November 27, 2019 11:55 am
Published by Janet Muncy
Each year, a live Virginia-grown tree is selected and harvested by the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) to serve as the Christmas tree on display at Virginia’s Capitol in Richmond. The annual Christmas trees are donated from tree farmers across state; this year, the tree selected was a roughly 20-foot Colorado blue spruce, donated by Helen Braunworth and Helen’s daughter and son-in-law Cindy and Wayne Crickenberger from Friendly Forest Farm... Read More
November 7, 2019 8:00 am
Published by Janet Muncy
Chestnut trees have all but disappeared from the landscape; the Virginia Department of Forestry recently had a rare opportunity to harvest pure American chestnut wood. The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) maintains a chestnut research project at Lesesne State Forest in Nelson County, VA. American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once a common deciduous tree in many eastern North American forests and was valued for its nuts, lumber products and firewood.... Read More
November 6, 2019 9:24 am
Published by Janet Muncy
On the morning of November 4, a crew of volunteers from Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards (CATS) and a University of Virginia chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (APO) worked with several Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) staff members to plant 16 trees on the DOF campus front lawn. The driveway and the lawn are the first places that visitors see when arriving to the DOF James W. Garner building in... Read More
October 16, 2019 4:07 pm
Published by Janet Muncy
On the afternoon of October 7, a crowd of more than 70 people gathered in Rockingham County for the dedication of Virginia’s newest state forest, First Mountain. First Mountain is the 25th state forest in Virginia and contributes more than 570 beautiful acres of forestland, open fields, and stream frontage to the state lands system. Gary Heiser, State Forests Manager, selected an idyllic location on the property as a ceremony... Read More
October 9, 2019 5:00 pm
Published by Janet Muncy
by DOF Forest Health Specialist Katlin Mooneyham Our DOF Forest Health Program staff are often asked how to control certain invasive plant species. Most recommendations involve spraying or applying chemicals since that is often the easiest and most practical way for people to remove these plants. However, there are times when landowners and citizens are not interested in herbicides and ask for other recommendations. One alternative option that is gaining... Read More
