Washington Area Butterfly Club

Events Archive

2002 Butterfly Events

January 2002
February 2002
March 2002
April 2002
May 2002
June 2002

July 2002
August 2002
September 2002
October 2002
November 2002
December 2002

January 2002

Saturday, January 19
Planning a Wildlife Garden, Rust Sanctuary, Leesburg, VA: 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ANS members: $6.00; Nonmembers: $8.00. Winter is the time to plan your spring garden plantings so you can grow instead of mow. Have you ever wanted to attract certain birds or butterflies to your yard? How about trying wildlife gardening? This program will introduce you to backyard habitats and how to create one in your yard. Held at the Audubon Naturalist Society's new Rust Sanctuary at 802 Children's Center Way in Leesburg, VA.
Sunday, January 20
Gardening for Butterflies, Long Branch Nature Center, Arlington, VA: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Free; reservations required. Naturalist/storyteller Alonso Abugattas explains the basics. Long Branch Nature Center is located at 625 South Carlin Springs Road in Arlington, VA.
Wednesday, January 23
Junior Naturalists 2, "Fly Away" Part 1, Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda, MD: 4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Ages 9-12. Fee: $8 (covers both sessions). Explore the secrets and wonder of flight without ever leaving the ground! Probe into the phenomenon of flight in the natural world and throughout human history. What do birds, bats, and butterflies have to teach us about being airborne? Locust Grove Nature Center is located in Cabin John Regional Park at 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD. [Jump to "Fly Away" Part 2]
Thursday, January 24
WABC Monthly Meeting at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington, VA: 7:30 p.m. Program free and open to the public. Encore! Our favorite field research couple, Rich Bray and Stephanie Mason, are back from Colorado to update us on their Rocky Mountain Butterfly Project. "Dream Job: A Five-Season Survey of Butterflies in the Colorado Rockies" will be the program for the club's meeting.
Rich and Stephanie's presentations have produced some of our largest audiences in the past. Their slide-illustrated lecture will include: some preliminary results of five years' data gathering at Rocky Mountain National Park, ongoing observations on mountain butterfly life histories, and a look ahead to the project's upcoming sixth(!) season.
Long Branch Nature Center is located at 625 South Carlin Springs Road in Arlington, VA. 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.
Saturday, January 26
Baby, It's Cold Outside: An Introduction to Winter Ecology, Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ANS members: $24; Nonmembers: $34. Did you know that many birds shiver almost continuously to stay warm, that some insects are active in winter, that desiccation can be a bigger threat in winter than cold, or that a stream can be a good place to spend the winter? Find out how the flora and fauna of our region are adapted to the physiological stresses of winter while we sample the brisk January weather in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains. We'll start our day with a short lecture on winter ecology at the Catoctin Mountain National Park headquarters. Then we'll brave the cold to search for examples of winter adaptations and to enjoy nature's stark winter beauty. Don't forget your wool socks!
Wednesday, January 30
Junior Naturalists 2, "Fly Away" Part 2, Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda, MD: 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Ages 9-12. Fee: $8 (covers both sessions). Now that you've seen how nature gives flight to its select creatures, explore how technology enables people to fly. A visit to the College Park Aviation Museum will prove most uplifting! Locust Grove Nature Center is located in Cabin John Regional Park at 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD. [View "Fly Away" Part 1]

February 2002

Saturday, February 2
Insects On Ice, Webb Sanctuary, Clifton, VA: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. A Family program from the Audubon Naturalist Society. Fee: ANS members, $5/child; nonmembers, $8/child. Where do all the bugs go in winter? Let's find out by going on a winter bug hunt! We'll look under logs, on trees and weeds, in the dirt, and even under water! You just might be surprised by how many bugs we find. Webb Sanctuary is located on Chestnut St. in Clifton, VA.
Friday, February 8
Mourning Cloaks Awake! Meadowside Nature Center, Rockville, MD: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Fee: $2.00. Ages 3-7 with Adult; reservations required. Did you know that you might find Mourning Cloak butterflies outside as early as January or February? Delve into butterfly facts and make a butterfly craft to take home. Meadowside Nature Center is located in Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD.
Friday, February 15
Leaf Beetles, meeting of the Maryland Entomological Society, Baltimore, MD: 8:00 p.m. Free; open to public. Dr. David Furth is the speaker at the February monthly meeting of the Maryland Entomological Society. Held in Room 004, Biological Sciences Bldg., University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The University is located at 1000 Hilltop Circle in Baltimore, MD. For directions and a campus map, visit the UMBC web site.
Saturday, February 23
Investigating Insects, Franklin Park Performing & Visual Arts Center, Round Hill, VA: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. For elementary age children: $5 + $2 supply fee. (Note: Fee for non-Loudoun County residents slightly higher). Children will become familiar with insect characteristics, needs, life cycle, varying habitats and how adaptations to changing environments occur. After a process of brainstorming and examining photographs, students will create their own insect that is physically adapted to a specific environment. The Franklin Park Center is located at Round Hill Center, 20 High Street in Round Hill, VA.
Thursday, February 28
WABC Monthly Meeting at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington, VA: 7:30 p.m. Program free and open to the public. Expert gardener Eric Raun relates what he has learned about combining horticultural beauty and attracting butterflies in the garden that surrounds his Silver Spring home. Eric will distribute hand-outs on plantings and free seeds from his garden. For more information, contact Eric at raueri@juno.com. Also check out Eric’s garden website. To see his observations about this past season, click here and scroll down to "2001."
Long Branch Nature Center is located at 625 South Carlin Springs Road in Arlington, VA. 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.

