Fairfax County Park Authority • Fairfax, VA 22035 • 703-324-8695 • fax 703-324-3996 • tty 703-324-3988 • www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resourcesp

� Weather continued on page 10

� Every Drop Counts continued on page 10

WHAT’SINSIDE…

News about nature, history and horticulture in Fairfax County Volume 3, No. 4 Summer 2003

Making Every Drop Count —Simple Things Gardeners Can DoBy Deborah Waugh, Green Spring Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener

SummerSurprises ........... 2Railroad Mania .. 3Partnerships ...... 4Lorton/Laurel Hill .......... 5Summer onGrandpa’s Farm . 6Special Events .... 7Mt. AirArtifacts ............. 7Spring BirdMigration ........... 8ButterflyBonanza ............ 9KeepingTurfgrass“Green”............ 11

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Who said DROUGHT? This summer, let’s hopethat gardeners won’t have to contend withthe parched, hard times we experienced

last year. However, even if rainfall is plentiful, this isthe time of year to re-evaluate the ways we use waterin our gardens.

While gardening is considered a wholesomeendeavor that enhances our environment, certaingardening practices can compromise water quality.Overuse threatens water supplies. Surface run-off fromgardens can carry fertilizers and pesticides intostreams, rivers and lakes. Groundwater is affectedwhen these agents seep below the water table.Erosion by wind or rain carries off topsoil that canclog waterways and reservoirs. While each garden byitself may not contribute much to the problem, addedup, many small contributions pose a serious threat.

What’s with the Weather?By Jane Scully, ResOURces Editor

The weather outside was frightful last winter and early spring. Numerous snowfalls andrecord cold temperatures played havoc with school and work schedules. Rainfalls addedto the likelihood of flooded roads and basements. Trees and plants bent low with the

weight of all the snow. It was a bleak, black-and-white world.That was then, this is now. Flooded streams and rivers have receded and we’re outdoors

again. Finally warmer weather has brought us back into the garden, hiking along streams andputting the memory of cold and ice behind us. But is it that simple?

First, the good news. When we asked “the weatherman,” Doug Hill, meteorologist forWUSA television, he reported that, “All in all, I’d say we could look forward to a pretty nicesummer. We’ve had enough moisture since last September to keep things healthy. The aquifersare rising and the ground is saturated.”

Judy Okay of the Virginia Department of Forestry agrees. “It should be a good year, with allthe moisture. The snow actually served as good insulation for plants. If it had been ice, plantswould have tended to break rather than bend.”

The pattern of snow melt can have both positive and negative environmental impacts,

Yet good gardens thrive with good water-wisepractices. The same techniques that improve soil,beautify landscapes, improve plant health and reducemaintenance also help to protect and conservewater — and lower water bills! It’s surprisingly easy tocut water consumption by 50 percent or more. Startby thinking about your soil, your site and the waysyou deliver water.

Consider your landscaping. Limit run-off and ero-sion by using porous paving materials such as gravel,crushed stone or wood chips instead of impermeableconcrete or asphalt. Use groundcovers on steep slopesand areas of bare soil. Direct roof run-off so that itspreads over well-drained soil rather than the drive-way, and place water-guzzling plants in that area.

Know your soil and improve it. Loamy soil uses

2 RESOURCES

Editor: Jane ScullyPhotos: Don Sweeney,

Jane ScullyIllustrations: Nancy HornsteinCirculation: Karen TempleProduction: Innovative

Projects, Inc.

RESOURCES isproduced quarterly by theFairfax County Park Authority.Inquiries, suggestions andcomments should beaddressed to Jane Scully,Editor, Resource Manage-ment Division, Suite 936,FCPA, 12055 GovernmentCenter Parkway, Fairfax, VA22035-1118.

To receive your free copy ofRESOURCES, fill out theform on the back cover orregister directly on our website at www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/resources.htm.

c RESOURCES is printedon 100% recycled paper.

Civil War EncampmentAt Sully HistoricSite, Federal andC o n f e d e r a t etroops will recre-ate Civil War dailylife as re-enactorsdemonstrate the

varied work of the military and how civilians wenton with their lives as their husbands, sons and broth-ers marched off to war. Visit the weekend encamp-ment and discover the living quarters and victualsof these hardy souls. The July 19 and 20 event willbe held from 10am to 5 pm. The cost, including atour of the 1794 house, is $6 for adults, $4 forseniors and children.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is committed to equal access in all programs andservices. Special accommodations will be provided upon request. Please call the

ADA/Access Coordinator at 703-324-8563, at least 10 working days in advance of the dateservices are needed. TTY (703) 803-3354 http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/ada.htm

7th Annual Herndon BluesfestLet great music, food and down-home hospitalityadd a sparkle to your summer! On Saturday, July 19,from 10am to 8pm, Ray Kaminsky, Jack Fretwell,Barrelhouse Bonni, Catfish Hodge, Andra Faye,Sparky & Rhonda Rucker, Robert B. Jones and GuyDavis will entertain at Frying Pan Park’s 4-H building.Bring a blanket and buy a picnic supper from ourfood vendors. The event is co-sponsored by FryingPan Park, the Council for the Arts of Herndon andarea businesses. Donations are welcome.

Free Fun on the Farm� Frying Pan Park will hold its Summer Harvest Day

on July 12, from 10am to 4pm. Keep neighborlytradition alive by joining the farmers in shellingand grinding corn. Enjoy farm games and watchthe animals getting a cooling bath and hair cut.See a wide variety of antique farm equipment.

� On August 2 and 3, the Fairfax County 4-H willhold its free annual fair from 10am to 4 pm. You’llfind old-fashioned country fun with games, ridesand exhibits. See the 4-H exhibitors getting theirproject animals ready for the show.

