Events Archive

Sunday, January 21

Insects on Ice, held at the ANS Webb Sanctuary, Clifton, VA

1 - 5 pm. ANS members: $18; Nonmembers: $25.  Join naturalist Cliff Fairweather for a study of insects in winter on the grounds of Webb Sanctuary. The day's activities will focus on the winter ecology of insects, including the life cycles and survival tactics of some common ones. We'll explore meadows and forest, looking for insects under cover, cocoons, galls, egg cases, and hibernating caterpillars and butterflies. In the Sanctuary's stream, we'll study the great variety of aquatic insects one can expect to find in a healthy stream at this time of year.

Thursday, January 25, 2001

WABC Monthly Meeting at Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA
Click here for program summary.

7:30 pm. Program free and open to the public. Join us for the first meeting of the new year! WABC member Rich Bray is about to begin his fifth year as chief investigator for the Rocky Mountain National Park Butterfly Monitoring Project. In the process of spending six months every year surveying and documenting among the valleys and peaks in the park, Rich has become an expert on the region's many lookalike butterflies and discovered species that others hadn't found there before. He has also attracted the able partnership of Stephanie Mason, a senior naturalist with the Audubon Naturalist Society, also a club member. Their annual talk with highlights from the previous season is one of the club's most popular events.
Directions: Long Branch Nature Center is located in at 625 Carlin Springs Road in Arlington, Virginia. Directions from Washington Beltway (495), VA exit 8/Route 50: Drive north on Route 50 about 5 miles. Take the Carlin Springs Road exit and turn left under the underpass. The center is about one-third mile on the left, behind a doctors office building. Watch for the sign for the nature center just beyond the office building (just before the building for those coming from Columbia Pike). Take the driveway into the woods to the nature center parking lot. Walk to the left up the hill. Map 16-G-8 on ADC No. Va. map.

Saturday, February 10

Planning a Wildlife Garden, at the ANS Rust Sanctuary, Leesburg, VA

10 am - noon. ANS members: $6; Nonmembers: $8. This workshop will cover the basic requirements that make a wildlife garden successful and how you can practically include them in your gardening plans no matter how big or small your garden might be. We will learn about the many native plants that are beautiful, low maintenance, and very attractive to wildlife. We will also discuss how to plan a garden that attracts specific wildlife such as butterflies and hummingbirds. Register online.

Thursday, February 22, 2001

WABC Monthly Meeting at Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA
NOTE: Was canceled due to weather and re-scheduled for April 26.

7:30 pm. Program free and open to the public. Join us for the ever-popular butterfly gardening lecture! This year, environmental consultant Dex Hinckley will present "Butterfly Ecosystems and Butterfly Gardens." Dex will discuss planning your garden, the plants that most successfully attract the butterflies of our region, and why they work so well. A question and answer period will follow the slide presentation. February is a great time to start planning ahead for the coming gardening season!
Directions from Washington Beltway (495), VA exit 8/Route 50: Drive north on Route 50 about 5 miles. Turn right onto Carlin Springs Road. The nature center is about 1/3 mile on the left behind a doctor's office building; the sign and driveway are just beyond the building (just before the building for those coming from Columbia Pike). Drive behind the building and down the wooded driveway. Map 16-G-8 on ADC No. Va. map.

Thursday, March 1

Monthly meeting of the Entomological Society of Washington at the National Museum of Natural History, NW D.C.

7:00 pm. Free; open to the public. Dolores Savignano of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will be speaking on "Potential Impacts of Pesticides on Pollinators." This timely topic should be of particular interest to members of the Washington Area Butterfly Club. Efforts to control gypsy moths and mosquitos (West Nile virus) can have disastrous effects on butterflies. The better informed you are about these pesticides and their effects on butterflies, the better equipped you will be to advocate butterfly friendly control methods.
The meeting is held in the Cathy Kerby Seminar Room (CE-340) at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, which is located at 10th and Constitution Ave., NW D.C. Enter through the Constitution Ave entrance and request directions from the guard. Parking is usually available on the street outside the museum, and there are parking lots close by. The museum is also accessible by Metro: Smithsonian Station.

Sunday, March 4

Puppet Show: "The Caterpillar and the Polliwog," at Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton, MD

4 - 4:30 pm. Free; all ages; no reservations required. A silly tadpole thinks he turns into a butterfly. See if he does! Brookside Nature Center is in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD.

Tuesday, March 6

Puppet Show: "Insects in Winter," at Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda, MD

Three show times: 1 - 1:45 pm; 2:30 - 3:15 pm; and 4 - 4:45 pm. $2.00; all ages; reservations required. Locust Grove Nature Center is in Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD.

Saturday, March 10

Family Nature Walk: "Signs of Spring," at Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda, MD

2 - 3 pm. Free; all ages; reservations required. Scarlet flowers adorn the Red Maple trees, Mourning Cloak butterflies emerge on warm days, and Cardinals serenade their mates, promising warm weather to come. Step out and search for proof that life is "springing" again after a long, long winter. Locust Grove Nature Center is in Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD.

Wednesday, March 14

"Of Caterpillars and Polliwogs," at Meadowside Nature Center, Rockville, MD

9:30 - 10:30 am. Free; age 3-6 with Adult; reservations required. Spring is a time of change; caterpillars and polliwogs are no exception. Come explore the many changes happening all around us. Meadowside Nature Center is in Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD.

Saturday, March 17

Attracting and Photographing Wildlife in Your Garden, at Green Spring Gardens Park, Alexandria, VA

10 - 11 am.  $5.00; reservations required. Nature writer and photographer Connie Toops specializes in designing backyard landscapes where she attracts and photographs wildlife. Author of the award-winning book Bluebirds Forever, she will share tips on planting wildlife food and nesting cover, installing water features, nest boxes, and feeders that will draw hummingbirds, songbirds, butterflies, frogs, and turtles to your backyard. Toops will also suggest camera equipment that's best for capturing wildlife. Green Spring Gardens Park is located at 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA, 22312 (behind the Salvation Army on Little River Turnpike). Send your name, address, daytime phone number, program name and check, payable to FCPA, to the above address, labeled Attn: Class Registration. For information or credit card registration, call 703-642-5173.

