FALL 2019 Wildlife Conservation in a Changing World Can Wildlife Adapt?

SINCE 1976 THE FRIENDS OF DYKE MARSH FALL 2019 Wildlife Conservation in a Changing World Can Wildlife Adapt?

On November 13, Dr. Sally Valdes will explore with FODM how climate change is affecting wildlife and offer some steps for addressing this threat. Climate change is happening now. Even if we drastically reduce emissions FODM Quarterly Meeting soon, changes will continue into the fu- Wednesday, November 13, at ture because greenhouse gases already 7:30 p.m., Huntley Meadows emitted can stay in the atmosphere for Park, Norma Hoffman Visitor decades. How will this affect wildlife? Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Can wildlife adapt? What can we do to help? A red fox searches for food on the ice at Alexandria, VA 22306. Phone Dyke Marsh. Photo by Ed Eder 703 768-2525. Free to all. Climate change on its own, and in combination with other stresses, may Calendar of Events push many species to their limits. Cli- ecosystem ecology. She worked for al- Sunday morning bird walks mate change can adversely affect wild- most 25 years as a biologist in several will not be held from Decem- life, for example, when the life cycles of federal government agencies. Since re- ber 15 through 29 because of interdependent species get out of sync tiring, she has taught an environmental the National Audubon Socie- and when rising coastal waters flood health and a wildlife ecology class. ty’s and other area Christmas nesting sites. Too little or too much pre- As a federal employee, Dr. Valdes bird counts. See calendar on p. cipitation can stress whole ecosystems. served on an advisory group that devel- 7 and website at fodm.org for Dr. Valdes has a Ph. D. in aquatic oped the U.S. Geological Survey’s Na- events and details. ecology from Cornell University with tional Climate Change and Wildlife Sci- minors in natural resource policy and MEETING (continued on page 7)

CONTENTS Second Phase of Dyke Marsh Restoration Project Underway

In Memoriam 2 BY GLENDA BOOTH Coastal Design and Construction, Restoring A Stream 2 Inc., the Dyke Marsh restoration contrac- tor, started the second phase of Dyke President’s Message 3 Marsh restoration in early fall, putting in marine mattresses for the base of a rock sill just north of the breakwater. The sill, GWMP Safety Study 4 built in an elongated horseshoe design, will have gaps so that water and aquatic Two New GWMP Staff 6 organisms will flush in and out with the tides. The breakwater, which replicates the The breakwater and the sill will be removed protective promontory, is near- Volunteers Haul Trash 7 completed by December 31, 2019, say ing completion. Photo by Glenda Booth National Park Service and Corps of Engi- Meet the Plants 8 neers officials. For more information on restoration project, visit “Restoration” on why Dyke Marsh is disappearing and the our website, www.fodm.org. In Memoriam, John Andrews Restoring A Stream

FODMer John Marshall Andrews, age 86, passed away In 2015, people on September 10, 2019. John had a special tie to Dyke became alarmed by Marsh that we described in our winter 2017 newsletter. sediments that turned He grew up near the marsh on H Street (New Alexan- west Dyke Marsh or- dria) and as a youngster, paddled in the marsh, using a five- angey-brown during gallon empty can as a lifesaver. He recalled that Dyke storms. FODM urged Marsh was “like the Ev- Fairfax County to ana- erglades” and lamented lyze and fix the prob- the loss of frogs and their lem, a severely eroded, spring calls, saying, “It stormwater outfall and makes me sad not to hear an area gouged out like The gouged out stormwater outfall in Mt. Vernon Park. them anymore. They a rugged canyon about were all over the whole one-half a mile upstream from west Dyke Marsh in Mount place. It was unbelieva- Vernon Park, in an unnamed, intermittent stream. Fairfax ble. I loved that. Spring County officials said that the eroded channel was 13 feet was coming.” John loved to hear frogs call- deep, over 50 feet wide and 200 feet long. John was born in ing, like this northern green In 2016 and 2017, the county started a stream restora- Alexandria on October 4, frog (Lithobates clamitans tion project to stop the erosion 1932. An engineer by melanota). Males have a and stabilize the area. Today, rubber-band-like “twang” call. talent and training, he the restored area has a heavy graduated from Virginia Tech, joined his father, Thomas, vegetative cover of native and brother in the construction business and worked largely plants, both planted and natu- in marine construction. A licensed tugboat captain and rally occurring, that are at- crane operator, he helped build the Belle Haven Marina tracting native insects, includ- with his father and owned and managed it for many years ing multiple species of butter- after his father's death. He was a resident of the River Tow- flies. Even in a dry Septem- ers Condominiums. ber 2019, some areas were He loved sharing his photos and memories of Dyke moist and spongy and a few Marsh and the local area from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. cattails have appeared. There He helped put in plants in FODM’s native plant area. Rock steps and pools are also plants like Bidens, installed slow the stream. winterberry, wood ferns, false “As important as it is to change the lightbulb, it’s nettle and greenbrier and trees like sumacs, sassafrass, tulip much more important to change the policies.” poplars and white oaks. “It is now a wetland complex in- - Former Vice President Al Gore, MSNBC, Sep.19, 2019 stead of an outfall channel,” remarked Meghan Noe Fellow with Fairfax County, on September 10, 2019 walk.