March 2002

Saturday, March 2
Butterfly Gardening, Merrifield Garden Center, Merrifield, VA: 10:00 a.m. Free, open to the public. A slide presentation by WABC member Dex Hinckley. Held at the Merrifield Garden Center at 8132 Lee Hwy. Call 703-560-6222 for details or directions.
Thursday, March 7
Open House: Butterflies with Stephanie and Rich, Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, MD: 7:30 p.m. Free; RSVP requested. Last spring, Stephanie Mason left ANS to chase butterflies in Rocky Mountain National Park as part of an ongoing research project with Rich Bray. Hear about the study and catch up with old friends. Join us for refreshments, discussion, and a slide show. Held at the Great Hall in Woodend, which is at 8940 Jones Mill Road in Chevy Chase, MD.
Saturday, March 9
Family Nature Walk: Maples and Mourning Cloaks, Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda, MD: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. All ages; free. Reservations required. Scarlet flowers adorn the Red Maple trees, tiny bittercress flowers appear in lawns, Mourning Cloak butterflies emerge on warm days, and Cardinals serenade their mates, all promising warm weather to come. Step out and search for the signs that life is "springing" forth. Locust Grove Nature Center is located in Cabin John Regional Park at 7777 Democracy Blvd. in Bethesda, MD.
Tuesday, March 12 through Tuesday, June 11
Nature's Classroom: Insects, Locust Grove Nature Center, Bethesda, MD: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. on March 12, April 16, May 7, and June 11. For ages 8-12; $65/series (payment due within one week of registration). Homeschoolers take note! This series will highlight the world of insects, including classification and development, aquatic insect ecology, social insects, and interactions with other organisms. Classes meet one Tuesday each month, March through June. Due to the specialized intent of these classes, only children of the stated age group may attend. Parent participation is encouraged but not required. Locust Grove Nature Center is located in Cabin John Regional Park at 7777 Democracy Blvd. in Bethesda, MD.
Friday, March 15
Pollination, Monthly meeting of the Maryland Entomological Society, Baltimore, MD: 8:00 p.m. Free. Open to the public. Join the Maryland Ent Society to hear guest speaker Dr. Gabriella Chavaria. Held in Room 004, Biological Sciences Bldg., University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The University is located at 1000 Hilltop Circle in Baltimore, MD.
Tuesday, March 19
Gardening for Pollinators: Attracting Hummingbirds, Butterflies, Bees, and Moths to your Garden, Rust Library, Leesburg, VA: 7:30 p.m. Free; meeting of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. Alonso Abugattas will explain how you can attract the fascinating world of pollinators to your garden. Besides describing what to plant to attract pollinators to your garden, Alonso will bring some samples of the different butterfly and bee boxes that are available. The Rust Library is at 380 Old Waterford Road in Leesburg, VA.
Saturday, March 23
Landscaping for Songbirds and Butterflies, Washington, DC: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Smithsonian Resident Associate Members: $85; others: $130. An all-day seminar with a buffet luncheon. Includes lectures by local experts like Craig Tufts, author of The Back Yard Naturalist. A Smithsonian Resident Associates Program. Held at the S. Dillon Ripley Center Lecture Hall, which is located at 1100 Jefferson Drive in S.W. D.C.
Saturday, March 23
Amateur Naturalist Beginning Insect Study, an Audubon Naturalist Society program held at Rust Sanctuary, Leesburg, VA: 10:00 a.m. - Noon. ANS members: $6; Nonmembers: $8. Come out to Rust for this beginner's course in insects. We will answer questions like: What is an insect? What types are found around here? and Will it bite? We will hike the grounds to try and find the hidden beauty in these marvels of nature's engineering. This program is geared for teens and adults who have a serious interest in nature. This class will not only include instruction from the naturalist, but also extensive resources for continuing self-guided study along with lots of question and answer opportunities. Rust Sanctuary is located at 802 Children's Center Road, Leesburg.
Saturday, March 23
Lahr Symposium: Native Plants: The Wisdom of Natural Landscapes, U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC: 8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. FONA members: $56; General public: $70. This popular program features prominent speakers and a choice of lectures to attend, as well as a native plant sale. Lecture topics include "Design Process for Native Plants" and "Landscapes for Homeowners and Other Creatures." Cost includes lunch. Registrants may shop at the plant sale beginning at 8:30 a.m. You may also attend the plant sale only for no cost beginning at 10 a.m. There is a Metro shuttle available from Union Station to the Arboretum; visit the Metro page for timetable and cost (this is a PDF file). For complete details and registration information, visit the National Arboretum site.
Tuesday, March 26
Pollination Equation, Meadowside Nature Center, Rockville, MD: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Ages 6-12 with adult. Fee: $1.00. Reservations required. Explore one of nature's most important relationships: the one between plants and their pollinators. Meadowside Nature Center is located in Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD.
Thursday, March 28
WABC Monthly Meeting at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington, VA: 7:30 p.m. Program free and open to the public. "Maryland’s Rare and Endangered Butterflies." Butterfly expert Dick Smith presents the state’s fragile species and explains a new statewide butterfly survey and monitoring program that’s currently in search of participants.
Long Branch Nature Center is located at 625 South Carlin Springs Road in Arlington, VA. 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.
Saturday, March 30
Butterflies: Nature's Festival of Colors, Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, North Tract, Laurel, MD: 9:30 am - 11:30 am. Free; reservations required. Ages 8 and up with an adult. Discover the role butterflies play in the ecosystem on this guided 2.5-mile hike. The North Tract of Patuxent Research Refuge is located on Rt. 198 between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Rt. 32 in Laurel, MD.

April 2002

Tuesdays: April 2, April 9, and April 16

Signs of Spring: Beautiful Butterflies and Honeybees, a Little Scientists program, Herndon, VA

4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Fee: $45. Ages 5 - 9. Little Scientists is a hands-on approach to teaching science to young children. Every Little Scientists class includes child-safe, hands-on experiments, a take-home project, and a course booklet. Classes are designed to increase a child's curiosity and provide a platform for later learning. Class has 3 45-minute sessions. Fee covers all 3 sessions and supplies. The Herndon Community Center is located at 814 Ferndale Avenue. Visit their web site at http://www.town.herndon.va.us.

Thursday, April 4

Just For Teachers: Create A Schoolyard Habitat Garden For Monarch Butterflies, Black Hill Visitor Center, Boyds, MD

10:00 a.m. - noon. Fee: $5. Adults. Discover the best plants for attracting, feeding, and rearing monarchs. Take home plants, seeds, and resources. Black Hill Visitor Center is located in Black Hill Regional Park at 20926 Lake Ridge Drive in Boyds, MD.

Thursdays: April 4, April 11, and April 18

Signs of Spring: Beautiful Butterflies and Honeybees, a Little Scientists program, Herndon, VA

10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Fee: $45. Ages 3 - 5. Little Scientists is a hands-on approach to teaching science to young children. Every Little Scientists class includes child-safe, hands-on experiments, a take-home project, and a course booklet. Classes are designed to increase a child's curiosity and provide a platform for later learning. Class has 3 45-minute sessions. Fee covers all 3 sessions and supplies. The Herndon Community Center is located at 814 Ferndale Avenue. Visit their web site at http://www.town.herndon.va.us.

Sunday, April 7 NOTE: Now scheduled for Sunday, April 14

Azure and Spring Butterfly Field Trip, Thompson Wildlife Management Area, near Linden, VA

11 AM – 1:30 PM. WABC Field Trip: members and their guests only. The club’s Spring Azure field trip with butterfly expert Harry Pavulaan will now take place on Sunday, April 14. The cold temperatures predicted for April 7 made Azure sightings extremely unlikely. There has been a lot of interest in this field trip. If your schedule allows you to attend on the rescheduled date, please be certain to contact Harry first.
Harry, who has done extensive research on the region’s blue butterflies, will be looking for azures and other butterflies on the wing. He will show specimens of the two species of spring azure that we will be looking for and explain how to tell them apart. Harry will also show specimens of the two other azure species (Appalachian Azure and Summer Azure) found there at other times of the year. Techniques for safe handling of netted specimens will be demonstrated. While field identification of the two Spring Azures is never 100% certain, with practice and a good set of eyes, enough individuals can still be identified to verify the presence of both species. Harry will attempt to identify these on the wing and will verify captured specimens before releasing them.
We should see plenty of West Virginia Whites, Duskywings and a variety of other early spring species. Bring binoculars, notepads and yes, even nets, if you are serious about improving your identification skills. We'll meet at 11:00 am at the northernmost parking area of G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area along Leeds Manor Road (Route 888). This is the fishing lake. Exit off Route 66 at Exit 18(?) for Markham, proceed north along Route 888 for approximately 4 miles. Watch for the lake through the trees on the left (west) side. The walk will be about 2 miles total, and two hours should be sufficient time. There are a few short stretches of strenuous uphill walking along a dirt roads but much of the walk is level. Dress for the weather, as it is always a few degrees colder there, and colder yet if clouds move in.
This trip is for WABC members and their guests only. There is no charge but reservations are required.

