Category: Public Information

The Understory – Dec. 11

The Understory – Dec. 11

December 11, 2024 - Fire Activity Continues Into December While Virginia’s official fall fire season (Oct. 15 – Nov. 30) has ended, continued dry and windy conditions have brought us increased fire activity well into December. Over the last week, DOF suppressed 47 wildfires that burned 171 acres, making it firefighters’ third-busiest week of 2024 by suppressed wildfires. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS), with support from DOF and many local fire departments, is currently... Read More

The Understory - Nov. 22

The Understory – Nov. 22

November 22, 2024 - The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) launched this newsletter to connect with forest landowners and all who love forests. Here we’ll share news, services, assistance programs and more. You’re receiving this newsletter because you previously signed up for DOF announcements. Help us spread the word by encouraging others interested in Virginia’s forests — and forestry — to sign up below. Interested in a specific forestry topic? Contact us. Virginia Celebrates... Read More

The Understory - Nov. 1

The Understory – Nov. 1

November 1, 2024 - The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) launched this newsletter to connect with forest landowners and all who love forests. Here we’ll share news, services, assistance programs and more. You’re receiving this newsletter because you previously signed up for DOF announcements. Help us spread the word by encouraging others interested in Virginia’s forests — and forestry — to sign up below. Interested in a specific forestry topic? Contact us. Landowner Disaster... Read More

The Understory – Oct. 9

The Understory – Oct. 9

October 9, 2024 - The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) launched this newsletter to connect with forest landowners and all who love forests. Here we’ll share news, services, assistance programs and more. You’re receiving this newsletter because you previously signed up for DOF announcements. Help us spread the word by encouraging others interested in Virginia’s forests — and forestry — to sign up below. Interested in a specific forestry topic? Contact us. DOF Response... Read More

The Understory – Sept. 26

The Understory – Sept. 26

September 26, 2024 - *This is the web version of our first “The Understory” newsletter which was mailed out on Sept. 26. Get future editions of The Understory delivered to your inbox here. Welcome to “The Understory!” The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is launching this newsletter to connect with forest landowners and all who love forests. Here we’ll share news, services, assistance programs and more. You’re receiving this newsletter because you previously signed... Read More

Holiday DIY from the Yard

Holiday DIY from the Yard

December 2, 2022 - By Ellen Powell, DOF Conservation Education Coordinator Want to save some money during the spending season? With a little creativity, you can get a lot of holiday décor from your own yard. Decorating with what I have on hand gives me a sense of efficiency, as well as a connection with my paternal grandmother. Growing up in the rural South, she often foraged for wild foods like “creasy greens” (winter... Read More

A Natural Partnership

A Natural Partnership

January 25, 2022 - By Ellen Powell, DOF Conservation Education Coordinator This is a tale of partnership, program creation, and a great idea brought to life. Early in 2004, Dr. Jeff Kirwan of Virginia Tech heard about a new volunteer program that had taken root in several states – one with enormous potential benefit for Virginia’s natural resources. In a matter of weeks, he pulled together a group of seven motivated worker bees and... Read More

Can Trees Save a Sinking Island?

Can Trees Save a Sinking Island?

November 10, 2021 - By Cory Swift-Turner, Public Information Specialist — Tangier Island is known for its soft-shell crabs and the unique lifestyle of its residents. But the very body of water that sustains the community is also threatening to swallow it. As ocean levels rise, coastal communities across Virginia are facing new challenges from storm-driven erosion, nuisance flooding, and tides that creep in further each year. Island communities such as Tangier, located 12... Read More

The Vine That Ate Charlottesville

The Vine That Ate Charlottesville

September 29, 2021 - By Ellen Powell, DOF Conservation Education Coordinator I know what you’re thinking. But no, the vine that ate Charlottesville isn’t kudzu. It’s porcelain-berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata). You might know this species as an ornamental vine, often seen spilling over pergolas in fancy gardens. It’s great for covering a bare patch of ground or an unsightly old shed. The fruits are quite beautiful, with pale green, lavender, magenta, and blue berries often... Read More

Autumn = Asteraceae!

Autumn = Asteraceae!

September 10, 2021 - By Ellen Powell, DOF Conservation Education Coordinator Virginia’s forests in fall are showstoppers, dazzling us with their vibrant colors. But my eyes are often drawn to the weedy roadside ditches and field edges, where fall wildflowers paint the landscape in an Impressionist haze. Fall-blooming flowers aren’t just for looks. They provide an important late-season food source for bees, wasps, butterflies, and other pollinators. Keeping these insects fed and happy is... Read More