Friends of Dyke Marsh Board of Directors Editor: Dorothy McManus President Board Members Glenda Booth Assistant Editor: 703-765-5233 Ed Eder (Past President) T. D. Hobart Vice President Bob Veltkamp (Membership) Friends of Dyke Marsh Ned Stone P.O. Box 7183 703-768-5441 David Barbour Secretary Alexandria, VA 22307 Deborah Hammer Dorothy McManus (Marsh Wren) [email protected] 703-960-3643 Laura Sebastianelli Visit our website at Treasurer www.fodm.org Pat Salamone Dixie Sommers or on Facebook.com 703-329-1748

Copyright © 2019, The Board members can receive email at [email protected]. The Marsh Wren is a quarterly Friends of Dyke Marsh, Inc. publication of the Friends of Dyke Marsh, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Let- All rights reserved. ters and submissions to The Marsh Wren are welcome. Send them to the address at left. Special thanks to Duncan Hobart for managing our website (www.fodm.org).

2 The Marsh Wren ☼ Fall 2019 President’s Message Glenda C. Booth, President, Friends of Dyke Marsh

We are often reminded that region,” says the the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Pre- National Audubon serve offers something for every- Society’s Field one. Guide to the Mid- On October 1, eight third-graders Atlantic. and four moms from Girl Scout Troop 53003 came to Dyke “Migration evolved Marsh to learn about water quality. They eagerly collected as a way for birds trash, especially small pieces, along the shoreline. On the to exploit resources same afternoon, Dr. Edd Barrows brought ten Georgetown that are seasonally University forest ecology students to Dyke Marsh. abundant and avoid Dr. Barrows, Professor of Biology, explored the flora, times when or plac- fauna, processes and ecosystems of Dyke Marsh’s flood- es where resources plain forests. At the bridge past the “dogleg” turn, he ex- are scarce or weath- A rough green snake (Opheodrys plained zonation of er is very harsh,” aestivus) sniffed with its tongue. vegetation. Spot- wrote Paul Ker- Photo by Glenda Booth ting a rough green linger in How Birds snake, he said that Migrate. Some say that with less submerged aquatic vege- snakes use their tation, waterfowl numbers may be low this year. With the tongues to smell new breakwater, we could see some uncommon species (photo, right). He perched or poking around the rocks. urged students to Kudos for Volunteers sniff a daddy long- George Washington Memorial Parkway Superintendent legs spider which Charles Cuvelier recently commended FODMers for their makes a repellent, volunteerism. As of October 3, FODMers gave 1,663 vol- Dr. Barrows said that about acetone scent. He unteer hours in 2019. Among other projects, these numbers 20,000 species of Archaea, Bacte- ria and Eucarya occur in Dyke said that humming- represent 88 hours of invasive species control, 108 hours for Marsh habitats Photo by G. Booth birds like the or- Lepidoptera and Odonata surveys, 155 hours for the breed- ange-yellow blos- ing bird survey and 128 hours for 39 bird walks. In 2018, som of jewelweed and that black swallowtail butterflies for the entire parkway, people volunteered 24,557 hours, nectar on plants in the parsley family. He discussed the em- which the National Park Service (NPS) values at $624,000. erald ash borer infestation that is killing ash trees, plus cat- Thank you, FODMers! In these difficult times, NPS needs tails, arrow arum, marsh mallows, fall asters and cedar trees us and we need to do our part. and how it’s all inter-related. Your Civic Duty Fall Migration Speaking of stepping up, please vote on November 5. Fall migration is still occurring and Dyke Marsh is a Virginians will elect the entire state legislature, both the stopover site for many species. “Nowhere in North Ameri- Senate and House of Delegates, as well as many local offi- ca are the annual migrations of birds, butterflies and dragon- cials. While Dyke Marsh is federal property, what happens flies played out on such a vast scale as in the mid-Atlantic at the state and local level matters too. For example, to start restoration, the Park Service had to get permits from both Perseverance Fairfax County and the Virginia Marine Resources Com- mission. Local governments address stormwater runoff. “Environmental work takes a long time. I think States regulate pollution and discharges into water. To people who are involved in nature live longer, just learn what’s on your ballot, visit https:// like maestros and architects, because it takes a long www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/candidate-list/. time to get things done and it gives you a will to The Virginia Conservation Network (www.vcnva.org) keep going.” has published a briefing book, titled, “Our Common Agen- “The environment is not a special interest, not da,” which outlines state conservation priorities, issues that like an art museum or one’s university. Taking care the 2020 Virginia General Assembly will likely tackle. of the only home we have is in everyone’s vital interest. We are all, by definition, environmentalists. Or should be.” Glenda C. Booth -- Brenda Shapiro, Philanthropist Glenda C. Booth is the president of the Friends of Dyke Marsh and active in conservation issues in Virginia.