Monday, March 19

Backyard Wildlife Habitats, monthly meeting of the Prince William Wildflower Society, Manassas, VA

7:30 pm.  Laurie Liddick from the Education Department of the National Wildlife Federation will speak about NWF's Backyard Wildlife Habitat program. She will show slides and bring materials describing how to landscape for the four essential elements for wildlife: food, cover, water, and places to raise young. She will also speak about the requirements for certification by NWF as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat.
The meeting will be held in Bethel Lutheran Church at the corner of Sudley Road (Route 234) and Plantation Lane in Manassas. Directions: Take Route 66 West to Route 234 South. Go about 3 miles. After passing Prince William Hospital on the right, look for the traffic light for Plantation Lane on the left after Mike's Diner.

Tuesday, March 20

Spring Equinox Celebration Hike and Van Trip, offered by Black Hill Regional Park, Boyds, MD

9 am - 2 pm. $8.00; Adults; reservations required. A leisurely hike along the C&O Canal towpath to enjoy all that spring has to offer: wildflower, birds, butterflies, and warmer weather. Bring binoculars and money for lunch at a restaurant. Black Hill Regional Park is at 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD.

Saturday, March 24

WABC Monthly Meeting at the Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, MD

10:00 am. Program free and open to the public. Note the atypical day, time, and location. Marc Epstein, an entomologist with the National Museum of Natural History, will be speaking on the topic "Saddlebacks, Pusses, and Jelly Caterpillars: biology, behavior and evolution of limacodid caterpillars and their relatives."
Perhaps best known by the unfortunate name "slug caterpillars," these larval jewels offer an intriguing view of evolution in Lepidoptera. After an overview of existing knowledge of this group of approximately 1500 species, Marc will show videos of caterpillar locomotion, silk use, defenses, and growth.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS:
* Update on gypsy moth control issues (Commonly used pesticides for gypsy moth control also eradicate butterfly caterpillars.)
* Opportunities to volunteer in local butterfly research projects
* Spring/summer field trip schedule

After the meeting, you may want to tour the lovely Woodend grounds, including a jaunt down to the pond to see amphibian egg masses, and visit the very excellent ANS book and gift shop. If you want to make a day of it, Rock Creek Park is adjacent to the Woodend grounds. ANS is located at 8940 Jones Mill Road in Chevy Chase, MD.
DIRECTIONS TO WOODEND FROM WASHINGTON BELTWAY: Exit 33 (Connecticut Ave.) Drive south toward Washington. Take second left onto Manor Road. At dead-end, turn right onto Jones BRIDGE Road. Follow to end and take the left fork onto Jones MILL Road. Woodend is about one-third mile on the left. Drive slowly, as the turn comes up suddenly. Take the long drive to top of the hill. Park and walk into the mansion.

Saturday, March 31

Lahr Symposium—Native Plants: A Growing Partnership with Nature, at the U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

8:00 am - 5:00 pm.   $65; $52 for FONA members. Fee includes the program, refreshments, and a box lunch. The 15th annual Lahr Symposium on native plants features lectures on alternatives to turf, taking design cues from nature, and Native American land use. In addition, concurrent sessions will address native plant pollinators, rain gardens, and woodland restoration at the National Cathedral. Participants may shop early at the Native Plant Sale. Profits fund an intern for Fern Valley.  The registration deadline is March 23. Please do not register until you have received a brochure. The Arboretum is located at 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC. The Symposium will take place in the Administration Building Auditorium; the Native Plant Sale takes place at the Administration Building, Willow Terrace.

Thursday, April 5

Entomological Society of Washington meeting, "Communication and Cooperation in Group-Living Insects," Washington, DC

7:00 pm  Free; open to the public. Lecture by Rex Cocroft from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Held in the Cathy Kerby Meeting Room (CE-340) in the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, 10th and Constitution Ave NW. Parking is usually available along Constitution Avenue near the museum. Parking lots are also available on nearby commercial streets.

Wednesday, April 11

Just for Teachers: Create a Schoolyard Habitat Garden for Monarch Butterflies, Boyds, MD

9:30 am - noon.  Fee: $5.00; reservations required. Take home plants, resources, and seeds to start your garden. Held at the Black Hill Visitor Center in Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Dr., Boyds, MD.

Friday, April 20

Prince William Forest Park, a Friday escape with the Audubon Naturalist Society, Prince William, VA

10:00 am - 4:30 pm.  ANS members: $24; Nonmembers: $34. Prince William Forest Park preserves more than 18,000 acres of Virginia Piedmont forest habitat just 30 miles south of Washington. When set aside in 1993, this land had been cleared and farmed for generations, and soil fertility was terribly depleted. We'll see how the land has recovered over almost 70 years of protection. We'll see many spring wildflowers and watch for migrant songbirds and raptors. We could also find butterflies, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. This trip is an ideal adjunt to the Dismal Swamp weekend (listed below).

Friday, April 20

"West Nile Virus & Tick-Borne Disease Testing," at the University of Maryland's Baltimore County Campus, Baltimore, MD

8:00 pm.  Free; public welcome. Speaker: Alexandra Spring of the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion & Preventative Medicine. Alexandra's talk will include field surveillance and lab testing. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Harold Harlen at 410-923-0173. Held in Room 004 of the Biological Sciences Building, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD. For directions, see the UMBC map.

Saturday, April 21

Spring Butterflies of Prince William County, WABC Field Trip

10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Free; WABC members & guests only; reservations required. Note the new field trip location. WABC's first field trip of 2001, led by WABC member & butterfly expert Dick Smith. Explore Northern Virginia's prime Elfin country. This hilly, sandy, acidic countryside with stands of pines, mountain laurels and various vacciniums holds possibilities for Henry's Elfin, Brown Elfin, and Pine Elfin. Also possible are Falcate Orangetip, Anglewings, early Duskywings, and other species. As a botanical extra, one site has, among many other wildflowers, unusually large patches of the fragrant spring wildflower Trailing Arbutus. Bring lunch. Also bring field guides, binoculars, and magnifying glasses if you have them. Cameras welcome.