Sunday, April 7

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton, MD

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Ages 3 - adult. Storyteller Marcia Levinsohn tells this wonderful story in Yiddish and helps us to make a butterfly craft. Reservations required. Brookside Nature Center is located in Wheaton Regional Park at 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD.

Wednesday, April 10

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton, MD

Wednesday, April 10

Colorful Butterflies, Arcola Community Center, Arcola, VA

Noon - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 6. Fee: $10. Learn about these beautiful, colorful creatures and make a butterfly of your own. The Arcola Community Center is located at 24244 Gum Spring Road in Arcola, VA.

Thursday, April 11

Barefoot Butterflies, ExploraWorld, Columbia, MD

11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Ages 1-10; free with paid admission. Children create beautiful butterflies by stamping their painted hands and feet on paper. ExploraWorld is located at 6570 Dobbin Rd. in Columbia, MD.

Friday, April 12

Butterfly Baskets, Irvine Nature Center, Stevenson, MD

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Adults. Fee: $20, Members; $30, Nonmembers. As spring marches in, the butterflies emerge; what better way to celebrate these winged jewels than to make a basket with a butterfly shape? The butterfly basket is a great beginner basket where newcomers will learn all the basics and finish up with a beautiful work of art. Leader: Monica Wiedel. Irvine Nature Center is located at 8400 Greenspring Avenue in Stevenson, MD.

Friday, April 12

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

10:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3-4 with adult. Free; reservations required. Introduction to butterflies and their amazing life cycle. The National Wildlife Visitor Center is on Powder Mill Rd. in Laurel, MD.

Saturday, April 13

Maryland Entomological Society Insect Field Trip to Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, National Wildlife Visitor Center, Laurel, MD

9:30 a.m. - ? (Rain date: April 20) This trip is free and open to the general public, but non-MES members must register beforehand. Please join MES members for an entertaining and educational day of insect hunting and study at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Central Tract. We will be conducting collecting as well as capture and release, as a permit for these activities has been issued from the Center, and a total field list of species identified for the day will be compiled later. Several attending MES members are experts in several insect orders, so come for a learning experience. The Center has an excellent diversity of wooded and open habitats with numerous ponds and marshes, so we are expecting a correspondingly plentiful diversity of local flora and fauna too. We will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Wildlife Center gate where Powder Mill Road "T's into" Route 197.

Sunday, April 14 NOTE: Rescheduled from April 7

Azure and Spring Butterfly Field Trip, Thompson Wildlife Management Area, near Linden, VA

Click here for complete information.

Tuesday, April 16

Our Forgotten Pollinators and the Importance of Backyard Conservation, Adkins Arboretum, Ridgely, MD

7:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. Fee is $5 for Arboretum members, $8 for the general public. Pollinators are an integral part of natural systems. Much of the food we eat relies on insect pollination for fruit development. Many of our native plants depend on insect pollination for their survival. However, our pollinators are under extreme pressure from habitat loss, pesticide usage, and introduced diseases and parasites. Gardens can be enormously helpful in providing safe and suitable habitat for pollinators. Join Leslie Gilbert for a slide show look into see the enormous diversity that exists in the pollinating community. Learn about pollinator habitat needs and what you can do to help conserve pollinators. Pre-registration is required. The Arboretum is located at 12610 Eveland Road, next to Tuckahoe State Park, near Ridgely, MD.

Tuesday, April 16

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs, Meadowside Nature Center, Rockville, MD

10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Ages 3 - 7 w/adult. Fee: $1/child. The bugs are back! Visit our live bugs, then go for a bug safari. We'll use nets and hand lenses to search for many-legged wildlife. Meadowside Nature Center is located in Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD.

Tuesday, April 16

Flowers for Butterflies and Bees, Prince Frederick, MD

10:30 a.m. - noon. Ages 3-5 w/adult. $3 per person; reservations required. Come help plant special flowers that will attract beautiful butterflies and buzzing bees to Kings Landing Park.

Tuesday, April 16

Spring Designs Face Painting, ExploraWorld, Columbia, MD

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Ages 2-10; free with paid admission. Children can have their face painted with flowers and butterflies. ExploraWorld is located at 6570 Dobbin Rd. in Columbia, MD.

Wednesdays: April 17, April 24, May 1, and May 8

Butterfly Garden, Arcola Community Center, Arcola, VA

Noon - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 6. Fee: $40 (covers all 4 sessions). Come learn how to create a garden that will be visited by your favorite spring creatures: butterflies! The Arcola Community Center is located at 24244 Gum Spring Road in Arcola, VA.

Friday, April 19

Wings Of Wonder! Meadowside Nature Center, Rockville, MD

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Ages 3 - 7 w/adult. Fee: $2/child. The wonder of butterflies is explored through stories, a craft, and a hike. Meadowside Nature Center is located in Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD.

Saturday, April 20 (overnight at local B&B possible)

Special WABC Loudoun County Butterfly-Nature Field Trip, Purcellville/Loudoun County, VA

Due to space limitations, this trip is for WABC members and their guests. The Washington Area Butterfly Club nature/butterfly field trip to Loudoun County is scheduled for Saturday, April 20. Joe Coleman and Bob Lyon will be leading us to some of their favorite butterflying sites. We are hoping to see Elfins, Falcate Orange Tips, American Coppers, Azures, Zebra Swallowtails and more. Since April weather can be unreliable for butterflies, we will also be looking at wildflowers, birds, reptiles, amphibians, etc.

We will meet at the Middle Grove Inn (on Jeb Stuart Road, Purcellville) on Saturday morning. Those driving out for the day should also meet at this location. All rooms in the bed-and-breakfast have been spoken for, and those staying Saturday night will have time to check in and leave off their luggage.

Participants should bring a bag lunch, as well as their usual field gear. We will leave by carpool on the first field trip by noon or earlier and will probably eat our lunches there on the 35 acres which the owner has kindly made available to us. From there, we'll most likely go to Balls Bluff, Banshee Reeks, or Bears Den. All are good locations with populations of early-flying butterflies.

No organized field trips are currently planned for Sunday. For those spending the night, Sunday will be an on-your-own day. After breakfast, we could return to some places visited on Saturday, look for other butterfly sites, or take in some of the area attractions.

Saturday, April 20

Early Spring Butterflies and Wildflowers, Western Howard County, MD

1:30-4:00 p.m. This rural setting along parkland in western Howard County, Maryland offers both open field and woodland trail and stream habitats where we are sure to find azures, duskywings, Falcate Orangetips, anglewings, and other Pierid and Nymphalid species. The area is also known to harbor a large colony of American Coppers in early spring. Leaders: Butterfly expert Dick Smith, and Botany expert Bob Solem.

Sunday, April 21

Butterflies for Beginners: Adults and Older Children, Webb Sanctuary, Clifton, VA

1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ANS members: $5; Nonmembers: $8. Registration required. Butterfly season is getting under way. Don't let it fly by again without learning how to identify butterflies. We'll cover the basics of butterfly identification, with an emphasis on identifying them through binoculars.