The Marsh Wren ☼ Fall 2019 3 FODM Weighed in on GWM Parkway Safety Study

The National Park Service (NPS) is conducting a safety the shoreline in public study of the south segment of the George Washington Me- ownership and to honor morial Parkway. After a July 11, 2019 public meeting, NPS Washington by creating a had a public comment period which ended on August 21. grand gateway to his home, NPS will hold at least one more public meeting on possible Mount Vernon, at the options. FODM submitted the following comments. road’s southern terminus. The NPS Mission Lt. Col. Peter Hains, who It is always useful to review the National Park Ser- conducted the first land vice’s plans and actions in the context of the agency’s mis- survey told Congress that sion: the parkway should “have "The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the the character of a monu- natural and cultural resources and values of the National mental structure, such as Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration would comport with the of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates dignity of this great nation . The parkway retains its historic character with four with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural . . and the grandeur of char- lanes. Photo by G. Booth acter of the man to whom it is dedicated. . . It should be such a work as no American need feel ashamed of.” Recommendation: Maintain the parkway’s historic character. Widening the road by, for example, creating more lanes could impair its historic character. Keep It Green Congress and the parkway’s planners intended that NPS feature natural areas, preserve scenic vistas, integrate Scenic view of the stone bridge in spring. Photo by NPS the road’s design with the undulating terrain, follow natural contours and have resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout gentle curves. this country and the world." To highlight From the Organic Act of 1916: To “conserve the scen- its natural fea- ery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife tures, signs and therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such lights are mini- manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired mized; billboards for the enjoyment of future generations.” are barred. Most Former U. S. Department of Interior Secretary Dick of the bridges con- Kempthorne further stated in a June 19, 2006 proclamation, sist of reinforced "When there is a conflict between conserving resources concrete faced unimpaired for future generations and the use of those re- with hand-laid, Green spaces and beautiful land- sources, conservation will be predominant." rough-cut stone scaping are a feature of the GWM The parkway’s 2014 Foundation Document on page 14 for a natural look. Parkway. Photo by Glenda Booth.. states, “In a world of diminishing biological diversity and Over 250,000 threatened natural resources, George Washington Memorial trees, shrubs and vines have been planted over the years. Parkway preserves islands of refuge in an urban environ- The parkway’s natural areas are especially rich in biodiver- ment and provides opportunities to make the public aware sity for an urban park, as documented at www.nps.gov/ of the importance of the values and issues relating to these gwmp. The parkway is a road within a park. islands.” Despite management efforts, non-native plants com- FODM Comments and Recommendations prised at least a disturbing 29 percent of the total several The Friends of Dyke Marsh share the following con- years ago. cerns and recommendations: GWMP has an extensive planting plan, first created in Maintain Its Historic Character 1931, designed to keep it “green” consistent with Con- Congress authorized the construction of the Mount gress’s and the planners’ intent. GWMP’s 2014 Foundation Vernon Memorial Parkway to celebrate the bicentennial of Document indicates a need for planting more appropriate George Washington’s birth. The first segment was com- vegetation for shoreline stabilization and for both shoreline pleted on time in 1932. The Parkway is listed on the Nation- and vegetation management plans. al Register of Historic Places. Recommendation: Fully implement the planting plan, The Parkway’s planners envisioned a unique roadway plant more native trees and plants and expand invasives to preserve and enhance the Potomac River valley, to keep COMMENTS (continued on page 5)