Saturday, April 21 - Sunday, April 22

Natural Heritage Weekend: Bicycling Dismal Swamp, a full weekend field trip with the Audubon Naturalist Society, Suffolk, VA

ANS members: $45; Nonmembers: $63. Led by Naturalist Mark Garland. The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, located in extreme southeastern Virginia, is laced with many miles of quiet back roads that are closed to motor vehicles. It's an ideal place to explore natural history by bicycle. We'll stop often to look for wildlife and wildflowers. The Swamp's butterfly and songbird faunas are especially rich, and we'll spend a good bit of time searching for a wide variety of each. Additionally, we can expect to see an assortment of southern plants, turtles, and perhaps frogs, snakes, or mammals. Sturdy bicycles are recommended, as some roads are rough, although we'll ride only 15 - 20 miles per day. Overnight options include campground and motels in the Suffolk, Virginia area; details will be sent with the foray confirmation notice. Friday travel is recommended, as activities begin at the Swamp on Saturday morning.

Saturday, April 21

Spring Butterflies, at ANS's Webb Sanctuary, Clifton, VA

1:00 - 2:30 pm.  Free family program. Birds aren't the only things aloft in spring! We'll look for spring-flying butterflies such as Falcate Orange-tips, Zebra Swallowtails, Mourning Cloaks, and Harvesters.

Monday, April 23

Butterfly Gardening, A Backyard Haven, in Columbia, MD

7:00 pm  Special WABC meeting for Marylanders! (The meeting in N.VA will also still be held.) Because of the difficulty many of our Maryland members encounter trying to reach Northern Virginia during rush hour on weeknights, several WABC members have planned this meeting so MD members can take advantage of the educational opportunities the meetings offer. For this first Howard County meeting, Pat Durkin will be speaking about butterfly gardening. Establishing a butterfly haven can be rewarding and enlightening! Come and hear Pat's rendition of butterfly gardening at its best and gain insight into the plight of Maryland's official butterfly, the Baltimore Checkerspot. The meeting will be held in the Howard County Recreation & Parks Building, 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD, 21046.
Directions from Wash. Beltway: Take 495 to 95 north. Exit at Rt. 32 west. Take the first exit, Brokenland Pkwy and follow to the right. Go to the first light and turn right onto Snowden River Pkwy. Go 3 lights and turn right onto Oakland Mills Rd. Go 0.3 miles and turn right into Howard County Recreation & Parks.
Directions from Baltimore: From the eastern side of Baltimore take 695 to 95 south and exit at Rt. 32 west and then follow above directions.
From the western side of Baltimore: Take 695 to Rt. 70 west and exit at Rt. 29 south. Exit at Brokenland Pkwy and follow to the right. At the 4th light turn left onto Snowden River Pkwy. Go 3 lights and turn right onto Oakland Mills Rd. Go 0.3 miles and turn right into Howard County Recreation & Parks.

Thursday, April 26

WABC Monthly Meeting at Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA

7:30 pm. Program free and open to the public. Topic rescheduled from February; there shouldn't be snow this time! Environmental consultant Dex Hinckley will be speaking on "Butterfly Ecosystems and Gardens." It's easy to establish plant communities in a garden to attract butterflies. Dex will discuss how to provide the food, water, warmth, and shelter that they need, and answer your questions.
Directions from Washington Beltway (495), VA exit 8/Route 50: Drive north on Route 50 about 5 miles. Turn right onto Carlin Springs Road. The nature center is about 1/3 mile on the left behind a doctor's office building; the sign and driveway are just beyond the building (just before the building for those coming from Columbia Pike). Drive behind the building and down the wooded driveway. Map 16-G-8 on ADC No. Va. map.

Friday, April 27

Earth Week: Planting Wildflowers in the Meadow, at Black Hill Regional Park, Boyds, MD

10:00 am - 11:00 am. Free; all ages (under 12 with Adult); reservations required. Take home some butterfly plants as your Thank You gift. Held at Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Dr., Boyds, MD.

Saturday, April 28

Patapsco Valley State Park Spring Butterflies and Wildflowers, at Patapsco Valley State Park, Daniels Area, Ellicott City, MD

9:00 am; 1/2 day. Free; open to general public. Sponsored by Howard County Bird Club (Chapter of MOS). Leaders are Dick Smith (butterflies) and Bob Solem (botany). The area is one of the best in the county for early spring butterflies and wildflowers, and the walk will follow an unpaved road along the river to look for them (expect path to be muddy). Butterflies to look for include the Appalachian Azure (this is the site of the easternmost known colony in MD), Spring Azures, Duskywings, Falcate Orangetips, and numerous small spring-brood Tiger and Spicebush Swallowtails. Wildflowers include Dutchman’s Breeches and Saxifrage.
Directions: Take Rte. 29 north in Howard County to its very end at Rte. 99 (just north of its crossing over Rte. 70). Proceed east on Rte. 99 for 2/3 mile and turn left onto Old Frederick Rd. Continue north on Old Frederick Rd. for 2/3 mile and turn left onto Daniels Rd. Proceed for 1 mile downhill on Daniels Rd. and park in the lot on the left just before turning to follow the river (labeled "Camel’s Den" lot on sign). We will meet there. No facilities are available at the area.

Saturday, April 28

Wildlife Gardening Workshop at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Chantilly, VA

11:00 am - 2:00 pm. $2.00; adults; reservations required. Create a natural wildlife sanctuary in your yard using native plants that provide food for birds and butterflies. Get help with planning your own garden plot, learn about some easy-care plants, then assist with the planting of a wildlife garden at the Walney Visitor Center. Bring garden gloves. Ellanor C. Lawrence Park is located at 5040 Walney Road in Chantilly, VA.