Thursday, April 25

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

7:30 p.m. Program free and open to the public. "The Disappearing Baltimore Checkerspot." Maryland's black and orange state butterfly has become so rare in Maryland that it's been added to the state endangered species watch list. Pat Durkin will describe the life history of this beautiful butterfly and update us on current conservation efforts.
Long Branch Nature Center is located at 625 South Carlin Springs Road in Arlington, VA. 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.

Thursdays: April 25 and May 2

Flutter By Butterfly, Sterling Annex Community Center, Sterling, VA

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Ages 3 - 5. Fee: $10 (covers both sessions) plus $4 supply fee. Spring activities, stories, and songs for the month of May. The Sterling Annex Community Center is located at 1115 W. Church Road in Sterling, VA.

Friday, April 26

Soldiers Delight and Patapsco Valley, an Audubon Naturalist Society Friday Escape

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ANS members: $24; Nonmembers: $34. Registration required. We'll begin our day with a visit to Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, a large serpentine barren. The habitat here is a mix of scrubby forest and grassland: wildflowers, songbirds, and early-season butterflies are likely highlights. Next, we visit the deep, moist woods of Patapsco Valley State Park to observe the floodplain wildflowers, swallowtail butterflies, and birds of the deep forest.

Saturday, April 27

Spring Butterflies of the Soldiers Delight Serpentine Barrens, Baltimore County, MD

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 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. Butterfly expert Dick Smith will lead the group in search of 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. A brief slide presentation will be followed by a two-mile hike of the barrens. Free and open to general public. Sponsored by Soldiers Delight Visitors' Center. Meet at Soldiers Delight Visitors' Center, Deer Park Rd., Owings Mills, MD.
Directions to the Soldiers Delight Visitors' Center : Take Rt. 95 North to Baltimore Beltway (I-695) west. 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.

Sunday, April 28

Spring Butterflies of Calvert and St. Mary's County, MD, an Audubon Naturalist Society Program

Full-Day Field Trip. ANS members: $24; Nonmembers: $34. Registration required. Calvert Cliffs State Park and other sandy, acidic woodlands in Calvert County and St. Mary's County, MD support a variety of spring butterflies, including coastal plain species we seldom encounter in the Washington area. Under the guidance of butterfly expert and WABC member Dick Smith, we'll spend the day in the field looking for Henry's, Brown, and Pine Elfins; Juniper and Red-Banded Hairstreaks; spring Sleepy Oranges; Holly Azures; Falcate Orange-tips; and Duskywings, as well as more familiar species.

Sunday, April 28

Certifying Your Property as an Official Wildlife Habitat, Potomac Overlook Park, Arlington, VA

2:00 p.m. Free; registration required. National Wildlife Federation and Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority naturalists will teach the simple steps to make wild creatures welcome as homeowners prepare to join the ranks of NWF-certified Wildlife Habitat providers. Potomac Overlook Regional Park is located at 2845 N. Marcey Rd. in Arlington, VA.

Monday, April 29 - Tuesday, April 30

Cape May Birds and Butterflies, an Audubon Naturalist Society Program in Cape May, NJ

9:00 a.m. Monday through 5:00 p.m. Tuesday. ANS members: $45; Nonmembers: $63. Registration required. Leader: Mark Garland. The Cape May region of southern New Jersey is well known as a hot spot for watching bird migration. The area's great habitat diversity also makes it an excellent place for butterfly study. We'll visit habitats ranging from the Atlantic beaches and salt marshes to inland Pine Barrens and white cedar swamps.

May 2002

Wednesday, May 1

Bugged Out!, Rockville, MD

9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Ages 3-7 w/adult. $2 per child; reservations required. Explore insects through activities, crafts, and a close-up look at the nature center's resident bugs. Held at Meadowside Nature Center in Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane in Rockville, MD. Reservations: 301-924-4141.

Thursday, May 2

Crazy Caterpillars, Purcellville, VA

12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 5. Fee: $20/4 sessions. Learn all about caterpillars. You will get to touch and watch live caterpillars grow in our indoor butterfly habitat. You'll be amazed at the end result! Crafts will be included in this discovery class. Held at Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, VA. Reservations: 540-338-7603.

Friday, May 3

Beautiful Butterflies, Purcellville, VA

3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Grades 1 - 5. Fee: $25/5 sessions. Learn all about these beautiful creatures as we explore their lives from caterpillar to butterfly. We will have a butterfly release on the last session. Held at Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, VA. Reservations: 540-338-7603.

Monday, May 6

World of Bugs, Sterling, VA

10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Ages 3 - 5. Fee: $18.75/5 sessions. $2 supply fee. Let Miss Roxanne teach you about the world of bugs while you make all kinds of fun bug crafts. No class on 5/27. Held at the Sterling Community Center, 120 Enterprise Street, Sterling, VA. Information/reservations: 703-430-9480.

Tuesday, May 7

Going Buggy, Sterling, VA

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Ages 2 - 3. Fee: $10/2 sessions. $4 supply fee. Buzz! Whirr! It sounds like summer has gone buggy. Come and experience a world of bugs through art, songs, and stories. Held at the Sterling Annex Community Center, 1115 W. Church Road, Sterling, VA. Info/reservations: 703-430-6673.

Thursday, May 9

Welcome Back Insects! Bethesda, MD

3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Ages 5 - 7 w/adult. Fee: $3; reservations required. Insects have started to reappear after a long winter absence. Bumblebees, mourning cloaks, spittlebugs and more. Venturing into the meadow and woods with nets in hand we'll get a close look at the first insects of the spring. Then head home with a "buggy" craft. Held at Locust Grove Nature Center in Cabin John Regional Park, at 7777 Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda, MD. Reservations: 301-299-1990.

Thursday, May 9

Flower Power! NW D.C.

4:00 p.m. Ages 4 and older. Reservations required. Take a closer look at flowers to see how they attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, which pollinate them. Afterwards, plant some native wildflowers to take home. Held at the Rock Creek Regional Park Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road, NW D.C. (off Military Rd). 202-426-6829.

Friday, May 10

Nature Times Two: Butterflies and Friends, Sterling, VA

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Ages 3 - 5. Fee: $5. Enjoy nature with your child. Programs on different nature themes include stories, games, crafts, and a hike or other outdoor activity. No older siblings, please. Held at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Cascades Parkway, Sterling, VA. Reservations: 703-444-1275.

Friday, May 10 - Sunday, May 12

Spring Wildflower Symposium, Wintergreen, VA

Fee: ? The focus of this 3-day event of lectures, walks, and workshops is native plants in the wild and in home landscapes. Also available are several talks on butterflies. A talk entitled "Shimmering Wings: Common Butterflies" will be given both Saturday and Sunday. A walk called Flights of Fancy: Butterfly Identification will be held Sunday afternoon. The Nature Center (Trillium House) is located on Route 664 in Wintergreen. For more info., visit their Nature Foundation page.

Saturday, May 11 - Sunday, September 22

Wings of Fancy, Wheaton, MD

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Fee: $4 per person over age 3. Annual live butterfly show—held earlier than usual this year —featuring species native to Maryland and North America. All stages in the life cycle. In the south conservatory. Brookside Gardens is located at 1800 Glenallan Avenue in Wheaton, MD. For more information, call 301-949-8230.