4 The Marsh Wren ☼ Fall 2019 COMMENTS (continued from page 4) along its 40 miles mostly paralleling species control. Some areas of the parkway, including some the Potomac River parts of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, represent some shoreline. The first of the Washington, D.C.-area’s last, surviving biodiversity part built, the pre- as sprawl and development continue to destroy more native World War II, the habitat. Mount Vernon Me- Increase maintenance staff to manage vegetation so morial Parkway, was that it does not impair drivers’ visibility and vehicles’ turn- designed for vehi- ing. cles to travel at 35 to Ensure that a biologist or tree expert evaluate the op- 45 miles per hour. Southern part of the parkway tions for any diseased or dead trees if maintenance person- Recommenda- around 1946. Photo by NPS nel are considering destroying trees. Plant at least two tion: Do not increase the speed limit. Increase enforce- trees for every tree that GWMP cuts down or impairs. ment of speed limits with more patrols and with speed cam- Do not widen the road. Widening it could destroy and eras mounted in a way compatible with the natural and veg- harm habitat. etated areas of the parkway. Save Dyke Marsh Reduce Noise As documented by two U.S. Geological Survey studies, Noise from vehicles, boats, airplanes and human activi- Dyke Marsh will be gone by 2035 without action. USGS ty have adverse environmental impacts all along the park- concluded that the marsh is losing 1.5 to two acres a year way. and the rate of erosion is accelerating. Fortunately, GWMP The NPS Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division prepared an environmental impact statement and restoration (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/effects_wildlife.htm ) plan and restoration efforts are underway. website examines the impact of noise on parks’ wildlife and Recommendation: Do not implement any changes that states, will contribute to or "In general, a growing number of studies indicate that exacerbate the erosion animals, like humans, are stressed by noisy environments of Dyke Marsh, such (Shannon et al. 2015) . . . When these effects are combined as destroying trees and with other stressors such as winter weather, disease and expanding impervious food shortages, sound impacts can have important implica- surfaces that increase tions for the health and vitality of wildlife populations with- the volume or velocity in a park (Ware et al. 2015). of stormwater runoff. “These findings are especially significant because na- Protect Wildlife tional parks are under increasing noise pressure. Noise lev- Wildlife like turtles, els in park transportation corridors today are many times the Dyke Marsh along the park- deer and raccoons natural level (Mennitt et al. 2015). Air transportation can way. Photo by Glenda Booth crossing the parkway can be a safety hazard. Vegetation and natural habitat are an integral part of the parkway and reflect designers’ intent. Inevitably, this habitat attracts and is home to wildlife, wildlife that does not “respect” human-created boundaries or infrastructure. Recommendation: Evaluate the feasibility and implica- tions of creating wildlife passageways under the parkway, such as those constructed on Fort Belvoir and some inter- state highways. Enforce anti-littering laws. Food wrappers, scraps and A concern of the original design of the parkway is at-grade other litter attract birds and other wildlife. crossings and limited sight-lines. Photo by NPS Reduce Speeding NPS’s 2019 statistics show that from 70 to 85 percent also affect life on the ground. . . The result is as much as a of drivers speed on the south parkway which creates many 70% reduction in the size of an area in which predators can dangers to vehicles, bikers, walkers, vegetation and wildlife. hear their prey (Barber et al. 2009). Increasingly, careful The GWMP 2014 Foundation Document states, “Speeding consideration of the impacts of human-generated noise on is a problem.” wildlife is a critical component of management for healthy Speeding can also create a hazard to people visiting ecosystems in our parks. Dyke Marsh when they are crossing the parkway on foot, “Reducing speed limits on roadways and increasing turning their vehicles or bicycles onto Marina Road or onto enforcement of speed limits is often the most effective and the parkway. cost-efficient means of reducing noise. For example, reduc- The parkway was designed to be a slow-speed thor- ing vehicle speeds from 40 to 30 mph is as effective as re- oughfare, an array of units combining the natural, historic moving one half the vehicles from the roadway." and recreational sites with over 7,000 acres of parkland COMMENTS (continued on page 6)