Historic PropertiesRental ServicesFairfax County is full of history and historic places.Some have been preserved as historic sites bythe Park Authority. Others have been preserved

for their historic vernacular architecture, refurbished to serve again as gather-ing places for special events and get-togethers. The eight properties in theHistoric Properties Rental Services collection are available for private andcorporate celebrations, special events and meetings. Call 703-938-8835 formore information or see our properties at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/weddings.htm.

TO OURREADERS

This will be my last issueas editor of ResOURcesand ResOURces Online.I have greatly enjoyedcreating this venture —with your help — andhope that you too haveenjoyed these three vol-umes of the publication.Your notes and sugges-tions have meant a lot.

Our parks are one of thefinest jewels of ourcounty, ranging as theydo from beautiful riversites to historic mills, fromwonderful nature centersand programs to quietstream valley trails. Weare fortunate indeed tohave them, for ourselvesand for our children.

So enjoy this beautifulseason. Your parks arewaiting!

Jane Scully, Editor

Summer SurprisesNew at Green Spring GardensFor early risers, come see the gardens in a new light,with tours from 7 to 8am. Make your $5 reserva-tions and meet at the Gazebo for guided tours onJune 11 or 21, July 9 or 13, and August 6 or 16. Forlater risers, guided tours from 10 to 11am provide aperfect introduction to one of the area’s most dynamicgardens. Dates are Mondays, June 2 and 16, July 7and 21, and August 4 and 18. Each $5 programsrequires reservations. Have a bloomin’ good time!

Saturdays:Family Artsin the Parks

On most Saturdays at 10amin June through August, Artsin the Parks brings the bestin family entertainment toEllanor C. Lawrence Park.Music, puppets, magic, andballet are just some of thepresentations during thissummer series. For a sched-ule, please call 703-324-8566or get your copy at WalneyVisitor Center. The programis sponsored by McDonaldsFamily Restaurants.

Colvin Run Mill Summer FunBring out your undiscovered artistic abilities as youcarve a handsome creature from a block of wood!Experts from the Northern Virginia Carvers will lendyou their tools and their expertise at Colvin RunMill from noon to 4pm every first and third Sundaythis summer. The lesson is free, with a nominalcharge for wood blanks.Also on Sundays themiller will be grindinggrain, weather permit-ting, powered by thenewly restored waterwheel! Cornmeal, gritsand whole wheat flourwill be for sale in theGeneral Store. Call703-759-2771 to con-firm schedules.

Summer Surprises

Summer 2003 3

L O C A L H I S T O R Y

W eaving throughAlexandria, FairfaxCity and on to

Manassas is the abandonedrailway bed of the ManassasGap Railroad chartered 150years ago. Today these bul-warks of dirt curling west tothe Blue Ridge Mountains aresilent witnesses to the ambi-tious dreams, changing eco-nomic and political climatesand the devastating ruincaused by the Civil War. TheManassas Gap Railroad His-toric Site in Annandale is oneof the best spots to explore thisVirginia Historic Landmark.

The railroad was built inpart as a product of the speculative frenzy of railroad building in thelate 1840s and early 1850s. The advent of steam-powered enginesinspired the construction of railroads to connect the fertile farms ofthe expanding West to the traditional markets and business hubsalong the East Coast. A feverish program of railroad constructioncreated some 3,668 miles of track in less than 20 years.

Economic competition for access to the productive farms ofthe Shenandoah Valley increased when the Baltimore and OhioRailroad (B&O) opened a line to Winchester through Harper’s Ferryin 1836. The merchants of Alexandria, fearful that they were losingtheir crucial wagon trade with the Shenandoah Valley, received acharter in 1848 from the state legislature for the Orange andAlexandria Railroad (O&A). The line ran from the rural fields southin Orange to the port city.

Its success bred greater ambition. By 1850 another group ofmerchants and farmers received incorporation for the Manassas GapRailroad (MGRR) that would recapture the wheat trade of the upperShenandoah Valley that the B&O had successfully acquired throughits Winchester branch. Rich planters and prominent business ownersin the area determined its route and invested heavily in its future.

To reach the valley, the line would run west from the ManassasJunction on the Orange and Alexandria line, through Gainesville, pastFront Royal, through the Manassas Gap and on to Strasburg. It wascompleted in three years and celebrated with rhetorical gusto.

RAILROAD MANIA:The Life and Times of theManassas Gap Railroad

By Jane Scully, ResOURces Editor

Buoyed by new revenuesand awash in plans for expan-sion, the MGRR companydecided to build its own Inde-pendent Line directly fromManassas Junction to Alexan-dria rather than pay the O&Aits high rail-rental charges forgoods that had to be trans-ferred from the MGRR andshipped to Alexandria on thoselines. The legislature approvedthe plan in March 1853.

The Independent Line wasto run 34 miles, crossing theBull Run west of Chantilly andthen Cub Run, into a sweep-ing curve crossing first theWarrenton Turnpike and then

the Little River Turnpike to what is now the city of Fairfax. It thenran east near the village of Annandale, turning south to recrossLittle River Turnpike, run through Indian Run Valley and on to justoutside Alexandria.

The process of obtaining the necessary land, however, and thecosts of the major filling and leveling required for constructionreduced profits and assurances of state aid. By 1858 the company’sdebts were enormous, and growing hostilities and talk of secessionhung heavy in the air. One year short of completion, the Indepen-dent Line fell victim to the Civil War, and no steel rails were everlaid. Instead, its earthworks served as battle sites and as little-knowntransportation routes for both Confederate and Union soldiers.

