Our developing native pollinator garden is in an open field along the bottom of Twinbrook Road opposite the entrance to Long Branch Stream Valley Park – officially in Olde Forge Park. The garden serves as a place for native plant species to flourish, provide food and cover for local wildlife, and is a source of natural beauty for the community. The project was initiated by neighborhood volunteers in the fall of 2023 under the direction of the Invasive Management Area (IMA) program of the Fairfax County Park Authority. The IMA program originally purchased native plants, trees, and shrubs from Earth Sangha Native Plant Nursery. The local Girl Scout troops helped to establish the garden plot in October 2023 by planting pollinator plants. It will take awhile for some native plants to become established as they compete with invasive plants. Neighborhood volunteers, our Civic Association, and the IMA program continue to contribute native plants and pull out invasives to maintain the garden.
IMA link: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/invasive-management-area
Earth Sangha link: https://www.earthsangha.org/
Invasive species are a growing issue across the globe as the world becomes increasingly connected and it is important to take steps to combat this problem. Native Species gardens, such as this one, are a great way to promote native plant life as opposed to invasive species.
Explore this website and visit the garden to learn more about native and invasive plants and what you can do to contribute to the community!