The Marsh Wren ☼ Fall 2019 5 Two New GWMP Employees

Suzanne Bouchard is the George Washington Memo- Mireya Stirzaker rial Parkway’s (GWMP) new horticulturist. She manages is the new Natural Re- the park’s horticulture program, including the National sources Specialist at the Mall’s elm and cherry tree propagation effort and revitaliza- GWMP. She is helping tion of the parkway’s historic planting plans. She helps FODM with invasive FODM with our native plant site. plants. Suzanne previously worked for Alexandria’s Depart- Mireya previously ment of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities on land- worked for the Parkway scape renovations, native plant expansion and community as an interpretative rang- gardens. She began her career at Mount Vernon Estate and er in Haleakala National Gardens as a gardener and greenhouse operator. Then, Su- Park and was a volun- zanne worked for the U.S. teer assistant biologist Mireya Stirzaker. Photo by Department of Agricul- for GWMP’s Resource National Park Service ture’s Natural Resources Management division, Conservation Service as a working in the insect lab and in the field performing speci- soil scientist where she men collection, invasive plant management and deer sur- conducted field research veys. Mireya had an AmeriCorps internship with the U.S. and mapping for soil sur- Geological Survey (USGS) working on phenology, remote veys. weather stations in Shenandoah National Park and data col- Suzanne brings more lection procedures for citizen scientists. She was a research than ten years of experi- assistant for George Mason University’s Department of ence in ornamental horti- Environmental Science and Policy working on macrophyte culture, landscape preser- studies in the Potomac River and she worked on water prob- vation and soils to the lems in the Yunnan province of China. GWMP. She is a certified Before NPS, she worked in the private sector. Mireya Suzanne Bouchard. Photo horticulturist with the earned her bachelor’s degree at James Madison University courtesy of S. Bouchard Virginia Nursery and and her master’s degree in natural resources from Virginia Landscape Association Tech. She is a certified Virginia master naturalist, volunteer and has a Bachelor of Science in plant and soil science from stream monitor for the Reston Association and a singer with the University of Kentucky. The Reston Chorale.

COMMENTS (continued from page 5) Resiliency Planning, Shoreline Flooding During some storms, sections of the parkway along the Recommendation: Do not increase speed limits or Potomac River act as “dams” and can help block flooding of make road surface or other changes that increase noise. the parkway and upland areas. However, storms, tides and Enforce speed limits. flooding are natural events and rivers need floodplains and Stormwater wetlands to help absorb floodwaters. Climate change is During heavy precipitation events, stormwater can cre- resulting in more frequent and more severe storms and more ate large puddles on the road’s edge, requiring vehicles to flooding. Development and human disturbance have modi- slow down. Spray from vehicles passing through these pud- fied many natural processes. dles can impair drivers’ visibility. Recommendation: Identify upland areas for wetland Recommendation: Prepare options for addressing migration and floodplains. Complete the restoration of measures to reduce puddling during heavy downpours, but Dyke Marsh. avoid solutions that could cause more erosion in Dyke Fort Belvoir Traffic Marsh or other shoreline areas. Consider approaches that There is anecdotal evidence that because of the 2005 retain rainfall onsite. Forested areas, for example, can be the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) effective in retaining stormwater. actions which added hundreds of new jobs to Fort Belvoir, Reduce Light Pollution traffic volume increased significantly on the south parkway Currently lighting along the parkway is minimal, con- because of employees going to and from work there. sistent with its design. At night, human-caused light can Recommendation: Ask the Department of Interior offi- adversely affect many wildlife species. Some argue that, cials to work with Department of Defense officials to create for example, female fireflies are unable to see the male fire- more transportation options for Fort Belvoir employees. fly flashes. Artificial light can attract and disorient moths, Support extending the Metro subway lines to accommodate frogs, birds and hatching turtles and can lead to habitat loss Fort Belvoir employees. Urge the Trump Administration to if the light serves as a barrier to some species such as ro- advocate for increased Metro subway funding to extend dents and bats. subway lines and shuttle buses to Fort Belvoir to reduce Recommendation: Do not increase lighting. traffic on the parkway.