The Manassas Gap Railroad never recovered from the war, dur-ing which its rails were torn up and its rolling stock destroyed byboth sides. The right-of-way was relinquished and much land wasput back into farming. In some places, however, where deep cuts,high fills or substantial masonry work such as at the Manassas GapRailroad Historic Site in Annandale, the roadbed remains. Its highfill areas, shallow cuts and two historic culverts, all constructedduring the 1850s, remain in remarkably complete condition. TheHistoric Site is a perfect place to look back on the tremendouslycomplex tapestry of how people, places and events — especiallysurrounding the Civil War — converged to create a place of majorhistoric significance.

These stone walls are remnants of the earthworks built to carry the railsof the Manassas Gap Railroad’s Independent Line, begun during therailroad boom before the Civil War and never completed.

4 RESOURCES

P A R T N E R S H I P S

S hared values are key to the dynamic partnershipbetween Hidden Pond Nature Center and Fresh FieldsWhole Foods Market of Springfield. Both groups believe

in providing high-quality products, satisfying customers andcaring about the community and the environment. Last yearthe market was given the Elly Doyle Special Recognition ServiceAward by the Fairfax County Park Authority to mark the successof the collaboration.

The partnership began with a raffle in support of a projectthat had both an educational and environmental purpose. FreshFields Whole Foods Market suggested that the funds collectedduring the raffle be used for a public demonstration garden atHidden Pond Nature Center to show homeowners what theycan do to make their backyards more environmentally friendly.

The raffle brought in a total of over $600, which was givenby Fresh Fields for plants and planting material for the gardendesigned by volunteers at Hidden Pond. When completed, thisdisplay garden will contain a plaque highlighting the contribu-tion of the Springfield Fresh Fields Whole Foods Market.

Fresh Fields has a corporate philosophy of giving a minimum5% of net profits every year to a wide variety of communityand non-profit organizations. Last September the SpringfieldFresh Fields Whole Foods Market selected Hidden Pond to bethe recipient of a percent of the selected day’s overall sales.Promoted at both the park and the store, the day was a greatsuccess and raised over $1,300 for the nature center.

In another partnership venture based on shared values, thepark and the store created an in-store monthly Naturalist Cornerat Fresh Fields for children aged three to five (and their parents).The store provided a comfortable sitting area and the neededmaterials for this program. Hidden Pond provided a variety ofprograms.

The first programs began in September 2000 with apresentation by Hidden Pond staff that focused on animal dietsand how they compared to human diets. To kick things off, ateen volunteer dressed as a groundhog greeted the store’spatrons. It was a wonderful — and unusual — opportunity forall concerned.

This lively interpretive program continues today. In less thantwo years, more than 440 children and their parents haveattended the 22 programs, having fun and exploring the natu-ral world. The store promotes the program with flyers at thestore, in their newsletters and through email updates. HiddenPond also promotes this community program in its site calen-dar and in Parktakes, the Park Authority’s quarterly publicationlisting programs, classes and facilities.

A Partnership of Quality

The Naturalist Cornerat Whole Foods

Hidden Pond Nature Center and Whole Foods

of Springfield will host three educational pro-

grams this summer geared for children three to

five years old. The three programs will focus on

Pollinators, Berries and Fish, respectively. Crafts,

stories and more will be part of the programs

presented at the Whole Foods Store at Keene

Mill Plaza, 8402 Old Keene Mill Road on the

following Wednesdays: June 25, July 30 and

August 27 from 11 to 11:30 am. Call Whole

Foods at 703-644-2500 for the day’s topic and

to make a free reservation.

Liz King and naturalist Michael McCaffrey admire a picture abouthow things grow drawn by a participant in Hidden Pond’s partnershipprogram with Fresh Fields Whole Foods Market of Springfield.

Summer 2003 5

N E W P R O J E C T S

The land has been a national NIKE missile site, aRevolutionary War patriot’s home, TeddyRoosevelt’s progressive agricultural Workhouse

and Reformatory and, through the last decade, a prisonstretched beyond its resources.

Today, the county has taken ownership of theapproximately 2,400-acre property most recentlyknown as Lorton. The size of the property is approxi-mately the same size as the Town of Herndon andover 11/2 times the size of the City of Falls Church. Inplanning the overall site now called Laurel Hill, thecounty will be involved in one of the most excitingprojects it has ever managed. The success of this plan-ning depends greatly on citizen understanding, inputand creative thinking.

Some of that input and creative thinking has alreadybeen put to work. Legislation designed to transfer theland from the federal government to the county waspassed by Congress in 1998. In it was the require-ment that the county develop a Reuse Plan for the sitethat would “maximize use of the land for open space,park land, or recreation” prior to its actually acquiringthe land.

Following this direction, a citizens’ committeeworked through 1999 to develop an overall plan thatlaid out different areas of the site for a number of gen-eral categories of use. Their resulting ComprehensivePlan and its approval by both the county and Congressallowed completion of the transfer in July 2002.

To address the “open space, park land, or recre-ation” requirement, the Comprehensive Plan set aside1,600 acres for such purposes, much of it rollingmeadows, woodlands and agricultural land used inthe prison’s farm program. Other major land designa-tions included an Adaptive Reuse area of 150 acresthat is the site of historic brick buildings built by inmatesusing handmade bricks from the prison kiln. These 90-year-old buildings reflect the period’s classic revivalarchitecture with its arcades and courtyards.

Other planned areas at Laurel Hill include a highschool and a middle school, as well as senior housingand residential redevelopment. While some otherdesignations have been made, much remains to bedecided. This year will mark a highly intense planningprocess with a large number of public hearings and

Lorton/Laurel Hill:Join the Planning Process!