Sunday, April 29

Spring Butterflies of Soldiers Delight Serpentine Barrens, Owings Mills, MD

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Free; open to general public. Sponsored by Soldiers Delight Visitors’ Center. Led by Dick Smith. Meet at Soldiers Delight Visitors’ Center, Deer Park Rd., Owings Mills, MD. The Soldiers Delight Serpentine Barrens in western Baltimore County, Maryland, is the largest local area for viewing prairie-like grassland conditions and the many uncommon butterfly species associated with this unique habitat. The afternoon’s activity will begin with a short slide presentation on the butterflies of the barrens. For the hike to follow, close-focus binoculars are recommended, although catch-and-release examination will be included. On a hike that will cover about 1-1/2 miles, we will attempt to encounter as many spring butterflies as the barrens has to offer in late April. The abundant field chickweed, rock cress, sandwort, blue-eyed grass, and moss phlox that flower about the barrens at this time should draw in many spring-form Tiger and Spicebush Swallowtails, Duskywing Skippers, and the rare, but locally frequent, Cobweb Skipper. Also, Falcate Orangetips and Pine Elfins should be around.
Directions to the Soldiers Delight Visitors’ Center are as follows: from the Baltimore Beltway (I-695), take I-795 north to Franklin Boulevard west (Exit 7b). Bear right onto Church Lane, then take a left onto Berryman’s Lane and another left onto Deer Park Road. Follow Deer Park Road south about 2 miles to the Visitor Center, on your right.

Saturday, May 5

Spring Butterflies of Thompson Wildlife Management Area, an Adult Foray of the Audubon Naturalist Society, Front Royal, VA

Full day; we'll meet at Woodend and carpool to Thompson; details TBD. ANS members: $24; Nonmembers: $34. The G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area near Linden, Virginia, is one of the richest botanical areas in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Known for its dazzling display of large-flowered trillium and other spring wildflowers, it also supports a variety of butterflies, including several mountain species we seldom encounter in the Washington area. Under the guidance of butterfly expert Dick Smith, we’ll spend this field day looking for the West Virginia White, the Appalachian Azure, and the Pipevine Swallowtail, as well as the more familiar Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak, Red Admiral, and Dreamy and Juvenal’s Duskywings, among others. Both mountain ridge and valley lakeside habitats will be investigated. Although butterflies will be our focus, we’re sure to stop and notice the colorful flowers at our feet and the noisy spring migrants overhead.

Saturday, May 12

Butterfly Flutter By, at Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton, MD

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Free; all ages; no reservations required. Take a leisurely hike looking for eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies. Brookside Nature Center is in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD.

Saturday, May 12

Gardening for Galapagos, a garden tour in Northern Virginia

$20 per ticket. Tickets limited; must be purchased in advance. This guided bus tour will visit 6 homes in Northern Virginia whose gardens exhibit the beauty and grace of plants native to the East coast. Money raised will go directly to the Botany Department of the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos Islands.

Saturday, May 12 through Sunday, September 23

Wings of Fancy live butterfly show at Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

10:00 am - 4:00 pm daily. $3 per person over 2 years old. Held in the south conservatory, this annual indoor butterfly house is a great way to get a close look at all life stages of both local and exotic butterfly species. Brookside is also looking for volunteers to help with the show; call Ellen Hartranft at 301-962-1429.

Saturday, May 19

The Caterpillar Connection at Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA

9:00 am - noon. $5.00; adults; reservations required. Nate Erwin, manager of Smithsonian's Insect Zoo (and WABC member) will lead a trail walk to look for caterpillars and butterflies in the park. Then we'll get close up and personal with our findings. Canceled if rain. Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, VA.

Saturday, May 19

Butterflies/Flutterbys, a family program sponsored by the Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, MD

10:00 am - 11:30 am. Ages 3-6 with Adult; $8.00 per child. Flutter by, sip nectar, and munch leaves are a few of the things that butterflies do. We'll keep our eyes open for these beautiful flying insects and their babies, the caterpillars, while we wander the meadows and fields at Meadowside Nature Center. For more info, call 301-652-9188.

Saturday, May 19

Shenandoah Birds, Blooms, and Butterflies, part of the Natural Heritage Series at the Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, MD

8:30 am - 4:00 pm. ANS members: $24; Nonmembers: $34. Leader: Mark Garland. Explore the springtime vitality of Shenandoah National Park with this series of short strolls along the trails of the Park's northern section. We will visit several sites in search of songbirds, wildflowers, butterflies, and other wildlife. Destinations include the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, Gravelly Springs Gap, and Hogback Mountains. We are likely to see Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Hooded Warbler, yellow lady-slipper orchid, West Virginia white butterflies, and much more.

Monday, May 21

Butterfly Gardening, Manassas, VA

7:30 pm. Alonso Abugattas will be presenting a talk on butterfly gardening to the Prince William Wildflower Society. The meeting will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church, the corner of Sudley Rd./Route 234 and Plantation Lane in Manassas, VA.

Friday, May 25

Trip to Jay McRobert's Butterfly Farm

11:00 am. WABC members are invited to join a reporter and photographer from the Washington Times at Jay McRobert's butterfly farm. The newspaper will be doing a feature article on our Club, information on butterfly gardening, butterfly resources in the area, the Baltimore Checkerspot project, the Pepco butterfly enhancement project, etc.

Please note that this is not the same as the June field trip to Jay's "Butterflies on the Potomac." This trip will be shorter and has been scheduled partly as an opportunity for the reporter and a photographer to join us on a club field trip, so good attendance is important. Friday is a work day for many of us — but what better reason to use some leave than to see butterflies in the wild and to learn how Jay raises them?

Saturday, May 26

Make It and Take It: Watercolor Butterflies, at Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton, MD

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, ongoing. Free; all ages; no reservations required. A colorful, easy-to-make butterfly. Brookside Nature Center is in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD.

Saturday, May 26

Backyard Wildlife Gardening, at Riverbend Visitor Center, Great Falls, VA

9:30 am - 11:30 am. $10; reservations required. Learn to attract local birds and other desirable wildlife to your backyard with plants and shrubs. Planting native varieties is encouraged. Take home a plant to begin creating your habitat. Riverbend is at 8700 Potomac Hills Street in Great Falls, VA.

