Tree Planting at McCormick Farm

  Planting trees and maintaining the Marl Creek Trail at McCormick Farm (Shenandoah Valley Agriculture Research and Extension Center) in Raphine, has been an annual project since our chapter began. Working with Retired USFS Forester (and the trail’s designer) Charlie Huppuch, we are restoring many native trees, shrubs, and perennial species to the riparian buffer trail.…

CoCoRaHS: Volunteers Tracking the Weather

On Saturday, February 20, several HMNers were treated to a Zoom introduction to the CoCoRaHS organization by the Augusta/Rockingham coordinator, Tommy Le Beau. Despite a slight snag at the beginning (this was Elaine’s first time as Zoom host) it was an enjoyable presentation. Karen Milne, Peggy Plass, and John Bauman Zoomed in. Jean Stephens had internet…

Ticks…in Winter??

After contracting Lyme Disease last summer, and then finding another attached deer tick a month after recovering (and after hearing that Sandy’s daughter is dealing with a tick-borne illness), I’ve become pretty paranoid about ticks. I was wondering whether there’s any risk of tick bites in the winter and googled it. I found this article,…

2021 Virtual Annual Meeting

For the first time, we will be having our annual meeting virtually. Our Annual Meeting is slated for 3 pm on Saturday, January 23rd via Zoom. Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/7375337585 Meeting ID: 737 533 7585 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) There is a very limited board agenda, primarily consisting of voting on new board…

Rufous Hummingbird: Rare Winter Visitor to Swoope, VA

A friend had an interesting experience with a Rufous hummingbird. I asked them to write about it and include some pictures. – Jason Hallacher, HMN Advisor Maybe laziness can occasionally have its rewards? Our hummingbird feeder was frequented by bees after the departure of the Ruby-throated hummingbirds in October, so we decided to leave it…