The success

of thisplanningdepends

greatly on

citizenunderstanding,

creative

thinkingand input.

opportunities for citizen input. Such a project, it isfelt, should be one the entire county can take pride inand enjoy the results.

The size and scope of the project requires a masterplanning process that goes beyond the comprehen-sive plan and addresses more of the details for theproject. The year-long master planning process willinclude development of adaptive reuse recommen-dations for the historic buildings areas. In a parallelprocess, the Fairfax County Park Authority and theNorthern Virginia Regional Park Authority will workon plans for the park and recreational areas, as wellas preserving environmentally sensitive areas. (Forthe most recent information on the Laurel Hillproject as well as some fascinating history, seewww.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/cex/laurelhill.)

The Planning Process has four phases. The ParkAuthority will hold public hearings to gather ideas forparks and recreational activities on its 1,600 acres;the county will hold separate hearings on the adap-tive reuse proposals. For the Park Authority, the firstphase is underway, and it continues to hold publichearings and community meetings to gather propos-als and ideas. Phase 2 is a review of the proposals andideas and their integration into alternative conceptplans. These plans will be evaluated based on a num-ber of criteria and will include a community meeting.Dates for all public hearings can be found atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/news.htm.

Phase 3 is the actual development of the draftmaster plan. It will document the preferred plan basedon the evaluation in Phase 2 and provide more detailon financial analysis, phasing and design. The draftplan will be presented to the community this summer.The comments received on the draft plan from thecommunity and interested groups will be incorporatedinto Phase 4’s preparation of the final master plan.

The time to join in the planning is NOW. Some ofthe ideas already expressed include an equestriancenter, athletic field complexes and other innovativeproposals. A golf course has already been plannedand approved. Please attend the public hearings andmeetings that are designed to help shape the futureof this unique and exciting addition to our county’sresources.

6 RESOURCES

S P E C I A L E V E N T S

Summer on Grandpa’s FarmBy Todd Brown, Manager, Frying Pan Park

L ots of folks have stories of spend-ing summer on a farm. A farm —whether it’s Grandpa’s, Uncle John’s

or Cousin Alice’s — is always a great placeto get away and enjoy a different life. But Igrew up on a beef and pig farm in theShenandoah Valley of Virginia. So wheredoes a farm kid go during the summer? Well,another farm, of course.

I went to my grandparents’ dairy farmfor a couple of weeks each summer. I reallyenjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of adifferent kind of agricultural operation. AndI also came to work. I was a big help, andthe farm really got kicked into high gearwhen I was there for those couple of weeks.At least that is what I thought at the time.Now I realize that I worked about a half-hour a day and played with my cousins themajority of the time.

My half-hour was a huge deal for a smallkid. I had a couple of jobs that seemed to

On Saturday, June 7, from 10am

to 4pm, come celebrate National

Dairy Month at Frying Pan Park

and make some of your own

farm memories. Try your hand at

milking our cows and goats,

learn where milk comes from

and how it is made. Test your

taste buds at the Cheese-Tasting

Contest, climb a hay pyramid,

play in a sandbox full of corn.

This free event is a great oppor-

tunity to learn how farm chores

used to get done and how they

get done now.

take a long time. First, before the cows cameinto the dairy to get milked, I had to shovelfood in a chute that led down to the troughwhere the cows ate while they were beingmilked. Wow, meeting the nutritionaldemands for all those cows was on my smallshoulders! The milk quality for thousandsof people was based on my preparingdinner for these living milk factories. Littledid I know the feed was a balanced rationalready prepared, and the cows were on aself-feeding system where they could eat allthey wanted.

Then came the critical job of bringing thecows up from the pasture to the barn to bemilked. I thought that this was the biggestand most important job on the farm.Obviously the cows could not be milkedwithout me bringing them up. Without milk,the farm couldn’t make money, my grand-parents would go broke and the farmhands’families wouldn’t have money for clothes.

Practically the whole county was relying onme successfully bringing the cows up to bemilked. Later in life I learned that milk cowsare creatures of habit and can tell time betterthan our watches. The cows come in thebarn twice a day every day at the same time,all by themselves. My grandfather was try-ing to make me feel important or just getme out of his way. I am sure a little of both.

My last job was to try to help my grand-father milk the cows. Now this is when mygrandfather probably wished either I wasolder or my two weeks were over. I was thekid of a thousand questions and my grand-father was a man of few words. I would takehim well beyond his daily quota.

Today I truly appreciate my grandfather’spatience and as long as I live I will neverforget the beautiful sight of those big black-and-white spotted Holstein cows lying onthe green grass as I came over the hilltop tobring them in.

Summer 2003 7

UniqueMilestones

at Sully’sAntique Car

ShowBy Barb Ziman, Events Coordinator

S P E C I A L E V E N T S

W hat do two brothers on their family farmin Australia, a small boy in Nepal and anAmerican farmer in Florida have in com-

mon? The answer: grain. These people all appearin the new permanent exhibit, “Grains Around theWorld,” that has just been installed in the barn atColvin Run Mill Historic Site in Great Falls. Theirimages represent the diverse people around the world who growdifferent kinds of grain.

What connection do these people have with Colvin Run Mill?Again, the answer is: grain. For 30 years, visitors to the mill havelearned how the 19th century miller bought grain from localfarmers and ground it into wheat flour and cornmeal. In the 21stcentury, Fairfax County residents and visitors hail from many placesaround the world and have fond memories of delicious foodsbaked with their local grains.