Tuesday, May 29

Wee Hikers: Flower Power, at the ANS Woodend Sanctuary, Chevy Chase, MD

10:30 am. $3; reservations required. Part of a series of programs designed for babies and toddlers under 3 years old (and their grown-ups). Walks last 45 minutes to one hour. This walk will visit the buds and blooms of Woodend's butterfly gardens.

Wednesday, May 30

Wings of Fancy at Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton, MD

9:30 am - 10:45 am. $4/child; $3/adult; ages 3-5 with adult; reservations required. Take a naturalist-guided tour of the live butterfly show. Story and craft follow the tour. Prices include admission fee. Brookside Nature Center is in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD.

Sunday, June 3

Dedication of the Barbara Rust Gillies Pollinator Garden, Leesburg, VA

2:O0 pm. Join the Audubon Naturalist Society as they dedicate the butterfly/pollinator garden at their newest sanctuary, The Rust Sanctuary in Leesburg.

Wednesday, June 6

Incredible Insects, Wheaton, MD

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm. Fee: $1.00. Ages 3-5 with Adult. After an insect story and craft, search the meadow for fliers, hoppers, and crawlers. Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, which is located at 1400 Glenallan Ave. in Wheaton, Maryland. Registration required.

Friday, June 8

Early Morning Hike, Rockville, MD

8:30 am - 11:30 am. Free. Bring binoculars and your wildflower field guide so we can explore the flowers, birds, and butterflies of this area. Meet at Hughes Hollow. Offered by Meadowside Nature Center of Rock Creek Regional Park, which is located at 5100 Meadowside Lane in Rockville, Maryland. Registration required.

Saturday, June 9

Backyard Butterflies, SW D.C.

10:00 am - noon. Adults: $15; Children (7 and up with adult): $10. A Smithsonian Associates Family Event. Rick Mikula, author of The Family Butterfly Book, engages the audience in learning about the life of butterflies as he dispels myths about them. Explaining habits and character traits of regional butterflies, Mikula also provides practical and inexpensive project ideas for attracting butterflies to backyard gardens and cultivating butterfly-friendly environments. Through interactive games, he demonstrates human and environmental effects on butterfly populations. Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center, Room 3111; 1100 Jefferson Drive, S.W.

Saturday, June 9

Attracting Butterflies, Sterling, VA

9:30 am - 10:30 am. Free; reservations required. Dex Hinkley will present a slide presentation on butterflies, their habitats, and butterfly gardens. Learn about these insects, what they eat, where they live, and see examples of simple to elegant butterfly gardens. Claude Moore Park is at 21544 Cascades Parkway in Sterling, VA. Call 703-444-1275 to make reservations.
Directions to Claude Moore Park from 495 to exit Route 7 West to Sterling, VA: Vestal's Gap Road Entrance. From Route 7 West take the Cascades Parkway South exit. Go straight through two traffic lights. One tenth of a mile past the second light, turn left into the Park. The signs will say "Lanesville Heritage Area" and "Claude Moore Park."

Thursday, June 14

Nature Discovery: Our Six-Legged Friends, Mt. Rainier, MD

1:00-2:00 pm. Free; Ages 3-5; reservations required. Children will learn about the wonderful world of insects, watch a puppet show, and make a craft. Held at the Mt. Rainier Nature/Recreation Center at 4701 31st Place, Mt. Rainier, MD.

Saturday, June 16

Family Tea: Creepy Crawly Creatures, Alexandria, VA

11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Fee: $18; reservations required. Adult must accompany child. Held at the Manor House in Green Spring Gardens Park. Make an observation journal of your own, decorate it with bug stickers, then tour the gardens with a magnifying glass to find and identify the many common and unusual bugs that make Green Spring their home. We'll look for caterpillars and butterflies, dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers and more, then play some bug games before we go indoors to enjoy a kid-friendly luncheon tea.
Green Spring Gardens Park is located at 4603 Green Spring Road in Alexandria.

Saturday, June 16

WABC Field Trip: Rearing Baltimore Checkerspots and Other Butterflies, Poolesville, MD

10:00 am. NOTE: Rescheduled due to rain. Click here for new date.

Saturday, June 16

Butterflies at Banshee, Loudoun County, VA

11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Held at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve near Leesburg, VA. Join the Friends of Banshee Reeks and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for regular Butterfly Walks at Banshee Reeks nature preserve. We will investigate Banshee's natural environs and identify all of the different butterflies we can find. If you own binoculars, please bring them.

Tuesday, June 19

Flying Colors, Rockville, MD

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm. Free; registration required. Ages 3-6 with Adult. What are the most beautiful and amazing insects that come from caterpillars? Learn how you can encourage butterflies to visit your garden. Held at Meadowside Nature Center in Rock Creek Regional Park, which is located at 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, Maryland.

Wednesday, June 20 and Sunday, June 24

Introduction to Butterfly Studies, Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, MD

Wednesday: 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Sunday: full-day field trip. ANS members: $30; Nonmembers: $42. Field identification and study of butterflies has become one of the most popular nature study activities in our region. Learn about the biology, natural history, and identification of our region's butterflies in this introductory course. We'll discuss the many ways to enjoy butterflies without collecting them, including butterfly gardening, caterpillar rearing, net/release techniques, photography, and research projects. Our field trip visits areas in Montgomery County, MD, where we hope to find a good variety of butterfly families and species.

Thursday, June 21

Flying Colors, Rockville, MD

9:30 am - 10:30 am. Free; registration required. Ages 3-6 with Adult. What are the most beautiful and amazing insects that come from caterpillars? Learn how you can encourage butterflies to visit your garden. Held at Meadowside Nature Center in Rock Creek Regional Park, which is located at 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, Maryland.

Friday, June 22

Little Bennett Park, Montgomery County, MD

8:00 am - 2:30 pm. ANS members: $24; Nonmembers: $34. A Friday escape offered by the Audubon Naturalist Society. Little Bennett Park protects a rich mix of habitats near the northern tip of Montgomery County, Maryland. We'll walk several of the park trails and explore dry hillside forest, moist bottomland forest, meadows, springs, and the wetlands lining Little Bennett Creek. We'll search for birds, salamanders, butterflies, wildflowers, and whatever other natural features we can find.

