Join LERN at the Henrico County Master Gardener’s annual Pollinator Festival and Plant Sale!

LERN will provide educational outreach but will not be selling its plants.

Instead, the Master Gardeners will be selling plants from their own gardens at bargain prices!

Come join LERN at the second annual Spring Fest and Market on Saturday, May 10, 2025, aimed at spotlighting the organizations that make the Churcg Hill neighborhood special and bringing our community together.

LERN will have some of our local ecotype native plants for sale at our booth and will also be promoting the value, importance and beauty of native plants!

We hope you’ll join us to shop from local vendors, enjoy local food and drinks, and relax listening to music at beautiful Libby Hill Park. Plus, it’s Mothers Day Weekend so consider dropping by for some last minute gifts! (Plants make great gifts!)

Join LERN, City of Richmond Parks & Rec and Friends of Bellemeade Park, to finish planting a native meadow at Bellmeade Park on the hillside above the ballfield. We just need to finish up the area that was planted last fall; We will be planting a couple hundred of our native plant plugs. Meet at the Krouse St entrance to the park at the top of the hill. Parking available on Krouse St, Royal Ave, and inside the park. 

Come prepared to be kneeling and digging in the dirt. Gloves, tools, and water provided.

Conservation Landscaping for Improved Water Quality

Saturday, March 22nd

9-noon

Come and learn what you can do to make your landscape more sustainable and wildlife-friendly while protecting water quality.  Topics will include:

• Introduction to the Reedy Creek watershed and water quality

• Native plants and their vital role in healthy ecosystems

• Conservation landscaping solutions for stormwater runoff problems

• Site selection, preparation, plant selection, and maintenance for a successful conservation landscaping project

• Identification and removal methods for invasive plants

• Habitat restoration in Crooked Branch Ravine Park

The workshop will also include a walk to look at some native plants and invasive plants growing in Forest Hill Park and to identify potential stormwater issues.  Please come prepared with comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.

Workshop will be provided by Stacey Moulds and Bill Shanabruch of Local Ecotype Richmond Natives (LERN) and Suzette Lyon of the Reedy Creek Coalition (RCC).

Space is limited and registration is required.  Registration is $15 and will support the work of Local Ecotype Richmond Natives and the Reedy Creek Coalition.

Join The James River Park System Invasive Plant Task Force for our second annual RISAW Documentary Screening on Monday, 3/3/25 at Studio Two Three.

• The feature documentary starts at approximately 6pm, followed by a panel discussion, beginning around 7pm.

• Panelists: Kevin Heffernan, biologist, VA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Natural Heritage; Bill Shanabruch, president and co-founder LERN (Local Ecotype Richmond Natives); and Kristi Orcutt, owner and herd manager, RVA Goats. Moderated by Laura Greenleaf, IPTF founder and member of JRPS invasive management team.

• All ages are welcome, but the target audience of the documentary is high school to adult.

• More info: https://jamesriverpark.org/events/risaw-film-screening-panel-discussion/

Join LERN and the James River Park Service Invasive Species Task Force as we kick off the third annual Richmond Invasive Species Awareness Week (RISAW), at Pony Pasture with informative nature walks, invasive species quizzes, RVA Goats, volunteer opportunities, and more! This event is family friendly and open to all ages without registration. There is plenty of parking in the Pony Pasture Parking Lot located at 7310 Riverside Drive.

Approximate Schedule:

1PM: Invasive Species Removal Volunteer Event (advance registration required)

1:15PM: Guided Nature Walk led by Joey Thompson of DCR

2PM: Guided Nature Walk led by Kevin Heffernan of DCR

2:30PM: Chat with Kristi Orcutt of RVA Goats about the benefits of using sheep and goats to control invasive plants

For more information about the entire weeklong event: Invasives Week - JRPS Invasive Plant Task Force

Come and learn what you can do to make your landscape more sustainable and wildlife-friendly while protecting water quality. 

Pre-Registration is required. Cost is $16 per person.

Topics will include:

• Native plants and their vital role in healthy ecosystems

• Native plants of local ecotype vs. cultivars

• Conservation landscapes serve many purposes (e.g. stormwater management and improved water quality, wildlife habitat, ease of maintenance, aesthetics, carbon storage, saving money)

• Identification and removal methods for non-native invasive plants

• Considerations in selecting a site for conservation landscaping

• Site preparation to ensure success and minimize maintenance

• Native plant communities and resources to select the native plants that will work for your purposes

• Establishment and maintenance of a successful conservation landscape

The workshop will also include a walk to look at some native plants and invasive plants growing nearby and to discuss solutions to stormwater challenges.  Please come prepared with comfortable shoes and layers to stay warm.

We didn’t quite finish up and need a few more hands to finish planting native plant plugs in the wetter area of the slope. All plants that will be installed are of local ecotype and are grown by LERN and Mouton Hot Natives.

Once established, these meadows will provide lots of year-round beauty and interest for church members and visitors as well as much needed habitat for the local wildlife. These meadows will improve the local environment by reducing air pollution (less mowing), improving water infiltration and reducing water runoff and soil erosion. A win-win by all measures!

Dress comfortably and in clothes that you are prepared to get dirty in. Many tools will be provided, but bring your favorite hand trowel and trenching shovel if you’ve got them along with your favorite well-fitting gloves. Water will be provided but please bring your own bottle to reduce waste.

Join LERN, City of Richmond Parks & Rec and Friends of Bellemeade Park, to establish a native meadow at Bellmeade Park on the hillside above the ballfield. We will be planting hundreds of native plant plugs as well as native shrubs provided by LERN and Moulton Hot Natives. Meet at the Krouse St entrance to the park at the top of the hill. Parking available on Krouse St, Royal Ave, and inside the park. 

Come prepared to be kneeling and digging in the dirt. Gloves, tools, and water provided.

Join LERN and The Reedy Creek Coalition for a 1-hr walking tour through Crooked Branch Ravine, one of Richmond’s hidden gems. Topics covered during the walk will include tree identification, the role of trees in protecting water quality and reducing heat islands and the impact of invasive plants on the tree canopy. The second hour will be devoted to removing some English ivy plants that are threatening a high-quality forested area of the park. We will also plant some small trees and shrubs to enhance the understory.

Stacey Moulds and Bill Shanabruch of the nonprofit Local Ecotypes Richmond Natives (LERN) explore planning for rain gardens and provide best examples of regional plants that like to keep their "feet" wet. This program is presented in partnership with Keep Henrico Beautiful.