6 The Marsh Wren ☼ Fall 2019 Volunteers Haul Out 44 Bags of Trash Welcome New FODM Members On September FODM welcomes our new members Jeff Cook, Kurt 28, volunteers Skolnick Hess, John Kennedy, Karen Niersbach and Steven cleaned up the Dyke Sprague. Welcome new Life Members Robert H. Dugger, Marsh shoreline Claudia Metter and Clint Robinson and our newest conver- from kayaks and sions to Life Membership David Barbour and Marc Bendick. canoes and collected 44 bags of trash. Calendar of Events The event was spon- November 2 - Dyke Marsh West sored by FODM, the Volunteers. Photo by Ned Stone. Cleanup. Join FODMers at 9 a.m. in Northern Virginia west Dyke Marsh, behind the River Conservation Trust and the National Park Service. Towers condos. Check our website and Facebook for details. November 16 - Mount Vernon District Environment Expo 8 a.m. at Walt Whitman Middle School. See details below. MEETING (continued from page 1) December 14 - Audubon Christmas Bird Count in areas inside the Beltway and south of Alexandria. To volunteer contact ence Center and was responsible for integrating climate Larry Cartwright at [email protected]. change concerns into environmental reviews of proposed federal projects. This free, public program will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Environment Expo November 16 Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Supervisor Dan Storck’s 2nd Boulevard, Alexandria, VA 22306, preceded by an infor- Annual Mount Vernon District mal social at 7 p.m. If you use a GPS device, be sure to Environment Expo at the Walt enter the street address, not the park’s name. Whitman Middle School, The Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, the Friends Parker’s Lane Alexandria on of Huntley Meadows Park and the Friends of Little Hunt- Saturday, November 16, 2019, 8 ing Creek are cosponsors. a.m. to noon. The goal of this event is to educate and inform local residents on environmen- Sunday Morning Bird Walks tal challenges of climate change, including ones that are unique to the Mount Vernon area given our proximity to water Bird walks are held Sunday mornings, all sea- and the many industrial facilities nearby. sons. Meet at 8 a.m. in the south parking lot of the Belle Haven picnic area. Walks are led by experi- enced birders and all are welcome to join us. U.S. Park Police, Emergency Number: 202-610-7500

FODM Membership - Dues and Contributions

Support the Friends of Dyke Marsh by becoming a member or renewing your membership. Benefits include the DUES AMOUNT..…………………….… $ ______Friends’ quarterly publication, The Marsh Wren; quarterly membership meetings with knowledgeable speakers; Sun- ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION..…….. $ ______day morning bird walks and notification of activities in TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED.………. $ ______and around the marsh. Most importantly, your membership lends your voice in support of the Dyke Marsh Wild- NAME ______life Preserve and our efforts to advocate for full restora- ADDRESS ______tion of the marsh. Just click on the “Join” or “Donate” CITY______STATE ____ ZIP_____ button on our membership page at www.fodm.org to make your tax-deductible contribution by credit card or from TELEPHONE NUMBER ______your bank account securely through PayPal. For help, in- EMAIL ADDRESS [email protected]. If you prefer, you can send a check, paya- ble to FODM, P.O. Box 7183, Alexandria, Virginia Please address any questions or comments about The 22307. The annual dues are $15.00 per household, Marsh Wren to Dorothy McManus and about member- $250.00 for life membership for an individual. You will ship to Bob Veltkamp. You may contact them by mail receive a notice by mail or by email when your renewal is at FODM, P.O. Box 7183, Alexandria, Virginia 22307 due. A financial statement is available upon written re- -7183, by telephone or by email (see page 2). quest from the Virginia Office of Charitable and Regula- tory Programs. Thank you for your support of FODM.

The Marsh Wren ☼ Fall 2019 7 Meet the Plants of Dyke Marsh - Goldenrod

BY PAT SALAMONE (Solidago altissima), North Carolina State University’s North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox says it I can’t imagine fall in our area best: “This plant may be confused without goldenrods. They seem to be with: Any other goldenrod species everywhere (they love roadsides and Solidago spp.” other open areas). Their golden color Even so, there are two species that brightens up the shortening days, and I can confidently say are found in they hum with late-season pollinating Dyke Marsh, because they were plant- insects. ed in the native plant restoration area Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) have along the Haul Road trail: Solidago composite flowers and thus are in the altissima and Solidago juncea. Soli- aster family (Asteraceae). The genus dago juncea is one of the earliest name, Solidago, is derived from the goldenrods to bloom and Solidago Latin solidare, “to make whole,” in altissima is one of the latest, so the reference to the medicinal uses of combination produces a long season some goldenrod species. of beautiful blooms. It’s usually easy to recognize a Goldenrod flowers are rich in nectar goldenrod, but not so easy to identify and thus are a particular boon to insect it. There are more than 100 species pollinators late in the year when not in the genus, most of which are native much else is blooming except for the to North America. Approximately 38 asters. These insects then carry the varieties are native to Virginia. sticky yellow pollen to other plants, Many species look alike, and golden- Common goldenrod with insects. Photo and the flowers ripen into fuzzy, light- rods also hybridize readily. In its by R.W. Smith, Lady Bird Johnson weight seed heads that are carried write-up on common goldenrod Wildflower Center away by the wind to start new plants.

The Friends of Dyke Marsh P.O. Box 7183 Alexandria, VA 22307-7183