Friday, June 22

Butterfly Hot-Spots Tour, Boyds, MD

9:30 am - 1:30 pm. Fee: $7.00. Travel by van to a few of the county's best natural habitats for butterflies, then take short, easy walks to observe June wildflowers and their butterfly visitors. Bring binoculars and a bag lunch. Offered by Black Hill Regional Park, which is located at 20926 Lake Ridge Drive in Boyds, Maryland. Registration required; call 301-916-0220.

Saturday, June 23

WABC Field Trip: Rearing Baltimore Checkerspots and Other Butterflies, Poolesville, MD

10:00 am. NOTE: Rescheduled from June 16. WABC members and guests. Jay McRoberts will lead a tour of his butterfly flight houses, sprawling butterfly garden, and Pepco's two-year-old Butterfly Enhancement Project on the power line right-of-way through his farm. Dr. Wayne Wehling, a USDA entomologist, will lead a survey of butterflies on the Enhancement Project. The emphasis of the day will be on Baltimore Checkerspots, the Maryland State butterfly, which should be in the midst of its three-week flying season at that time. Baltimores have been dwindling at known sites around the state in recent years. Jay is growing Baltimore stock for various efforts around the state to establish new populations, including as one aspect of a cooperative project with Pepco to establish prime butterfly habitat on the right-of-way. This is one trip you shouldn't miss -- so much to see, whether you are beginner or expert. Gather for lunch afterwards at Staub's in Poolesville. Or bring a picnic for under the big trees in Jay's front yard.

Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24

Wild for Wildlife Days, Northern Virginia 4-H Center, Front Royal, VA

Saturday, all day, first classes at 8:00 am; Sunday, 6:00 am - 11:45 am. Adults: $15; Families: $40; Children 7 - 12 years: $8; 6 and under free. Presented by the Virginia Department of Games and Inland Fisheries. This two-day event is open to nature lovers of all ages. WABC member Barbara Farron will be presenting the workshop on Butterflies (Sat., 11 am - 11:45 am and 1 pm - 1:45 pm). Many other workshops available, including an Intro to Backyard Habitats, Gardening for Wildlife, and Spiders and Insects. See live animals and take field trips to experience wildlife management in action. Workshops will be taught by some of the foremost authorities in their fields. Experts and exhibitors will be on hand to answer all your wildlife-related questions.

Saturday, June 23

Incredible Insects, Wheaton Regional Park, Wheaton, MD

11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Free. Ages 3 through adult. We'll beat the bushes and sweep fields to see what's hopping, crawling, and flying. Rain cancels. Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, which is located at 1400 Glenallan Ave. in Wheaton, Maryland. No registration required.

Saturday, June 23

Butterflies: Nature's Festival of Colors, Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, North Tract, Laurel, MD

8:30 am - 11:00 am. Free; reservations required. Ages 8 and up with an adult. Discover the role that butterflies play in the ecosystem and learn to identify several. Field guide and water recommended. The North Tract of Patuxent Research Refuge is located on Rt. 198 between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Rt. 32 in Laurel, MD.

Sunday, June 24

Butterflies of the Eastern Shore, offered by the Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, MD

Full-day field trip. ANS members: $24; Nonmembers: $36. In early summer, the fields, freshwater and brackish marshes, and riverine habitats of the Eastern Shore support populations of butterflies rarely found in Maryland's piedmont and mountain provinces. On this field day with butterfly expert and WABC member Dick Smith, we'll begin our explorations near Cambridge, then work our way back toward the Bay Bridge, stopping at several points along the way. Butterflies we might see include Great Purple Hairstreak, Striped Hairstreak, Bronze Copper, and a variety of skippers, including Dion's, Delaware, Aaron's, and Broadwinged.

Sunday, June 24

Bayscapes And Butterflies, National Wildlife Visitor Center, Laurel, MD

10:30 am - 11:30 am. Free; registration required. Ages 8 and up with adult. Discover how to attract butterflies and identify some common to Maryland. The National Wildlife Visitor Center is located on Powder Mill Road between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Route 197 in Laurel, MD.

Wednesday, June 27

Landscaping for Wildlife, Woodbridge, VA

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm. Free; registration requested. Regina Yurkonis, Owner, Perennium Wildlife Landscaping, will discuss design elements that attract wildlife and native plants. Held at Chinn Park Library, 13083 Chinn Park Dr., Woodbridge. For info/reservations, call 703-792-4800 or visit the Prince William County Natural Resources Page.

Thursdays, June 28 - August 18

Butterflies, Wheaton, MD

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Fee: $209. A ten-week, certified course on the biology, behavior, and plant relationships of butterflies and their caterpillars. Evening sessions at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. Field trips to various locations on weekends. Sponsored by USDA Graduate School and Audubon Naturalist Society. Instructor: Denise Gibbs.

Saturday, June 30

Bugs, National Wildlife Visitor Center, Laurel, MD

9:00 am - 10:00 am and 10:30 am - 11:30 am. Free; registration required. Ages 5-7. Explore the different ways insects are adapted to their environment. The National Wildlife Visitor Center is located on Powder Mill Road between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Route 197 in Laurel, MD.

The 27th annual July 4th Butterfly Counts, 2001, modeled after the Christmas Bird Count, begin at the end of June and continue through early August. Below are area counts with dates finalized. There is a $3 fee per person per count to help defray costs. For a list of butterfly counts nationwide, visit the NABA site.

Saturday, June 23

Western Montgomery County, MD

Note: fee for this count listed as $4. Oldest count in the area; very well attended. Two meeting sites: (1) McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area near Poolesville. Directions: left off River Road extended on to Hughes Hollow Rd. Follow to parking lot. (2) Black Hill Regional Park near Boyds. Directions: Route 270 West, Exit 18 toward Boyds. Follow signs to park. Meet at the Visitor Center. Leaders: Denise Gibbs, monarch301@starpower.net, and Neal Fitzpatrick.