The purpose of the new exhibit is to connect our local historyand foodways with the experiences people bring with them fromthe wider world. “Community” is one of the main themes wediscuss at Colvin Run Mill, and the new exhibit expands that

The members of the George Washing-ton Chapter of the Model A Ford Club spendthousands of hours each year preparing forthe Antique Car Show. They have forged aunique friendship with the Park Authority.Through this high-quality show the groupraises funds for the club, generates revenuefor the Park Authority, and brings attentionto the preservation of cultural and naturalresources in Fairfax County. These outstand-ing contributions to the Park Authority wererecognized in 2001 when the club was givenits Elly Doyle Park Service Award.

When you need to recharge during theday, treat Dad and yourself to a deliciouslunch or snack from one of several food ven-dors on the grounds. Get your toes tappingto the music of Jumpin’ Jupiter, the popular50’s rock ‘n’ roll band, and the Fairfax Sym-phony Dixieland Band.

Tickets to the show are $7 for adults,$6 for seniors and $5 for children. Guidedtours of the first floor of the 1794 historichouse are included in the price of admis-sion. For more information, please call Sullyat 703-437-1794 or visit our website atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.

theme to show the community of people aroundthe world who grow, grind and eat grain.

Can you name the six major grains grown inthe world?1 You will be able to after a look at theGrains Around the World exhibit. The eye-catchingdesign includes a giant world map depicting thewide, wide world of growing grains. It shows where

each of the grains is grown and tells the history and a few funfacts about each of them. The colorful format is easy for visitorsof all ages to understand.

Speaking of community — the spirit of community is aliveand well in Great Falls. This new exhibit was made possible by agenerous donation from Mike Kearney, proprietor of the OldBrogue, an Irish pub in Great Falls. The Brogue Charities’ moneywas matched by the Fairfax County Park Authority’s MastenbrookVolunteer Matching Funds program. The Friends of Colvin RunMill provided additional funding.

Visit your “community” at Colvin Run Mill, 10017 Colvin RunRoad off of Route 7 in Great Falls. Call for information and hoursat 703-759-2771.

EVERYBODY EATS!By Ann Korzeniewski, Assistant Site Administrator, Colvin Run Mill Historic Site

T his June the Antique Car Show cel-ebrates a historic milestone. This is the30th year of partnership between

Fairfax County Park Authority and the ModelA Ford Club in producing an entertaining andeducational day in the park. In addition, 2003marks the 75th birthday of the Model A Ford.

Sully Historic Site invites you to enjoythese notable anniversaries at this 30thannual Antique Car Show on Sunday, June15, from 10 am to 4 pm. Celebrate Father’sDay as well at this special event and learnabout the evolution of transportation inFairfax County.

More than 400 antique and classic carswill fill the grounds for this largest car showin Nor thern Virginia. Trophies will beawarded in all classes, and a special “Bestin Show” Award will be given by the Sullystaff. As well, you can purchase the car ofyour dreams at the Car Corral and shop forthe perfect gift or accessory in the Auto,Crafts and Antiques Market with more than100 vendors. Don’t miss your chance to ownthe 2003 limited-edition collectable carshow pin sold for $5 each by the Model AFord Club.

1Wheat, corn, rice, barley, oats and rye.

8 RESOURCES

A R C H E O L O G Y

We live in a county rich in historic resources. European colonists left docu-ments of the times in which they lived. Yet these records, usually of themore-prosperous inhabitants, do not tell us about many aspects of their

lives. Other people have left no written records at all.Archaeology can supply some of that missing information. A recent excavation or

“dig” at Mount Air plantation, a Cultural Resource Park overlooking Accotink Creekin southeastern Fairfax County, is beginning to reveal volumes of information abouthow people lived in the years leading up to and following the Revolutionary War.

The historic record tells usthat Mount Air was built byDennis McCarty around 1730and that he and his descen-dants lived there until the landwas sold in 1860. The familywas part of the plantationaristocracy, and Dennis’ wifeSarah was George Wash-ington’s cousin.

The artifacts we’ve found in the foundationof what may have been an ice pit support thispicture of genteel living. The ceramics includecostly dishes imported from England, China andGermany, as well as earthenware containers madeby local potters who may have been slaves orNative Americans (Figure 1).

The number of broken glass bottles indicatesthat wine was a favorite beverage; other shatteredremains indicate it was sipped from fine goblets.Utensils were of pewter or silver plate with wood,bone or ivory handles (Figure 2). Pieces of boneand shell tell us that cows and pigs provided mostof the meat that was consumed and that oysterswere a favorite.

The elegant coats and waistcoats worn by themen and the ladies’ beautiful dresses havedisappeared, leaving nothing behind but theirbuttons. However, with them we find evidenceof the other story that Mount Air has to tell.Leisure and gaiety were only part of life there;the other part was the hard work performed dailyby the family and their servants and slaves. Theclothing worn by master and slave alike was madeon the plantation, and we have found artifacts

MOUNT AIR—Artifacts Rebuild an EraBy Janet Sutton, Laboratory Archaeologist, Cultural Resources Protection

comprising the “tool kit” that would have beenused in this task: thimbles, scissors and numer-ous straight pins made of brass (Figure 3).

Cooking would have been the job of slavesor servants, and cooking methods would havevaried. Generally, the members of the McCartyfamily and their guests would have eaten roastedmeat and vegetables. However, scorch marks onthe outsides of earthenware pots and pieces of alarge cast-iron cauldron suggest that soups andstews were eaten as well. Since such dishes usedpoorer cuts of meat and stretched ingredients tofeed a larger number of people, the artifactsprobably speak to the diet of the less-privilegedmembers of the plantation population.

