at the end of Northrop Street.

Questions?  Let us know.   https://reedycreekcoalition.org/contact-us/

Map to meeting site

Tree canopy protects watersheds and provides cooling shade, food, and habitat.

Habitat Restoration – Crooked Branch Ravine Park

Please join us for as we work to return this little park to a more natural state by removing English ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, privet and other non-native invasive plants.  We will also cut the ivy at the base of trees.  It’s a small but improtant part of our neighborhood, a sponge for rain, tree canopy for cooling and habitat for many.   

  • Sunday, March 6 from 1-3 p.m.
  • If you can’t stay the entire time, that is fine.  Every little bit helps.
  • Bring gloves, hand clippers, loppers & a small saw if you can.    An old screwdriver is sometimes helpful for prying vines away from the tree so they are easier to cut.
  • We will meet in the cul de sac at the end of Northrop Street.

Questions?  Let us know.   https://reedycreekcoalition.org/contact-us/

Map to meeting site

Here are some of the flora you could find in this little park…  

  • Indian Pipe, a flowering plant that has no chlorophyll , usually seen in June.
  • Sassafras is just one of the 28 native tree species identified so far.
  • Cranefly orchid leaves come up in fall, disappear in spring
  • Cranefly orchid flowers appear in July
  • A few native azalea have been found.
  • Small tree seedlings don’t have a chance in areas thick with ivy. We hope this little white oak will grow to maturity.
  • We must save the tree canopy. You can help!

Great Backyard Bird Count

Reedy Creek Coalition will participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) on Friday Feb 18 and Sunday, February 20 in two different areas of Crooked Branch Ravine Park. A knowledgeable birder will participate in each session and so you are welcome to participate regardless of your experience or skill with bird ID. Details and sign up form are below.

The GBBC is a global event in its’ 25th year. Learn more at https://www.birdcount.org/

Carolina Wren by Gary Mueller/Macaulay Library

Friday Feb 18 – Limited to 10 participants

  • 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
  • Meet on Crutchfield Street across from the George Wythe football field.   MAP
  • There is no path into this area of the park and you must be able to navigate a small slope to access the area.  Sturdy shoes recommened. 
  • Bring binoculars if you can.  We may have a couple of extras but cannot provide for the entire group. 
  • Bring a mask with you, if not for yourself, as a courtesy to other participants.  Even though this is an outdoor activity you will probably be very close to others some of the time. 

Sunday Feb 20 – Limited to 10 participants

  • 2:30 p.m. – 4:00p.m.
  • Meet at the end of Northrop Street where there is a path into the park.  MAP
  • Birding in this area may require walking down a slope that is a bit steep for a few people.  Sturdy shoes recommened. 
  • Bring binoculars if you can.  We may have a couple of extras but cannot provide for the entire group. 
  • Bring a mask with you, if not for yourself, as a courtesy to other participants.  Even though this is an outdoor activity you will probably be very close to others some of the time. 

Sign up using this link. You must comment either “GBBC Friday” or “GBBC Sunday”.

How do I incorporate native plants into my yard?

We recently received an inquiry with this very question. It’s a great question, but we could not provide an easy answer without knowing much more. What do you have now? Sun or shade, how much space, soil conditions, long term goals? There are so many things to consider! If you are wondering the same thing we have the perfect book for you in our lending library…

This book includes chapters on lawns, trees, food, ecosystems, soil and much more in an easy to read format.  You can pick and choose which sections you feel the need to read.  Check it out at our website    https://reedycreekcoalition.org/good-reads-for-the-watershed/

It is also available as a book or e-book at the Richmond Public Library. 

 

Help Protect Crooked Branch Ravine Park

Habitat restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.  In the case of Crooked Branch Ravine and other parks in our city, the problem is non-native invasive plant species that aggressively displace native plant species.  Non-native species simply cannot provide the support needed for the insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals who live there.

Please join us for as we work to return this little park to a more natural state by removing English ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, privet and other non-native invasive plants.  We will also cut the ivy at the base of trees.

  • Saturday,  February, 5 from 1 – 3 p.m.
  • If you can’t stay the entire time, that is fine.  Every little bit helps.
  • Bring gloves, hand clippers, loppers & a small saw if you can.    An old screwdriver is sometimes helpful for prying vines away from the tree so they are easier to cut.
  • We will meet in the cul de sac at the end of Northrop Street.

Questions?  Let us know.   https://reedycreekcoalition.org/contact-us/

Map to meeting site

drawing, robin

Treecology

Teachers, Parents, Kids!

Check out the newest addition to the Reedy Creek Library. This book is loaded with information about trees, forests and the critters that depend on them AND projects for the young naturalist.

A healthy tree canopy is the very best way to protect our streams and improve water quality.

Borrow the book using this link. https://reedycreekcoalition.org/good-reads-for-the-watershed/