tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post8530503130679499269..comments2023-09-16T04:58:07.261-04:00Comments on the Annandale Blog: Supervisors urge VDOT to step up grass mowingAnnandale Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543558586252790593noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-56250574794929894372017-06-23T02:21:32.296-04:002017-06-23T02:21:32.296-04:00Wildflowers are definitely better, but they can gr...Wildflowers are definitely better, but they can grow at least as tall as grass--around here, I love to see the chicory sprouting up and hate to see it cut down. Some other native flowers, like the striking star-shaped horse nettle, are also quite prickly. Not practical for public areas, I guess. It'd be a shame (and a mistake) for the county to spend money on non-native wildflower seeds.<br /><br />Clover, on the other hand, could be a very practical mix-in because it's hardy, spreads well, and usually only grows 2-8 inches. It's only gotten a bad reputation since people started aspiring to the unrealistically uniform green carpet look--which is ironically quite bad for the environment and hard to achieve/maintain! Go natural, peeps. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-48223735716906068662017-06-23T01:46:31.675-04:002017-06-23T01:46:31.675-04:00"Studly": you may be glad to know that B..."Studly": you may be glad to know that Belvedere Elementary on Columbia Pike has a strong, active environmental education program (for both students and teachers) that works year-round on teaching about the environment and protecting it through things like reduce-reuse-recycle. It goes way beyond that, though. One major transdisiplinary theme of the Primary Years Program (International Baccalaureate curriculum) in place for all students there focuses on the environment in many ways: how we use natural resources; how we impact plants, animals, and the environment--as well as the ways they impact us; and an appreciation of aesthetics, to name a few. <br /><br />The school grounds are registered as a Backyard/Schoolyard Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation and include a multitude of planting beds (including a "decomposition garden") as well as a couple of outdoor classrooms. There’s a club of staff, students, and their families that takes nature hikes in the nearby areas once a month. We even have a group called Waste Watchers that tracks refuse, then comes up with ways to reduce that and reminds students and staff how to follow through. One result has included the elimination of Styrofoam lunch trays from the cafeteria. <br /><br />Anyone who wants to set up a Backyard Habitat of their own can learn more on the National Wildlife Federation website.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-62317216771892542292017-06-22T12:15:06.561-04:002017-06-22T12:15:06.561-04:00Whomever they employ to mow does not do a good job...Whomever they employ to mow does not do a good job. They leave strips of unmowed grass. Why don't they grow wildflowers instead of grass...prettier and less expensive than mowing!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-1372668714384341292017-06-21T18:08:21.509-04:002017-06-21T18:08:21.509-04:00Not only grass, but litter! It's time to stop...Not only grass, but litter! It's time to stop spending so much money cutting down trees and more on litter pickup and anti-litter education in the schools.Studly Geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14103900382755115454noreply@blogger.com