Just how did the phrase, ‘talk turkey’ or ‘let’s talk turkey,’ originate?  As with many phrases, there are quite a few versions but one that was recorded in an 1872 publication of phrases states that to ‘talk turkey’ was to talk in a silly, foolish way because of the way a male gobbles during courtship. …

by Stephanie Gardner Hurray for Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), recently succeeding Redbud as Virginia Wildflower of the Year (WOY)! Coral honeysuckle was voted WOY 2014 by the Virginia Native Plant Society Board of Directors after consideration of all wildflowers nominated this year by Virginia Native Plant Society members. Coral honeysuckle is one of three native…

by Stephanie Gardner   Once a bright and sure sign of autumn, monarch butterflies are now in worrisome decline. Scientists have tracked their decreasing numbers for several years. A recent study showed the lowest ever population of migrating eastern monarchs.   A number of factors have contributed to the decline of the monarch butterfly. Here…

The story that grabbed my heart this year is of a critter that never entered our doors. JANUARY 2013 Last winter I got a call from a woman named Becky in far southwest Virginia who wanted to know what she could do to keep her female hummingbird warm during the anticipated cold snap that was…

by Rob Alexander  June 7, 2013  … as posted to the Headwaters facebook page This spring, due to my teaching schedule, I missed the botany lecture for my Virginia Master Naturalist class. In order to make up this lecture and complete the course with my classmates, I elected to explore a bit of phenology and…