Go native        Support eco-services                  T rees shade         Canopy and understory                  Leaves cleanse         Breathe deep         Soils nourish         N atural nutrients                  Waters pure         Gulp - swallow                  Blooms galore        S upport pollinators                  Birds & wildlife flourish         Year-round           Spring blooms         S ummer shade         Fall color         Winter fruits          Welcome home, natives               Go nowhere             Go native

The question is whether a zoo can be considered a park. The term "zoo" is short for zoological park. According to National Geographic , a zoo is a place where animals live in captivity. Zoos typically focus on exhibiting a variety of species for educational and conservation purposes. Zoos have been around since 1793, when the first modern zoo opened in Paris, France. However, it wasn't until 1874 that the first zoo opened in the United States in Philadelphia.   Parks are public green areas used for outdoor recreation, linear trails, and corridors with recreational amenities or open spaces providing wildlife habitat and preserving scenic assets. Parks also play a role in preserving natural habitats, promoting environmental awareness, and providing cultural and recreational activities. Boston Common , established in 1634, is called the first public park. It was not until the mid-1800s that parks were planned in the United States. Designed by visionaries Frederick Law Olms

  Squashapenny Junction as described by Visit RichmondVA.com is “no ordinary antiques store”. It is located next to the railroad track in the Doswell area of Hanover County. For generations, this spot has been a place where people could use passing trains to flatten pennies. Is Squashapenny Junction just a place of business, or does it embody the essence of a true ‘place’? Expanding this concept to rural communities, under the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge,   Innovation Challenge, the USDA has allocated $4 million in cooperative agreement funds to support planning in rural communities. These funds aim to promote infrastructure and access. While these funds may not be a good fit for Hanover’s “Squashapenny” directly, they could be evaluated as a funding source promoting rural tourism.       Squashapenny provides a unique visual destination and antiques attraction. The increasing influx of I-95 tourists and visitors to the nearby Kings Dominion theme park presents an opportunit

  Synchronized movements in the water are artfully accomplished to music, where each swimmer depends on the others and plays a specific part in the choreographed routine. The long underwater chains of swimmers break apart and then simultaneously pop to the surface to gasp for breath – all while maintaining radiant smiles. The audience marvels at how these elegant, dolphin-like swimmers move together, making their dance appear effortless as they emerge to the surface with cheerful expressions to breathe. A synchronized swimming performance comprises two essential parts – underwater and on the surface. Teamwork is paramount: every synchronized swimmer leaves the pool with a heightened understanding of the phrase, “I really could not have done that without you.” What's visible to the audience above water is the team’s seamless coordination, flow, and collaborative effort. Synchronized swimming simply cannot succeed without a fully functioning team. How does this resonate with your own

This story follows Paul Pelican fishing along the shores of Virginia's beaches. Join in the fun with Paul in this coloring book !  

  Native plants are the best! They provide habitat, food, and resources for birds, critters, and wildlife. Sometimes we inherit non-native plants that we must replace immediately. These are the invasive ones that run out the natives and take over while not providing any benefit to wildlife and the environment. Other plants that are not native we tolerate. Sometimes we have a secret love affair with non-natives we saw in foreign countries or plants that our grandparents grew in their gardens.   My secret non-native plant is Linton rose by its common name and Helleborus is its genus. I am attracted to it because it is one of the first blooms I see in winter. This plant says to me, spring is coming, and I am bowing my head as if in prayer for winter to subside. I have a clump of Helleborus in my garden. It is not tucked away as a family secret. It greets you as you approach the front door.