As yet there is no indication as to how all theseartifacts ended up in the hole left by the ice pit.Evidence of burning in the form of melted bottleglass as well as charred bones and ceramics mayindicate that the deposition was the result of afire, possibly resulting from a lightning strike in1859. Further analysis needs to be done withthese artifacts to answer this and other ques-tions. What we have found to date, however,gives us a more-complete picture of life in earlyVirginia.

FIGURE 1: Colonoware bowl,Agateware cup and Delft bowl.

FIGURE 2: A wine bottle neckand base, fragments of stemmedgoblets, knives and pewter spoon. FIGURE 3: Brass pins, silver thimbles, scissors, coat

and vest buttons.

Summer 2003 9

and others migrate, so food is neededfrom early spring through late fall.

Habitat gardeners tend to prefernative plants for butterfly gardens,partly because these have evolved inconcert with butterflies to provide their“natural” food and partly because theyare often more easily established andmaintained. Most butter flies areattracted to a wide range of “nectarplants” in their search for food. Theydo, in fact, have flower color and typepreferences. In general butterfly prefer-ence for color is first purple and pink, then yellow,finally white. Flat, daisy-like flowers usually offer abetter resting place for nectaring.

Garden planning — Plant in masses. Butterflies canmore easily spot large areas of color. Plan for a varietyof plant heights, from low to tree height. Don’t rushto tidy up your garden—you may remove pupae orhibernating adults that are hidden among the deadleaves and twigs.

Sun and shelter — Flowering plants require sun,and so do butterflies. They can fly well only whentheir bodies have been warmed to temperatures of85 to 100 degrees F. Flat stones and plants with hori-zontal, outreaching branches or flowers provide needed basking spots. Eggs andcaterpillars may develop up to 50 percent faster in warm sites, actually increasingthe number of butterflies. Shelter from cooling wind is also important.

Additional elements — Mud puddles or wet sandy areas may attract groups ofbutterflies (mostly males) to drink or to engage in “puddling.” Some butterfliesare attracted to carrion, animal scat or urine, or rotting fruit. Any of these couldbe hidden at the margins of planted areas; fruit, however, may attract raccoons.

Be patient — It may take more than one season for butterflies to find you.

For more-detailed information on butterfly-attracting plants, visit Green SpringGardens Park (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp/gardening.htm) toaccess “Using Native Plants to Attract Butterflies and Clearwing Moths in theWashington, D.C. Area and Virginia” for additional tips and details about recom-mended plants. Also check the Washington Area Butterfly Club’s website(http://users.sitestar.net/butterfly/index.htm) for more resources, including datesand places of native plant sales, events such as butterfly gardening classes and alist of local public butterfly gardens.

This article is the second in a series on inviting wildlife to your backyard. Futuresissues of ResOURces will have articles on attracting birds and hummingbirds, aswell as creating rain gardens.

H O R T I C U L T U R E

BACKYARD BUTTERFLY BONANZA!By Lee Ann Kinzer and Maria Parisi, Habitat Stewards

Monarch Viceroy, Mourning Cloak, PaintedLady, Dreamy Dusky Wing — surely noother creatures are so fancifully named, nor

as beloved, as butterflies. Some 700 butterfly speciesare found in North America (about the same as thenumber of bird species). With careful planning ofhome gardens and public spaces, we can observethem close up and help assure them the environmentsthey require. If the idea tempts you to want your ownbutterfly garden, begin with the hints that follow, thenconsult the suggested web sites for details and you’llbe ready to dig!

Research — Begin by researching the butterflies thatlive in or migrate through your area. Selecting plantsfor butterflies that are not local to your home may resultin a beautiful garden, but not a butterfly habitat.

Pesticides — The purpose of pesticides and herbi-cides is to control unwanted insects and plants. Theymay affect butterflies and caterpillars exactly as theyaffect the harmful insects at which they are aimed.Minimizing use of these products is important for abutterfly garden.

Plant selection — Butterflies are sensitive environ-mental indicators. Their recent decline in numbers isattributable to habitat loss and alteration. Careful se-lection and use of plants in gardens, especially inurban areas, can mitigate some of the loss.

When choosing plants, consider the butterfly’s fourdistinct life stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa(chrysalis) and winged adult. Many caterpillars arehighly selective in their food choices, and adultfemales are adept at finding the right (“host”) plantson which to lay their eggs and for the caterpillars tofeast upon. Some butterflies overwinter in our area

This swallowtail finds purple butterflybush nectar appealing.

A Monarch butterfly feeds on its favorite, milkweed.

Black swallowtailsenjoy brilliant-redcardinal flower.

10 RESOURCES

S E A S O N A L S T O R I E S� Weather continued from page 1

� Every Drop Counts continued from page 1

explains Asad Rouhi, Urban ConservationEngineer for the Northern Virginia Soil andWater Conservation District. The slow melt-ing that generally occurred here allowsmoisture to infiltrate into the soil, recharginggroundwater. Fast melting caused by rises intemperature and added rainfall can result insudden increases in runoff volume. Thesepeak runoffs can cause erosion within thestreambeds, and unstable stream banks maybecome saturated and collapse, creatingfurther stream erosion.

There has been a downside to the winterweather as well, however. The high amountsof pooling water should make it a banner yearfor mosquitoes. Experts expect higher-than-everincidences of West Nile virus. Homeownersneed to eliminate standing water near or aroundtheir residences more vigilantly than ever.

Another major concern has been theamount of salt, chemicals and sand that wereused this winter on roadways and otherimpermeable areas to clear them of snow andice. These materials have been washed bymelting snow and rain into nearby streamsand waterways, changing their chemistry.