Wednesday, July 4

Blue Ridge Mountains, VA

Contact: Kate McConnell, twnfprog@aol.com, of the Wintergreen Nature Foundation, 804-325-7473.

Saturday, July 7

Frederick County, MD

Count in Frederick Co., MD, sponsored by the Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary (ACAS). Contact David Smith, lacsmith@erols.com

Saturday, July 7

Bath County, VA

Beautiful mountain country in southwest Virginia. Male and female Diana Fritillaries spotted last year! Leader: Eric Raun (has suggestion list of places to stay). raueri@juno.com

Saturday, July 7

Woodbridge, VA

9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Occoquan Bay NWR. Leader: Jim Waggener.

Sunday, July 8

Shenandoah National Park, VA

Contact: Mara Meisel, Shenandoah National Park, 3655 US Hwy 211 E, Luray, VA 22835. Phone: 540-999-3282.

Saturday, July 14

Fairfax County, VA

10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Annual count at Riverbend Park. Leader: Alonso Abugattas. Phone: 703-228-6535. AlonsoLucy@aol.com

Saturday, July 14

Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Suffolk, VA

Meet at 8:00 am at the Washington Ditch entrance. Leader: Donald Schwab, dschwab@dgif.state.va.us

Saturday, July 14

West Anne Arundel County, MD

Contact: Clarence Sparks, 1807 Cruet Lane, Severn, MD 21144-1636. E-mail: clarence.sparks@gte.net

Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15

Tucker County, WV and Garrett County, MD

A brand-new count which is a two-day event. Beautiful mountain country in western Maryland and West Virginia's beautiful up-country; unusual butterflies. Saturday: Western Garrett County, MD (to include Swallow Falls State Park, Mt Nebo WMA, and Cranesville Swamp). Sunday in nearby Tucker County, WV: Canaan Valley (to include Blackwater Falls State Park and Canaan Valley NWR). Contact leader: Denise Gibbs (has suggestion list of places to stay). monarch301@starpower.net

Sunday, July 15

Prince George's County, MD

9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Contact: Lisa Bierer-Garrett. Phone: 301-297-4575 (day). E-mail: Froglipp@Chesapeake.net

Saturday, July 21

Howard County, MD

Second year for this count. Orientation meeting on Thursday, July 19, starting at 7:00 pm at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center, 11975 Homewood RD, Ellicott City, MD. We will count the same 5 areas as last year and possibly add one or two sites to the count depending on the number of counters. Please let us know if you plan to participate in this year's count. Leaders: Rondalyn Reeser, ronreeser@home.com, and Suzanne Klick, 301-596-9413, sk85@umail.umd.edu

Sunday, July 22

Warrenton, VA

8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Join Environmental Studies at Airlie for their sixth annual butterfly count, centered at the Roger Tory Peterson Butterfly Garden at Airlie, Warrenton, VA. Participants will be teamed up and sent into the field to count butterfly species in a given area. No experience is necessary, come out and have fun while contributing to butterfly conservation. For more information or to register and receive directions, contact Environmental Studies at 540-341-3239 or e-mail: es@iapm.org

Sunday, July 29

Washington, D.C.

8:30 am - 2:00 pm. Fifth year counting in the District of Columbia. Surprising numbers of species and habitats. Leader: Pat Durkin, plusultra@aol.com

Sunday, July 29

Delmarva Tip, VA

New Contacts for 2001: Lynn Davidson and Hal Wierenga, 538 Broadwater Rd, Arnold, MD 21012-1430. Rmail: hal.lynn@erols.com

Saturday, August 4

Waterford, VA

From 9:00 a.m. on. Join the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy on its fifth annual butterfly count, centered in the Waterford area. No experience is necessary; novices will be teamed with experienced leaders in each segment of the count. Come out and have fun while contributing to butterfly conservation. The Conservancy is also interested in visiting butterfly gardens within the area which stretches from White's Ferry in the east and the Appalachian Trail in the west, and from Point of Rocks south to Lincoln. For more information or to register and receive directions, contact Joe Coleman: jandkcoleman@erols.com

Sunday, July 1

Butterflies: Nature's Festival of Colors, Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, North Tract, Laurel, MD

8:30 am - 11:00 am. Free; reservations required. Ages 8 and up with an adult. Discover the role that butterflies play in the ecosystem and learn to identify several common to Maryland. Field guide and water recommended. The North Tract of the Patuxent Research Refuge is located on Rt. 198 between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Route 32 in Laurel, MD. For more info, call 301-497-5887 or visit http://patuxent.fws.gov/

Thursday, July 5 and Saturday, July 7

Advanced Butterfly Studies, Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, MD

Thursday: 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm; Saturday: full-day field trip. ANS members: $30; Nonmembers: $42. Led by Dick Smith. The second foray in our butterfly series is designed to reinforce lessons of the introductory class and pay special attention to difficult species: in particular, the skippers and the hairstreaks. We'll also look at satyrs and other less-noticed yet beautiful day-flying lepidoptera as we examine the diversity and distribution of butterflies in our region. Our field trip to nearby natural areas, including Little Bennett Park and/or Black Hill Park in upper Montgomery County, will offer opportunities to see some confusing and hard-to-identify species, as well as more common ones.
Register online at www.audubonnaturalist.org/eereg.htm

Tuesday, July 10

Our Neighborhood Butterflies, Rust Sanctuary, Leesburg, VA

7:30 pm. Free. Sponsored by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. Alonso Abugattas, Naturalist at Long Branch Nature Center and compiler of the Fairfax County butterfly count, will present an entertaining look at the wonderful world of butterflies and their relatives. Held at the Audubon Naturalist Society's Rust Sanctuary, 802 Children's Center Road, Leesburg. For more info, contact Joe Coleman, jandkcoleman@erols.com

Tuesday, July 10

Puppet Show: Insects, Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda, MD

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm. Free; all ages, no reservations required. Six legs, 3 body parts, an exoskeleton: I'm an insect. Meet lots of different insects and their relatives. Locust Grove Nature Center is located in Cabin John Regional Park at 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD. 301-299-1990.

