Located at our confluence, our beloved beech was the definition of a trooper.Its root system half pulled out of the Earth by a windstorm decades ago and its trunk since laying horizontally across Catlett’s Branch. Despite this waterlogged existence, it continued to hang on and keep-on-keeping-on for more than a decade.Sadly, its time had come …
Author Archives: Joe Villari
Glow-in-the-dark mushrooms? Spotlight on Eastern jack-o-lantern
A team of our staff and volunteers recently found a patch of Eastern jack-O-lantern mushrooms (Omphalotus olearius) while out performing trail work (kudos to PATC’s Mike C and his eagle eyes for the spot!) Jack-O-lantern mushrooms are aptly named for their near fall arrival, bright orange appearance, and the fact that their gills GLOW-IN-THE-DARK! After reading …
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Jack Dawson Project 2020 Inventory Report
Click here to read Kellen Hope’s Fellowship Report: Jack Dawson Project 2020 Inventory Although finalized in May, and already well used internally, we are excited to make this product of our VOF Special Project Fellow, Kellen Hope, available to all interested members of our community. This Jack Dawson Inventory Fellowship Report was the result of …
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Announcing the 2021 VOF Natural Science Fellow
I am excited to announce that our 2021 VOF Natural Science Fellow has been selected! Lauren Fuchs is currently a PhD student at George Mason University (GMU) and an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC). Building upon her already established research, Lauren will be evaluating snake microbial assemblages across species and infection susceptibility to …
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Welcoming our new Preserve Specialist
Fresh off the heels of introducing Marylin, we are equally thrilled to introduce our new VOF Preserve Specialist, Taryn Bromser-Kloeden! A true and dedicated animal lover, Taryn has spent time working with one of our most important partners, the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center – and has also previously served as an Assistant Manager at …
Introducing VOF’s new Outreach Assistant
I am so excited to introduce our new VOF Outreach Assistant, Marylin Veiman-Echeverría! Marylin comes to VOF’s Preserve at Bull Run Mountains with a true wealth of experience, as she previously served as the Environmental Education Director at the La Selva Biological Station, Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica. In addition to …
Coming Home to Bull Run Mountain
Coming home. This antique kerosene lantern was used by one of our mountains’ important folk historical figures, Beverley Corum, to light his way through the night. His historic homestead was nestled within a Bull Run Mountains’ hollow, in what is now the South Section of the Preserve. Now these mountain hollows tend to get dark early, so it …
Bittersweet News – Thanks, and farewell, to our Preserve Specialist, Summers Cleary
Dear Preserve Community, Some of you may already found yourselves privy to this information, but I am now writing to inform you all of the bittersweet news that Summers Cleary will be leaving VOF. Although her time here was much shorter than we would have liked it to have been, I can confidently state …
A report from the field: Snake hunting with a local legend
Preserve Manager Joe Villari reflects on an afternoon spent with local legend, Marty Martin.
Celebrating United Nation’s International Women and Girls in Science Day
Join us in celebrating the women and girls integral to our science program here at BRMNAP! This year, we are highlighting our 2020 Natural Science Fellow, Meredith Hart, who studied our insect biodiversity, contributing to our greater understanding of our ecosystems and biodiversity.