Saturday, May 11

Mother's Day Butterfly and Craft Walk, Herndon, VA

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Fee: $7. Families, all ages. Make this a special nature day for Mom. Bring her to this lovely walk and we will look for cocoons, caterpillars, and butterflies, along with the special plants they need for survival. We will also make Mom a special craft she will treasure forever. Held at Runnymede Park. For information on registration, call the Town of Herndon Parks & Recreation at 703-435-6868 or visit their web site at http://www.town.herndon.va.us.

Sunday, May 12

Appalachian Spring, Linden, VA

11:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. ANS members: $24; nonmembers: $34. An Audubon Naturalist Society program. West Virginia Whites and Appalachian Azures amidst a mountainside of Large-flowered Trillium. A botany-oriented trip with butterflies as a bonus. Thompson Wildlife Management Area near Linden, VA. Leader: Stephanie Mason (now back at ANS as Director of Education). Register online at www.audubonnaturalist.org/eereg.htm

Monday, May 13

Insect Safari, Sterling, VA

Program offered twice this day: 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 6. Fee: $7.50. We'll see dragonflies, butterflies, and more as we hike through the park with our nets and bottles. We'll do fun activities and an insect craft. Held at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Cascades Parkway, Sterling, VA. Reservations: 703-444-1275.

Wednesday, May 15

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Buggy, Sterling, VA

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and Noon - 1:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 5. Fee: $10/2 sessions. Stories, art, games and fun all about insects and bugs. Held at the Sterling Annex Community Center, 1115 W. Church Road, Sterling, VA. Info/reservations: 703-430-6673.

Wednesday, May 15

Storytime: I Wish I Were A Butterfly, Rockville, MD

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Ages 3 - 6 w/adult. Free; reservations required. What are the most beautiful and amazing insects that come from caterpillars? Learn how to encourage butterflies to visit your garden. Held at Meadowside Nature Center in Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD. Info/reservations: 301-924-4141.

Thursday, May 16

Storytime: I Wish I Were A Butterfly, Rockville, MD

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Ages 3 - 6 w/adult. Free; reservations required. What are the most beautiful and amazing insects that come from caterpillars? Learn how to encourage butterflies to visit your garden. Held at Meadowside Nature Center in Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD. Info/reservations: 301-924-4141.

Thursday, May 16

Insect Safari, Sterling, VA

Thursday, May 16

Nature Discovery: Insects, Mt. Rainier, MD

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3-5. Free; reservations required. Learn about our 6-legged friends—insects. Learn about their life cycles and defense systems. Held at Mt. Rainier Nature/Recreation Center, 4701 31st Place, Mt. Rainier, MD. Information: 301-927-2163; TTY 301-699-2544.

Friday, May 17

Backyard Gardens And Beyond, Rockville, MD

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Adults. Fee: $10 (lunch not included). May brings lots of surprises from Mother Nature so bring your binoculars, flower and bird field guides as we look for wildlife and share ideas for encouraging visitors to your backyard. Held at Meadowside Nature Center in Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD. Info/reservations: 301-924-4141.

Saturday, May 18

Butterflies: Nature's Festival of Colors, Laurel, MD

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Ages 8 and older with adult. Free; reservations required. Discover the role butterflies play in the ecosystem and how to identify some common to the area. Held at the Patuxent Research Refuge North Tract, which is located on Rt. 198 between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Rt. 32. Info/reservations: 301-497-5887, www.patuxent.fws.gov.

Saturday, May 18

Opening of the Butterfly and Beneficial Insect Garden, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Cambridge, MD

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Free. The Dorchester Garden Club and the Friends of Blackwater invite you to join them in celebrating the opening of the Butterfly and Beneficial Insect Garden at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. This new garden contains strictly native plant material, which was a requirement of the Refuge system. This does mean there is less blooming this early in the season. The most spectacular butterflies to be seen in the garden for a while may be the large spiraling bronze monarchs produced by local sculptors. But this special day will feature multiple activities for both kids and adults: crafts, art contests, talks on pollinators and bees, free butterfly garden seeds, a presentation on colonial gardening, and more. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is located at 2145 Key Wallace Drive in Cambridge, Maryland. For more information, call 410-228-2677 or 410-943-8485.

Saturday, May 18

Habitat Tour—Gardens that Attract Wildlife, Herndon, VA

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. $5; registration required. Adults and children ages 8 or 10 and up with strong interest. Meet at Runnymede Park to start: please be on time! We will be leaving the starting point and driving/carpooling to several different sites within the Town of Herndon. Guided tour of several nearby home habitat landscapes. See plants, ponds, hardscape and design features. You should REGISTER in advance for this program at the Herndon Community Center, or you may register on May 18 at the starting point, BUT you may take the chance of the program being fully booked with no extra capacity. (However, a second session of this tour may be held at a future date to be determined if 10 or more people are on the waiting list.) For more information, contact the Runnymede Ranger leaders at 703-471-4337 or the Town Naturalist at 703-787-7303, x121.

Sunday, May 19

Wings and Wildflowers, Great Falls, VA

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ANS members: $20; Nonmembers: $28. The varied habitats of Great Falls Park on the Virginia side of the Potomac River harbor a colorful display of late spring blossoms and butterflies. We'll look for wildflowers such as spiked lobelia, wild pink, and Indian Cucumber Root, as well as blooming woody plants, including fringe tree and fetterbush. Butterflies we might expect to see at this time include the Zebra Swallowtail, Red-banded Hairstreak, and Red-Spotted Purple. Though the focus of our explorations will be plants and butterflies, we'll also look and listen for the breeding activities of birds, reptiles, and amphibians. An Audubon Naturalist Society program. Register online at www.audubonnaturalist.org/eereg.htm

Monday, May 20

Growth and Change, Annandale, VA

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Ages 6 - 9. Fee: $3; reservations and prepayment required. Caterpillars do it. Ladybugs do it. Even frogs do it. Marvel at metamorphosis and release an adult ladybug. Held at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce St., Annandale, VA. Info/reservations: 703-941-1065.

Tuesday, May 21

Kids' Gardening Series - Birds and Butterflies, Stevenson, MD

4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Ages: 6 - 11. Fee: $15.00. Learn to care about our animal friends by preparing a garden just for them. Help spruce up Irvine's wildlife garden in hopes of attracting birds, butterflies, and other important wildlife. Held at Irvine Nature Center, 8400 Greenspring Avenue, Stevenson, MD. Info/reservations: (410) 484-2413.

Friday, May 24

Nature Buddies: Insects, Sterling, VA

10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Age 2. Fee: $2.50. This introduction to nature for toddlers and an adult will use the child's senses to explore nature, indoors and out. No older siblings, please. Held at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Cascades Parkway, Sterling, VA. Reservations: 703-444-1275.