Friday, July 13

Early Morning Hike, Rockville, MD

8:30 am - 11:30 am. Free; reservations required. Explore the birds, butterflies, and wildflowers of this 175-acre wildlife sanctuary along the Potomac River. Offered by Meadowside Nature Center in Rock Creek Regional Park; meet at McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area. Call Meadowside at 301-924-4141 for more information/directions.

Saturday, July 14 through Sunday, August 19

Big Bugs, Springfield Mall, Springfield, VA

Monday-Thursday from 11:00 am - 8:00 pm; Friday-Saturday 11:00 am - 9:00 pm; Sunday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Admission is $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for children under 12. "BIG BUGS" invade Springfield Mall! Lower Level next to Macy’s. Come visit Springfield Mall's world of GIANT, museum-quality robotic insects. For more info, visit the mall website.

Sunday, July 15

Who's in Your Backyard? Green Spring Gardens Park, Alexandria, VA

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Fee: $5.00. Stewardship of our local flora and fauna is something we should all be concerned about. This afternoon, we will offer a double session on the subject of natives. The first lecture will introduce you to the two-, four-, and six-legged creatures that crawl, fly, and hop in our gardens. The second session (an outdoor tour), presented by Green Spring's curatorial horticulturist Brenda Skarphol, will highlight tough, garden-worthy native plants that should be in your backyard. Green Spring Gardens Park is located at 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. Call 703-642-5173, TTY 703-324-3988, for info/registration.

Friday, July 20

Butterfly Gardens Van Tour, Boyds, MD

9:30 am - 1:30 pm. Fee: $7. Travel by van to a few of the county's best public and private butterfly gardens to observe July's wild and cultivated flowers and their butterfly visitors. Bring binoculars and a bag lunch. Offered by Black Hill Visitor Center in Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD. 301-916-0220.

Saturday, July 21

Butterflies, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Chantilly, VA

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm. Free; reservations required. Ages 7 and up. Held in Walney Visitor Center. Many species of butterflies are in our area for just a short time. Learn about the butterfly's life cycle and special adaptations. Then take a hike in our meadow to see butterflies up close. Ellanor C. Lawrence Park is located at 5040 Walney Road in Chantilly, VA. Call 703-631-0013 to make reservations.

Saturday, July 21

Butterfly Search, Patuxent River Park, Upper Marlboro, MD

10:00 am - 12:00 noon. Fee: $3. Learn about the life of butterflies on this guided tour. Patuxent River Park is located at 16000 Croom Airport Road, Upper Marlboro, MD. Call 301-627-6074; TTY 301-699-2544.

Saturday, July 21

Butterflies: Nature's Festival of Colors, Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, North Tract, Laurel, MD

8:30 am - 11:00 am. Free; reservations required. Ages 8 and up with an adult. Discover the role that butterflies play in the ecosystem and learn to identify several common to Maryland. Field guide and water recommended. The North Tract of Patuxent Research Refuge is located on Rt. 198 between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Rt. 32 in Laurel, MD. For more info, call 301-497-5887 or visit http://patuxent.fws.gov/

Saturday, July 21

Butterflies at Banshee, Loudoun County, VA

11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Join Bob Lyon and Phil Daley of the Friends of Banshee Reeks and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for their regular monthly Butterfly Walk. They will investigate Banshee's natural environs and identify all of the different butterflies they can find. If you own binoculars please bring them. Questions - contact Banshee Reeks at 703-669-0316 or visit the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy's web site.

Monday, July 23

Nature Buddies—Bugs, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA

9:30 am - 11:00 am. $5; reservations required. Age: 4 years. Praying mantids, dragonflies, leaf hoppers, butterflies—insects are buzzing everywhere. Become an entomologist and join an insect safari. Sponsored by Friends of Huntley Meadows Park. Huntley Meadows is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd. in Alexandria, VA. Call 703-768-2525 to make reservations.

Tuesday, July 24

Young Explorers Toddlers' Time: Wings and Things!  Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda, MD

10:30 am - 11:15 am and 11:30 am - 12:15 pm. Free. Ages 1-2 years, walkers with adult. The series you love in a different location. Adventure Conservation Park in Potomac is where we'll explore the fluttery world of insects. Call Locust Grove at 301-299-1990 for directions to Adventure Conservation Park.

Friday, July 27

Early Morning Hike, Rockville, MD

9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Fee: $5. Explore the habitats and views on Roosevelt Island in the middle of the Potomac River as we search for birds and butterflies. Transportation provided. Meadowside Nature Center is in Rock Creek Regional Park, which is located at 5100 Meadowside Lane in Rockville, Maryland. Registration required; call 301-924-4141 for more information/reservations.

Friday, July 27

Butterfly Garden Walk, Clearwater Nature Center, Clinton, MD

10:00 am - 11:00 am. Clearwater Nature Center is located at 11000 Thrift Road in Clinton, MD. Call 301-297-4575; TTY 301-699-2544 for more information.

Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29

Buglovers' Paradise, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA

10:00 am - noon both days. Free. The park is buzzing with insect activity—grasshoppers, butterflies, ladybugs and leaf hoppers. Stop by our classroom for videos, a craft and inside and outside activities. Huntley is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd. in Alexandria, VA.

Sunday, July 29

Bayscapes And Butterflies, National Wildlife Visitor Center, Laurel, MD

10:30 am - 11:30 am. Free; registration required. Ages 8 and up with adult. Discover how to attract butterflies and identify some common to Maryland. The National Wildlife Visitor Center is located on Powder Mill Rd. between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Route 197 in Laurel, MD. For info/reservations, call 301-497-5887 or visit http://patuxent.fws.gov/

Sunday, July 29

Nature Tots: Flutter Friends, National Wildlife Visitor Center, Laurel, MD

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, and 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Free; registration required. Ages 3-4 with adult. Introduce your preschooler to butterflies in this hands-on program. The National Wildlife Visitor Center is located on Powder Mill Rd. between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Route 197 in Laurel, MD. For info/reservations, call 301-497-5887 or visit http://patuxent.fws.gov/