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Today is Saturday, December 21, 2024

Eco-Articles

Eco-Article CoversIn addition to the fieldwork, Greg Sykes writes articles that are published in the King’s Park West (KPW) Civic Association’s newsletter, called The Herald (distributed eight times per year). In 2014, Friends of Long Branch Stream Valley Park (FLBSVP) began incorporating these manuscripts into its newsletter. The contributions keep the communities posted on IMA’s progress while providing ways people can help the effort starting with how they landscape their properties. In addition to the weed-related literature, articles discuss lawn care, local wildlife, ways to attract birds and butterflies to your yard, health alerts, benefits of native plants, and more! Back issues of all articles are available as free PDF files following this introduction. Feel free to share them with anyone interested! We updated the contact information and links since the articles first appeared, but please realize that job is a constantly moving target.

Whereas the articles emphasize central Fairfax’s native ecosystem, much of the content is relevant to the Washington, D.C., area, including which species are problematic weeds and which plants are suitable native alternatives. Readers in other states—or even other countries—may apply the techniques and concepts to their neck-of-the-woods. The plant lists and educational resources may be different where you live; please look up local chapters of the Audubon Society, native plant societies, park programs, etc. for regionally-specific information. Should you wish to work in areas other than your own property, be sure to get both training and written permission first from the land owners and/or appropriate authorities.

We hope you find these writings enlightening, inspiring, and even answer questions you might not have thought to ask. If you would like to receive new articles upon release, click here and ask to be on the free, IMA e-subscription list. This list is separate from the volunteer workday notification directory. We never share your e-mail addresses and all distributions are bcc. If you would like to re-publish any items within your community, please send an inquiry e-mail to Greg first as he retains both authorship and copyright.

Many of the articles have hyperlinks. Since the earlier articles are many years old and websites change, get updated, or are even taken down, we do our best to keep the articles current with updated links, especially when we know of an updated website and new individual page addresses. However, some of the reference links might be inactive.

Also, check out “Fairfax County Celebrates Virginia’s First Invasive Plant Removal Day” by Greg Sykes (2009 April) on page 25 of Virginia Water Central, April 2009 (No. 48).

The following titles appear in chronological order; the edition number and initial publication date follow each title. A short description may trail the title link. A line separates the years. Please read the copyright notification prior to accessing the articles. Continuing to view the articles indicates that you agree with the terms. To access only the latest article(s), click here.

The Complete Eco-Article Series

  • Applying the Beavers’ Blueprints – (13a) January 2009
    • Using rain barrels and rain gardens to combat streamside erosion and storm drain flaws
  • IMA Update – (13b) January 2009
    • Another major English ivy IMA site is cleared plus problems with dumping yard debris in parks
  • IMA Program and Riparian Buffers – (14a) March 2009
  • Invasive Plant Q/A’s: What to Plant – (14b) March 2009
    • How homeowners can restore an English ivy patch in their yard; cautions about pressure-treated wood, pesticide barriers around home foundations, and food gardens
  • Springtime Wildflower Announcement – (14c) March 2009
  • IMA Update – (15a) June 2009
    • Starting to remove English ivy and other invasive species from the Battery Site; IMA is a great place for many organizations to volunteer, from student groups to faith-based congregations
  • The Birds and the Butterflies: Part 1 – (15b) June 2009
    • Selecting proper plants to attract young wildlife such as caterpillars and nesting birds
  • Look, I Found a Snake… COOL! – (15c) June 2009
    • Discover some of Northern Virginia’s beneficial reptiles
  • SPECIAL EDITION: Park Land Management – (16) August 2009
    • Learn about the challenges of managing a park, visions of a natural forest, preventing exotic species introduction, and neighbor encroachment problems, and damage from haphazard trail creation by residents
  • The Birds and the Butterflies: Part 2 – (17a) September 2009
    • Selecting native plants to attract butterflies and birds
  • Lyme Disease and Other Health Threats – (17b) September 2009
    • Cautions to ticks and Lyme disease in Northern Virginia; discouraging tick populations through planting native species, removing dense invasive shrubs, and eliminating yard debris piles
  • FIREWOOD ALERT! – (18a) October 2009
    • Renewed warning about emerald ash borers
  • What’s That Plant? – (18b) October 2009
    • Learn about black willow (Salix nigra), greenbriar (Smilax rotundifolia), and floating primrose-willow (Ludwigia peploides)
  • IMA’s Habitat Restoration – (19) December 2009
    • Transforming an English ivy site into a Magnolia Bog, with a list of native species used
  • The Wonderful Winter Woodlands – (41a) January 2013
    • Appreciate the birds and plants of the season
  • Let’s Clean Up – (41b) January 2013 Reminder to “scoop the poop”
  • Habitat Islands – (42) March 2013
    • Explores how each species environmental requirements and how they apply both to natural forests and wooded backyards
    • Habitat challenges to eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) illustrates this ecological concept
  • Climate Change Part 1: Causes and Consequences – (43) April 2013
    • Earth Day special issue investigates climate change theory
    • Introduces the major greenhouse gases
    • Clarifies what makes this climate change event different from others throughout Earth’s history
    • Explains why ecosystem imbalances and extinctions are “bad things”
  • Climate Change Part 2: Act Locally – (44a) June 2013
    • Learn how tap water conservation reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
    • Offers tips to lowering your carbon footprint
    • Explores landscaping strategies that take climate change into consideration
    • Discusses pros and cons of solar energy
  • Plant Poaching – (44b) June 2013
    • Addresses the problems at the Fern Gully site with people digging up the plants used in restoration efforts and dumping yard debris along the trail and streamsides
  • Invasive Species Profile: Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii) – (45) August 2013
  • Kindly Ask First – (46) September 2013
    • Recently, people cleared an erosion-prone area of native Virginia creeper and bits of poison ivy and left non-native invasive weeds
    • Understand why such practices are counterproductive to FCPA and IMA volunteer efforts
    • Appreciate the benefits of all native plants including the victims of the unauthorized pull
    • Review previously published Eco-Articles about land stewardship, how you can constructively help the parks, and ask permission before acting on parklands
  • Wildlife Corridors – (47) October 2013
    • Learn how habitat islands can be connected–and your backyard can help!
    • Additional healthy tree tips
  • Where Have All the Trashcans Gone? – (48a) December 2013
    • A short explanation about a FCPA trashcan removal initiative
  • Invasive Species Profile: Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) – (48b) December 2013

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