The Plant Sale –

The Return of the Potted Plants!

The Roanoke Master Gardener Association is holding their plant sale on May 11 from 8am to 1pm at the Brambleton Center Gym: 3738 Brambleton Avenue

Potted plants, Perennials and Shrubs, Garden Prints and Books and so much more!

Information from the Virginia Cooperative Extension website

South County Wetland Trail

Even before the South County Library was envisioned for its site on Merriman Road, park planners had conceptualized a boardwalk trail through the nearby wetland.

“I think that one of the ideas all along was that if we could get citizens, visitors and school children walking on a trail through the wetland we would have some important environmental education opportunities,” said landscape architect, and project organizer Lon Williams. “The fact that we could build it on the same site as a library increased the opportunity for hands on learning for school children.”

That opportunity came as the new library neared completion, and there was some additional funding remaining in the construction budget. County administration, including director of libraries Diana Rosapepe, thought it was a good fit.

“We’ve been looking forward to the completion of the wetland trail,” said Rosapepe. “We see it as another form of education, one that gives us all a window on a fragile ecosystem and helps us to be both good neighbors and good stewards of this unique resource.”

Good stewardship was kept top of mind during the entire construction process. The company selected to built the trail approached the project from top down. Their equipment actually sat on portions of the deck that had already been completed, and moved along the deck as they progressed. That means that there was very little disturbance to the wetland while building the trail.

The boardwalk trail was approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, who granted permitting for the project. Roanoke County was able to make up for the minimal environmental disturbance by purchasing a small amount of wetland credits from the Virginia Office of The Nature Conservancy.

On Tuesday, June 4 at 11:00am, Roanoke County officials will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new boardwalk trail. This trail system already connects the South County Library with the roundabout by Penn Forest Elementary School. By the end of the year, the Parks, Recreation and Tourism department hopes to complete the final piece of the project, an upland trail segment between the boardwalk and Starkey Park.

Parks, Recreation and Tourism director Doug Blount believes that one of the most important aspects of the new trail is the sense of community it creates. “Libraries, schools and parks are government services that touch the lives almost every citizen,” says Blount. “The wetland trail project not only provides a physical link between all three, but also enhances the mission of each department in one key area where they overlap. This trail will give back to the community for generations to come, by helping youth gain a better appreciation of the natural world through good stewardship and environmental education.”

For more information, please contact the Roanoke County Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at (540) 387-6078.

In an attempt to raise knowledge about the difficulties of amphibians, the scientific community has designated April 27, 2013 as the fifth annual, “Save the Frog Day.” Oak Grove Elementary Fifth Graders chose to celebrate “Frog Day” on Friday, April 26th. Students celebrated by creating origami frogs in art class. Their frogs were then used to compete in jumping contests in math, where they measured their jumps to the nearest eighth of an inch. Students completed a project at home about a frog indigenous to Latin America. In science, students created dichotomous keys (classification keys) to identify their frogs by genus and species. Friday kept Oak Grove Fifth Graders “hopping!”

Written by Catey Moretz, Photos courtesy of Frances Rogers

Do you have the desire to participate in a treasure hunt? Do you have a partner or a team of friends? Do you have your own GPS or do you need to borrow one of ours? Whatever the circumstance is, you are in luck! On Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 11AM to 3PM starting at Roanoke County’s Green Ridge Recreation Center (7415 Wood Haven Rd., Roanoke, VA 24019) the hunt begins. This event is FREE but please pre-register to ensure your spot or arrive at 10AM to register the day of the event and enjoy a social hour to mix and mingle with seasoned Geocachers and fellow team mates.

With a hand-held GPS unit and longitudes and latitudes, a well thought out game plan gets you to the various Greenway sites within Roanoke County. Caches will be at each site and inside each lies your “treasure.” The object is to accumulate as many points as possible. You may compete as an individual, family or in teams. We strongly suggest there be two people per car (at least one navigator).

Don’t have a GPS or are you unsure on how to operate one? No problem, we will have tutors on site at the event or a geocaching tutorial is available at www.geocaching.com.  A limited number of GPS units are available to those who do not bring their own, and a $150 deposit will be required for their use. The deposit is returned upon the safe return of the GPS unit.

Fantastic prizes have been donated by generous organizations and businesses such as Salem Red Sox, Showtimer’s Community Theatre, Splash Valley, Mill Mountan Zoo, O’Winston Link Museum, Vinton War Memorial and many more; however a “fun-tastic” time is your ultimate reward as you take in the beautiful scenery along the County’s Greenways.The Amazing Treasure Hunt is an event of Roanoke County Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism with media support from The Roanoke Star. For more information and complete details call 540-387-6078 ext. 0 or visit www.RoanokeCountyParks.com.

Submitted by Wendi Schultz

Roanoke County has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for 15 consecutive years, in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. Roanoke County is one of only three counties in Virginia to hold the title, traditionally held by more urban localities.

As part of the Tree City USA designation, Roanoke County celebrated Arbor Day with a ceremonial tree planting at Glen Cove Elementary School on Friday, April 19. This event featured educational lectures and a visit from Smokey Bear. Remarks were also made by Joseph B. “Butch” Church from Roanoke County’s Board of Supervisors, David Wymer from the Roanoke County School Board, and Dr. Lorraine Lange, Superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools.

Virginia Department of Forestry spokesman Dennis McCarthy captivated the students with lessons on the importance of environmental stewardship. “These trees that we plant on the school grounds here in Roanoke County will provide you guys shade while you’re out on the campus playing on a hot summer day,” said McCarthy. “We need to be proud about our efforts to plant trees and make sure we’re constantly thinking about preserving and conserving our trees and forests in Virginia.”

The tree planting event at Glen Cove Elementary was one of four requirements for the Tree City USA designation, including; a tree-care ordinance, a tree board or department, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

Roanoke County would like to thank The Valley Beautiful Foundation, Inc., and the Virginia Department of Forestry for helping to fund Arbor Day events for the past 15 years. Through private donations and fund-raising they have contributed approximately $22,500 towards planting trees in Roanoke County. This is the final year of involvement for The Valley Beautiful Foundation, which is dissolving after 32 years of making our community a greener and more beautiful place to live.

More information on the Tree City USA program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.

Information from the Roanoke County Website

From the Roanoke County website:

Curious about Cultivating Your own Honey? This two session class will help prepare the beginner beekeeper for a successful season. Instructor Mark Chroba, The “Bee Whisper” will guide you through both instructional and hands on lessons to get you ready for your great adventure. Registration in Required. For more information contact Josh Nease at (540) 553 2311.

For additional information, click here.

Some photos from Church of The Holy Spirit’s annual “Old Dude-Young Dude” Fishing Overnight.

Submitted by Dr. R. Quigg Lawrence, Jr.

Who: Hunting Hills Garden Club

What: A Fashion Show Featuring Christy’s Apparel & Accessories

Where: The Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs – 3640 Colonial Ave Roanoke, VA 24018

When: May 3 – Doors open at 11am and lunch is served at 11:30am

Food, Fun & Fashion with Friends

Tickets – $20

Local Cello Artists Performing 

For tickets or more information, please contact:

Carol Underwood:(540) 774-1984; susique4@aol.com

Diane Hellkamp: (540) 977-1030; dianedisher@aol.com

Submitted by Diane Hellkamp

One of the most scenic roads in SW county is Mt Chestnut. It’s great views today of the Peaks of Otter, downtown Roanoke, Bent and Poor Mountains were nicely enhanced by the recent snow.

Submitted by Tim Thornhill

Loren Wright shares these snow scenes from around Roanoke on Monday.