Saturday - Monday, May 25 - 27

NABA Memorial Day/Victoria Day Butterfly Counts

Free! The first annual North American Butterfly Association Memorial Day Count (in the United States) and Victoria Day Count (in Canada) will be held May 25-27 (U.S.) and May 18-20 (Canada). These new counts will give butterfly enthusiasts throughout the continent an opportunity to get out and enjoy butterflies while contributing to our growing knowledge of butterfly distributions, flight times, and abundance. File results online.
In contrast to the highly organized NABA 4th of July and 1st of July Butterfly Counts, the Memorial Day and Victoria Day Counts are free-form. All you need to do is to observe butterflies at one or more of your favorite butterflying localities (such as your own backyard) this coming Memorial Day or Victoria Day weekend and note what butterflies you've seen. There are no requirements regarding how much time you spend or the area you cover. Then go to the NABA web site, www.naba.org, to the "Butterflies I've Seen" web pages and enter your report, filling in the location, date, and butterflies seen.
More than 1 million locations are already in the system. For your own backyard, you can create a new location using the information at the site, or, perhaps more easily, you can simply use the name of the town or city in which you live—these names have already been entered into the system.
Because these counts will be taking place during a very different time of year than do the 4th of July and 1st of July counts, we can expect to see different populations of butterflies than those present for the July counts. And because the approach is different, maybe we'll also see different populations of counters! We hope that literally thousands of enthusiasts will have a great time in the field and contribute their knowledge, quickly making "Butterflies I've Seen" one of the largest biological databases in the world.

Saturday, May 25

Family Nature Walk: Down In The Meadow, Bethesda, MD

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. All ages. Free; reservations required. Among the grass and flowers, we may discover froghoppers, butterflies, ants, spiders, and more. Held at Locust Grove Nature Center in Cabin John Regional Park, at 7777 Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda, MD. Reservations: 301-299-1990.

Sunday, May 26

Butterflies, Hummingbirds and Native Planting, Severna Park, MD

2:00 p.m. Ages 10 and up; adult must accompany children. Pre-registration required. Join a park ranger for a slide show about butterflies common to the B&A Trail (Baltimore and Annapolis Trail Park). Held at Earleigh Heights Ranger Station, 51 W Earleigh Heights Rd., Severna Park, MD. Reservations: 410-222-6244.

Thursday, May 30

Wild With The Wind: Butterfly Kites! Boyds, MD

4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Ages 5 - 12 w/adult. Fee: $9/child. Learn and experience the world of butterflies by flying a butterfly kite which you make 'n take. Held at Black Hill Visitor Center in Black Hill Regional Park, at 20926 Lake Ridge Drive in Boyds, MD. Reservations: 301-916-0220.

June 2002

Monday, June 3

From Caterpillar to Butterfly, Sterling, VA

Program offered twice this day: 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 6. Fee: $7.50. Find out what happens to caterpillars each spring as we read a story, take a walk hunting for caterpillars and butterflies, and make a craft. Held at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Cascades Parkway, Sterling, VA.

Tuesday, June 4

Storytime On The Lake: "Dragonflies," Boyds, MD

10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Ages 3 - 6 w/adult. Fee: $3.00. Ride the pontoon boat in search of these amazing predators who begin their life cycle in murky marsh waters. Craft: dragonfly finger puppet. Held at the Black Hill Visitor's Center, Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD.

Thursday, June 6

From Caterpillar to Butterfly, Sterling, VA

Thursday, June 6

Bugs By Blacklight, Rockville, MD

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Ages 5 - adult (5 - 12 with adult). Come outside; explore the bugs of the night. We'll be attracting bugs to a blacklight station and using field guides to identify what we see. Held at Meadowside Nature Center in Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, June 10, 12, and 14

Bugs A Million, Bluemont, VA

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 5. $45/3 sessions. Supply fee: $3. Instructor: Jackie Farris. Bugs, bugs, bugs will be all around the classroom. Children will learn about all types of bugs and they will do bugs arts and crafts projects. Children should bring a snack. Held at the Bluemont Community Center, 33846 Snickersville Pike, Bluemont, VA.

Tuesday, June 11

Annual Joint Banquet of the Maryland Entomological Society and Entomological Society of Washington

6:00 - 7:00 p.m.: Cash Bar. Dinner/talk: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.+ Open to the public, but prior clearance for building entrance required. Cost: $24/adult, $12/student. Speaker: Dr. Daniel Janzen (Univ. Pennsylvania & Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica)
Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
Topic: "How to Find All the Species of Caterpillars in a Large Complex Tropical Habitat."

Dinner Choices: Roasted Lemon Chicken
Prime Rib of Beef
Vegetarian Pasta

All attendees/registrants must provide their Social Security number or driver's license number when ordering their meals (they will be kept confidential and destroyed afterwards). Also, everyone must bring a photo ID when coming to the banquet. Maps will be provided to registrants.

Tuesday, June 11

Crazy About Dragonflies, Leesburg, VA

7:30 p.m. Free; sponsored by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. Join Scott Deibler as he describes and shows the fascinating world of the dragonfly. Besides being a naturalist for Arlington County, Scott frequently leads nature walks for the Audubon Naturalist Society and other groups in the area. Later in the summer, he will lead a dragonfly field trip for the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. Held at the Rust Library, which is at 380 Old Waterford Road in Leesburg, VA.

Friday, June 14

Wings Of Fancy, Wheaton, MD

10:00 a.m. - 11:15 p.m. Ages 4 and 5 w/adult. Fee: $4/child (admission & craft); $4/adult (admission). Reservations required. Registration begins June 7. Payment due by June 12. A naturalist-guided tour of the live butterfly show at the Gardens, a story, and a craft. Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. For reservations, call 301-946-9071.

Friday, June 14

Dragonflies! Rockville, MD

9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Ages 3 - 7 w/adult. Fee: $1. They zip here, they dart there! Take a closer look at dragonflies through stories, craft and a hike to the pond. Held at Meadowside Nature Center, Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD. For reservations, call 301-924-4141.

Saturday, June 15 (Rain date: Sunday, June 16)

"Butterflies and Stars of Sky Meadows State Park," near Paris, VA

All day and into the starry night. Meet: 10:30 a.m. at the farm house parking lot. Trip Leaders: Mary Alexander and Steve Malone.
Contacts: Mary Malone, AlexanderMa@panasonic.com
Steve Malone, steven.malone@us.pwcglobal.com
We'll explore the park's beautiful, mountainside meadows and forests. Maybe we'll see a Harvester again! Afterwards, a picnic dinner at the picnic tables around the restored farm house; then we'll stay on for stargazing.
This park is known for excellent views of the night sky. Bring a lunch and a food contribution for the picnic dinner. Drinks for the dinner will be supplied by Steve and Mary, who invite anyone to camp with them Friday night. This trip is free to Washington Area Butterfly Club members and their guests; however, please register with Mary or Steve, who need to know who and how many to expect.
Directions - Take Route 66 west from Washington. Exit north onto Route 17 north towards Paris, Virginia (after the two Marshall exits; possibly Exit #23?). Sky Meadows is also located about 1 mile south of US Route 50 on Route 17. FYI: there is an entrance fee to the park (I believe $1/car).

Saturday, June 15

Bio-Blitz, Loudoun County, VA

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. No registration required but all children must be accompanied by an adult. What is a "Bio-Blitz"? Birds and bugs, shrubs and snakes, trees and turtles, fishes and ferns, gophers and grass, and much, much more. Biologists will be spending 24 hours conducting an inventory of all the living creatures and plants at Banshee Reeks. This will help us make decisions on how to best manage Banshee Reeks as a Nature Preserve. Come out during the afternoon and see some of the critters that the biologists are surveying. For more information, visit their website at www.bansheereeks.org. For more on helping conduct surveys, visit our Volunteer Opportunities page.

