USDA Private Lands Biologist Tiffany Beachy (left) and VDGIF Watchable Wildlife Biologist Steve Living (center) came to New Quarter Park today to assess our Bobwhite habitat. They are seen here with Joanne Chapman (right) from York County. The crew talked about how to get rid of the fescue that's invading the field and stunting the growth of the good plants we planted last year to feed and shelter Northern Bobwhite. It looks like Roundup will be involved.
To get rid of the grass, we're going to mow and rake the meadow, then wait until the grass is about 6 inches tall and really sucking down the nutrients, and finally knock it out with Roundup. We hope that most of the plants like Black-eyed Susans and Partridge Pea as well as many other grasses and perennials will be dormant so that the herbicide will just kill the grasses. The Bobwhite Habitat Restoration is a partnership between York County, the Virginia Native Plant Society, the Virginia Master Naturalists, and the Williamsburg Bird Club.
We also took a look at the Teaching Garden with Jeanne Millin of the Historic Rivers Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists to discuss what's next there. The plan is to shore up the path and rain garden, then plant in the fall to create a showplace for the native species that thrive in the park. We're also setting aside an area to develop as a butterfly garden to attract pollinators and encourage more butterflies to come out to the park. The box turtles already love the place!We hope that people will get the idea that biodiverse, natural landscapes sustain us. Plant wildflowers, not grass ... and read this book:
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