With the equinox behind us, fall is finally here! While it is sometimes bittersweet to say goodbye to the warmth of summer, I for one am so excited for the changes happening at the Preserve over the next several weeks. Read on to see which five reasons top my list to visit Bull Run for …
Category Archives: Bull Run Mountains
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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A note from new Preserve Specialist, Taryn
When I got the call that I was the top choice to take over as Preserve Specialist at Bull Run Mountains, I’m not embarrassed to tell you there was a lot of happy dancing involved. This job is the lifelong dream for creek-wading, animal-loving overgrown kid like myself. And though I’ve had many amazing opportunities …
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FUNgi!
It’s fungi season! And as I hiked around this August, I was observing them everywhere at the Bull Run Mountains Nature Preserve. So, I wanted to share with you a few facts about these fascinating organisms that are actually closer to animals than plants. With fun names like “chicken of the woods” (Laetiporus), a great …
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 …
Science with a View at Oak Springs Garden Foundation
The Blue Ridge Mountains lived up to their name with an uplifting blue that stood before us as we walked the tall grass. Flowers dotted the landscape, whose names I tried to quickly scribble down as the group of botanists I joined shared their knowledge. We were at the Oak Spring Garden, located in Upperville, …
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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 …