Saturday, June 15

Butterflies: Nature’s Festival of Colors, Laurel, MD

8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Ages 8 and older with adult. Discover the role that butterflies play in the ecosystem and learn to identify several common to Maryland on this guided hike. Field guide and water recommended. Held at the North Tract of Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, on Rt. 198 between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Rt. 32. Web site: www.patuxent.fws.gov.

Thursday, June 20 and Sunday, June 23

Maryland's Disappearing State Butterfly, Chevy Chase, MD

Thursday, 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. ANS members: $30; Nonmembers: $42. When Maryland named the Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryus phaeton) its official state butterfly, the species was common in its wet meadow habitat throughout the state. Tables have turned. In recent years, this gorgeous insect, marked similarly to the Maryland flag, has been in such precipitous decline that it's being considered for state listing. On Thursday night, Pat Durkin, a founder of the Washington Area Butterfly Club and the Baltimore Checkerspot Restoration Project, will discuss the Baltimore's life history, the state of its populations, and theories about its decline in the region. Sunday's field trip will take us to a working butterfly farm in western Montgomery County where Baltimores are being raised for possible reintroduction. Offered by the Audubon Naturalist Society. Thursday's class meets at the Woodend Headquarters, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD. Register online at www.audubonnaturalist.org/eereg.htm

Saturday, June 22

Family Nature Walk: Summer Discoveries, Bethesda, MD

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. All ages. Butterflies visit the early milkweed flowers, black raspberries are ripening, and the green shade of the forest holds mysteries waiting for discovery. Held at Locust Grove Nature Center in Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD.

Saturday, June 22

Dragonflies! Alexandria, VA

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Limit 20 families. $15/project. Let's go down to the ponds and hunt for the dragons of the watery world. The voracious predators glide over the water or perch on top of cattails and grasses. After we study these fascinating insects, you will make dragonfly ornaments to take home to hunt in your garden. Held at Green Spring Gardens Park, which is located at 4603 Green Spring Road in Alexandria, VA.

Saturday, June 22

Bugs by the Bunch, Washington, D.C.

2:00 p.m. Ages 4 to 8. Bugs, bugs, and more bugs! Discover why bugs are so important to other animals. Join a park ranger to look at some bugs close-up before they are set free. Please bring an empty, pint-sized milk carton. Held at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center at 5200 Glover Road, NW (off Military Rd.) in NW D.C.

Sunday, June 23

Dragonflies, Alexandria, VA

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Adults. Free; reservations required. Learn about the life cycle, behavior, and identification of Huntley's many dragonflies and damselflies. Venture to the wetland to observe these acrobatic fliers in action. Canceled if rain. Held at Huntley Meadows Park, which is located on 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, VA.

Sunday, June 23

Butterfly Bonanza, Millersville, MD

1:00 p.m. Free; reservations required. It may be warm outside, but that's the way butterflies like it! Join Ranger Brian for his short walk through the fields and meadows of the park in search of the many different butterflies found here. Fun filled day for families. Held at Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Road, Millersville, MD.

Tuesday, June 25 - Thursday, June 27

Preschool Fun Camp: Bugs and Butterflies, Arcola, VA

9:00 a.m. - noon daily. Ages 3 - 6. $40/week. Give your child their first exposure to summer camp. They'll have fun with arts and crafts, socializing, and much more. Held at the Arcola Community Center, which is located at 24244 Gum Spring Road in Arcola, VA.

Tuesday, June 25

Maryland Native Plant Society Monthly Meeting: Ecological Gardening, Rockville, MD

7:30 p.m. Lou Aronica and Mary Pat Rowan will give a presentation on the use of local native plants as a means of reconnecting natural areas, healing disturbed sites, and providing habitat for wildlife, drawing from many local examples. A variety of plants will be discussed, including mosses, ferns, herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees. grasses, called "no-mow lawns", will also be discussed. Monthly Meeting Location: Aspen Hill Library.
Driving directions: From the Washington Beltway (495) take Connecticut Avenue North to Aspen Hill Road. Turn left onto Aspen Hill Road. Library is about 2 1/2 blocks on right, just past stoplight at Parkland Drive and Aspen Hill Road. You will see a large parking lot.
Our own walking botanical encyclopedia, Joe Metzger, will also be on hand from 7:00 to 7:30 to help with plant identification from photos, slides, cuttings, and small plants. There will be refreshments and door prizes. Pot luck refreshments are always welcome. The meeting is open to non-members.

Friday, June 28

Early Morning Hike, Boyds, MD

8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Adults. We'll explore the different habitats of this premier park as we look for birds, butterflies, and wildflowers. Meet at the Black Hill Visitor Center in Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD.

Saturday, June 29

Caterpillar to Butterfly Walk, Herndon, VA

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Fee: $5. Families, all ages. A volunteer will guide us through the meadow as we have a butterfly scavenger hunt. We will learn about the significance and important role the meadow plays in Runnymede Park. For information on registration, call the Town of Herndon Parks & Recreation at 703-435-6868 or visit their web site at http://www.town.herndon.va.us.

Saturday, June 29

Butterflies of the Eastern Shore, Cambridge, 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 not found or only rarely found in Maryland's piedmont and mountain provinces. On this field day with butterfly expert 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.