Salt is very hard on plants, says Adria

Bordas, the Virginia Cooperative ExtensionAgent serving Fairfax County. “Salt binds withnutrients in the soil and clogs plant roots sothey cannot take up those nutrients. Thatmakes it particularly important to do soil teststo find out about the extent of salt in yourgrowing medium.”

Testing is considered especially importantthis year, even in areas you do not usuallyamend. Soil test kits are available at any countylibrary for $7 per kit (For information, seewww.ext.vt.edu.)

You may find that your favorite fishing holehas fewer of its usual challenges. Increases insalt in streams could have interfered with thestream insects they feed on, notes JoannaArciszewski, Watershed Specialist with theNorthern Virginia Soil and Water Conserva-tion District. Measurements of numbers offresh-water insects last winter were “someof the lowest numbers the monitors have everfound.” If there are fewer insects to feed on,fish will go elsewhere, and decreased fishpopulations in local streams would impact thebirds that feed on them.

The long-term weather report lies ahead.The real test for maintaining groundwater lev-els, notes Okay, will be the rainfall from May

water most efficiently. A soil test will identify necessary soil amendments.Don’t throw away garden waste; use it instead to enrich your soil. Compost

leaves, grass and herbaceous clippings to create a rich or-ganic soil amendment. Be sure to place compost piles awayfrom bodies of water and where run-off is unlikely. Mulchaway, remembering that two inches is plenty! Mulches slowdown evaporation, cool the soil, reduce weed growth (andcompetition for water) and boost fertility.

Divide your garden into microclimates — a damp, shadyspot here; a hot, sunbaked strip there. Group together plantsthat have similar water needs: lavenders, perovskia and salviasin sunny, dry spots; astilbes, hostas and lobelias in moistsites. Water the thirsty plants as they need it, rather than thewhole garden, to save water and time. Experiment withdrought-tolerant plants. Native species that are adapted tolocal climate and soils often require minimal water, fertilizerand pesticides. Consider reducing the amount of lawn areain your garden. Turf generally needs more water than a land-scape of trees, shrubs and groundcovers.

Use a slow-release fertilizer and stick to the recommendedamount (keep in mind that low-water-use plants need less).Before reaching for the pesticide, try non-toxic and

biological pest control methods first. For example, prune outinfested parts or hand-pick insects from plants. Lure in theirnatural enemies by planting nectar and pollen flowers. If youdo use pesticides, spot treat the affected areas and try prod-ucts that pose the least threat to water quality, such ashorticultural oils and insecticidal soaps.

Avoid watering when it’s windy and the sun is at its hot-test. Water slowly and deeply and only when plants need it.Keep an eye on factors such as soil, plant types, density ofplantings, and rainfall to gauge how much water your plantsreally need. Get in the habit of checking the weather fore-cast before you water. If a storm or high winds are coming,hold off. Pick your battles. If water is scarce, protect yourmost vulnerable trees and shrubs. Young plants need morewater than older ones, so don’t hold out on them.

The principles of water-wise gardening are simply goodgardening practices. Every little bit helps — and every dropof our most precious resource counts.

For more advice on this topic and to request a soil test kit,contact the Fairfax County Master Gardener HorticultureHelpline for Virginia Cooperative Extension at 703-324-8556.

to August. “Last July through September wasvery dry.” However, “unless we have a long,hot drought, we ought to have a pretty typi-cal summer.”

Doug Hill agrees. But, he says, “In FairfaxCounty you won’t have that urban heat islandeffect because you still have kept forested,green areas where there is air movement,mixing of the air. That’s critical in keeping areascooled.”

So if you’re feeling warm, just come onout to one of Fairfax County’s many parks.Our parks are always cool.

This snow-fisherman was still in place atHuntley Meadows in late March!

Fluffy-floweredastilbes

Different varietiesof hostas

Summer 2003 11

Keeping Turfgrass “Green”By Jane Scully, ResOURces Editor

R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T

The Park Authority’s mission of promotingstewardship of our natural resources reachesall aspects of our operations. Of particular

interest has been our golf course and athletic fieldturf management. Keeping the athletic fields safeand playable is a major responsibility of the ParkOperations Division. How can this be managed with-out using — or overusing — pesticides and fertilizersthat may be washed into nearby streams and water-ways, affecting plant and animal life? Are thesemissions contradictory?

Bob Studholme, the Fairfax County Park Authority’sTurfgrass Specialist, believes that athletic fields andgolf courses are not villains at all. In fact, fertilizersare not the largest part of his turfgrass manage-ment program. The issue, he says, goes much deeperthan that—down to the soil, the medium in whichthe turfgrass grows.

”Lots of managers manage for the grass whenyou should be managing for the soil. If you can dothat, keep the soil chemically balanced, biologicallyactive and well drained, your need for fertilizer andpesticides will be much lower.”

Since Studholme is responsible for the care andfeeding of 295 athletic fields covering 280 acres inthe county, his methods have a direct effect on soil— and stream — health. Before taking this position,he spent 17 years managing the Park Authority’s golfcourses. When Studholme implemented his soil-basedturf management program at the Burke Lake Parkgolf course, annual fertilizer requirements droppedby two-thirds. And with healthier soil and turf, waterand fungicide use was reduced by 50 percent.

But there are any number of factors to studybefore fertilizer is even considered. Studholme takessoil samples from each of his 295 athletic fields everytwo years to determine their chemical deficienciesand sufficiencies. Such laboratory analysis is criticalin achieving chemical balance of the many elements.Most soils in our area are low in calcium and potas-sium, while being too high in magnesium.

Equally important, Studholme tells us, is to makesure the soil is properly aerated. This is done for eachfield twice a year.

“If there’s no air, there’s no biology. Soil microbes,like bacteria and other organisms, need oxygen toproliferate. They are the key to breaking downmaterials you add to the soil to make them availableas food for the plant.”

Only after the soil in each area is tested, balancedand aerated is fertilizing done. Studholme uses natu-ral organic fertilizers as much as he can, feeding thesoil at least twice a year with fully composted poultrylitter blended with kelp, dry humates, molasses androck minerals. These nutrients feed the plants as wellas help balance the chemistry, depending onamounts, type and source. The soil microbes usethe carbon sources for energy.

Ironically there are two major factors in the FairfaxCounty area that work against getting air into thesoil. The area’s prevailing soil type is an easilycompactable sand-silt clay mix. The soil is too highin magnesium and too low in calcium and potas-sium, making for “tight” soils that do not breathewell and are rock-hard when dry, goopy when wet.

As well, our climate doesn’t help much.Studholme notes that we live in the Transition Zonebetween where cool-season grasses are stressedthroughout our typical summers and the warmgrasses go dormant, or may not even survive, ourwinters.

The other main challenge to maintaining turfgrass is the very purpose of the fields — use forathletics. The cleats of soccer, baseball, softball, foot-ball and lacrosse players run on the fields most hoursof every day, inevitably compacting the soil anddriving air out of the soil.

Despite the challenges, Studholme aims to keepall the county fields safe and playable, with healthyturf on top. And in fact, the fields are in much bettershape than they were several years ago. Themanagement program builds in the vagaries ofweather and season. “Every year is different,” saysStudholme. “You can’t just go by the calendar.”

Studholme should know. He practices at homewhat he does in his turf management program. Andwith “minimum effort,” he’s got the best lawn forblocks around.

Takingcare of 295

athleticfields

requires alot of seed,good soil,

and awillingness

to watchcleats run

all overthem.

S U B S C R I B E !

Burke Lake Park7315 Ox Road, Fairfax StationCall 703-323-6600

Colvin Run Mill10017 Colvin Run RoadGreat FallsCall 703-759-2771

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park5040 Walney Road, ChantillyCall 703-631-0013

Frying Pan Park2709 West Ox Road, HerndonCall 703-437-9101

Green Spring Gardens Park4603 Green Spring Rd., AlexandriaCall 703-642-5173

Hidden Oaks Nature Center7701 Royce Street, AnnandaleCall 703-941-1065

Y O U R P A R K S

❑ Please enter my FREE 2-year subscription toRESOURCES, the new newsletter about the parks!

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MAIL TO: Fairfax County Park AuthorityJane Scully, Editor • Suite 936, Resource Management Division12055 Government Center Parkway • Fairfax, VA 22035-1118OR: subscribe through our web site atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources.htm

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Apt. #

Visit a park for summer fun.Hidden Pond Nature Center8511 Greeley Blvd., SpringfieldCall 703-451-9588

Huntley Meadows Park3701 Lockheed Blvd., AlexandriaCall 703-768-2525

Lake Accotink Park7500 Accotink Park Rd., SpringfieldCall 703-569-3464

Lake Fairfax Park1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, RestonCall 703-471-5414

Riverbend Park8700 Potomac Hills StreetGreat FallsCall 703-759-9018

Sully Historic SiteSully Road, ChantillyCall 703-437-1794

Historic Properties Rental Services .................................. 703-938-8835Need directions? More information?

Visit us online at: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks

❑ Nature centers❑ Local history❑ Kids’ projects❑ Hiking

❑ Birds❑ Archaeology❑ Events❑ Historic sites

❑ Gardening and❑ horticulture❑ What else?

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12055 Government Center ParkwayFairfax, Virginia 22035-1118

Please share thesubscription informationfor ResOURces with afriend, or include it inyour Homeowners’Association publicationto give your members theopportunity to subscribe.

Peak Shorebird TripRiverbend Park will host a vantrip for adults on Friday, August8, from 8:30am to 8pm. Wewill visit the Delaware Bay areato visit prime shorebird migra-tion sites, including BombayHook National Wildlife Refuge.Birds could include curlew sand-piper, Wilson’s phalarope, longand short-billed dowitchers,possibly ruff, and many others.Bring insect repellent, sun-screen, bag lunch and plenty ofwater. Reservations are requiredby August 1; the cost is $20.Call 703-759-9018.

Family Programs atHidden Pond

All summer long, the creativeinterpreters at Hidden Pond Na-ture Center will host Friday-night programs called After Darkin the Park for all ages, usuallyfrom 7:30 to 8:30pm. Subjectsinclude Fireflies, Native Ameri-can Tales of Tails, Super SnakesAlive and Animal SurvivalTactics. Prepaid reservations are$3 or $4. Call Hidden Pond at703-451-9588 for more details

Summer GardenConcerts!

Celebrate the soft summerevenings in beautiful gardenswith music from several of theFairfax Symphony’s musicalgroups lilting around you. Thefree summer concer ts atGreen Spring Gardens Parkwill be held from 7 to 8pmon Wednesdays, June 18 andJuly 16. Bring a picnic dinner,relax and enjoy a night in thegardens.

Summer SpecialsSummer Specials Garden GatePlant Shop

Have you seen a plant at GreenSpring that you just have tohave, but can’t find at localnurseries? The Garden GatePlant Shop features plantsgrown at Green Spring that areespecially well-suited to ourclimate and growing conditionsin Fairfax County. The plantshop, located behind theHorticulture Center, is openMonday through Saturday9:30am to 4pm. and Sundayfrom 12:30 to 4pm.