July 2002

Tuesdays, July 2 - September 3
Insect Life: a Natural History Field Studies Class, College Park, MD: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Field trip dates: July 20, August 3, and August 31. Tuition: $219. Credits: 2. Course Code: NATH1130E. Instructor: Donald Messersmith, professor of Entomology, University of Maryland. Discover the role of insect activity in the primary balance of nature and the environment. Learn about insect identification and their life histories. Study the ecology of important insect forms, the necessity of insects in biotic communities, and principal insect families of the Central Atlantic region. Jointly sponsored by the Audubon Naturalist Society and the USDA Graduate School. Held in Room 1161 in the Plant Sciences Building of the University of Maryland, College Park. Call instructor at 301-405-3924 for directions. Register by phone at 202-314-3320 or online at http://www.grad.usda.gov.
Wednesday, July 3
Puppet Show: Insects, Wheaton, MD: 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. All ages. No reservations required. Six legs, three body parts, an exoskeleton: I'm an insect ... meet lots of different insects and their kin. Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. 301-946-9071.
Wednesday, July 3 and Saturday, July 6
Advanced Butterfly Studies, Chevy Chase, MD and upper Montgomery County: Wednesday: 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., lecture; Saturday: full-day field trip. ANS members: $30; nonmembers: $42. An Audubon Naturalist Society program. Lecture at Woodend in Chevy Chase. Leader: 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, skippers and hairstreaks. We will 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
Thursday, July 4
Monarch Butterfly Monitoring Workshop, Chevy Chase, MD and/or Woodbridge, VA: NOTE: This event has been rescheduled for September 7. 10:00 a.m. - noon, Woodend Sanctuary, Chevy Chase, MD; 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Woodbridge, VA. For adults and youth over 15 years. Woodend: Free. Occoquan: $11 fee. Learn easy citizen science techniques to participate in university-based Monarch research projects, including: 1. Safe net-tag-and-release techniques for Monarch Watch's migration studies, based at the University of Kansas, and for the Monarch Migration Monitoring Project, based at Sweet Briar College. 2. Choosing, setting up, and monitoring your own Monarch caterpillar study plot for the Monarch Larvae Monitoring Project, based at the University of Minnesota. Instructors: Pat Durkin and Barbara Farron. The Woodend program is sponsored by the Washington Area Butterfly Club and the Audubon Naturalist Society. The $11 fee for the Occoquan program helps fund environmental education programs and is sponsored by Nature's Wonder World, a nonprofit natural history education organization based in Prince William County.
Saturday, July 6
Flutterby, Prince Frederick, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Ages 2-3 with adult. $3 per person. Reservations required. Learn about beautiful fluttering creatures. Held at the Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Nature Center on Sixes Rd in Prince Frederick, MD. Call 410-535-5327.
Saturday, July 6
Butterfly Search, Upper Marlboro, MD: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. All ages. Fee: $2. Reservations required. Learn about the life of butterflies, then run through the fields to catch and count species for the annual Butterfly Count. Held at the Patuxent River Park/Jug Bay Natural Area, 16000 Croom Airport Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Call 301-627-6074 (TTY: 301-699-2544).
Sunday, July 7
The Great Clifton Bug Hunt, Clifton, VA: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ANS members: $5/child; nonmembers: $8/child. Registration required. An Audubon Naturalist Society program. Let's look in trees, under logs, on flowers, and even in the water to discover what insects and other creepy crawlies live around Clifton! Held at the ANS Webb Sanctuary in Clifton, VA. For information, call 703-803-8400. Register online at www.audubonnaturalist.org/eereg.htm
Monday, July 8; Wednesday, July 10; and Friday, July 12
World of Bugs, Sterling, VA: 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Ages 3-5. $18/3 sessions. Supply fee: $2. Instructor: Roxanne Tyra. Let Miss Roxanne teach you about the world of bugs while you make all kinds of fun bug crafts. Held at the Sterling Community Center, 120 Enterprise Street, Sterling, VA. Call 703-430-9480.
Tuesdays, July 9 - August 6
Butterflies: a Natural History Field Studies Class, Wheaton, MD: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Field trip dates: July 20, July 27, and August 3. Tuition: $219. Credits: 2. Course Code: NATH2275E. Instructor: Denise Gibbs, naturalist, Black Hill Regional Park. Not only are butterflies among nature's most beautiful creations, but they have fascinating life histories. Learn about the remarkable biology, behavior, and host plant relationships of butterflies and their caterpillars. Field and class experiences include identification, butterfly gardening, and conservation as well as biology. Gain a foundation to continue studying and gardening on your own. Jointly sponsored by the Audubon Naturalist Society and the USDA Graduate School. Held at the Brookside Gardens Visitor Center on Glenallan Avenue in Wheaton, MD. Register by phone at 202-314-3320 or online at http://www.grad.usda.gov.
Tuesdays, July 9 - August 6
Becoming a Butterfly: Mini Camp, Purcellville, VA: 11:00 a.m. - noon. Ages 3-5. $30/5 sessions. $10 supply fee. Explore the beautiful world of butterflies. See how they change from caterpillars to butterflies while learning about them. A live butterfly release will be held on the last day of class. Parents will need to flutter off during camp. Class will meet each Tuesday for 5 weeks in order to see the metamorphosis process. Held at Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, VA. Call 540-338-7603.
Wednesday, July 10
Dragonflies, Arlington, VA: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Ages 9-13. Free. Join us to learn about the dragonflies and damselflies. Identify some of the more common species while we learn about their life cycles. Join us as we travel to several local ponds and streams where we will study these amazing creatures. Bring along a snack and water bottle and be prepared to get your feet wet. Held at the Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Rd., Arlington, VA. Call 703-228-6535 to make reservations.
Thursday, July 11
Beautiful Butterflies: Their Identification and Life Stories, Boyds, MD: 9:30 a.m. - noon. Adults. Fee: $5. You'll be guided on short walks through the butterfly gardens, wildflower meadows, and other park areas by a naturalist whose passion is butterflies. Learn I.D. tips for our local species, where the best places are to find butterflies, and how they may de-stress and enrich your life. Held at the Black Hill Visitor's Center in Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD. Call 301-916-0220.
Thursday, July 11
Monarch Watch, NW D.C.: 4:00 p.m. Ages 4 to 8. Learn about one of the best known species of butterflies while watching them in action in Rock Creek Park. Afterwards, make a butterfly headband to take home. Held at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road, NW D.C. (off Military Rd.). Call 202-895-6070.
Thursday, July 11
Beautiful Butterflies, Purcellville, VA: 11:00 a.m. - noon. Ages 2-2 1/2. Fee: $6. Explore the world of caterpillars changing into butterflies. See live butterflies and caterpillars, then read a story and make a craft. Held at Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, VA. Call 540-338-7603.
Thursdays, July 11 - August 15
Moths of the Capital Region: a Natural History Field Studies Class, Washington, D.C.: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Field trip dates: July 13, July 20, and July 27. Tuition: $219. $15 materials fee (collected in class). Credits: 2. Course Code: NATH2277E. Instructors: David Adamski, research associate, Entomology Dept., Smithsonian; and Jon "Buck" Lewis, museum specialist, USDA Systematic Entomology Lab. Moths are a large and diverse group of insects. Big or small, beautiful or plain, day- or night-flying, they all are interesting to the naturalist. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn to identify them and study their morphology at the National Museum of Natural History's facilities. Learn about their surprising evolutionary history, complex life cycles, and ecology from slide-illustrated lectures and field trips. Jointly sponsored by the Audubon Naturalist Society and the USDA Graduate School. Held in the Insect Room in the National Museum of Natural History, D.C. Call instructor at 202-382-1777 (day) for directions to classroom. Register by phone at 202-314-3320 or online at http://www.grad.usda.gov.
Thursday, July 11
Night Flyers, Chevy Chase, MD: 7:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m. Ages 6 and up w/Adult. ANS members: $8/child; nonmembers: $10/child. Teacher: Cliff Fairweather. Come out for a wonderful summer evening at Woodend to learn of the benevolence of bats, be fascinated by fireflies, and foment interest in insects. Held at the Audubon Naturalist Society's Woodend headquarters in Chevy Chase, MD. Register online at www.audubonnaturalist.org/eereg.htm
Friday, July 12
Toddler Time: Bugs and Spiders, Great Falls, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. 2 - 3 years w/adult. Fee: $5. Reservations required. Join your toddler to learn about wild critters through finger plays, songs, movement, games, stories, and crafts. Indoor and outdoor activities included. Held at the Riverbend Park Nature Center at 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls, VA. Call 703-759-9018.
Friday, July 12
Insect Safari Campfire, Arlington, VA: 7:30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. Families. Fee: $2.00. Reservations required. Join us around the campfire and learn about the world's most abundant animals—insects! We'll do some catch-and-release collecting and discover some of the important jobs that insects have and the interesting things they do to survive. Held at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA. Call 703-228-6535.
Saturday, July 13
Bugs! Lothian, MD: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. All ages welcome. Entrance Fees: Adults: $2.50; Under 18: $1.50; Seniors: $2.00. Join the hunt for some of the world's most fascinating and diverse creatures: insects and other invertebrates. We'll explore the forest, marsh, and meadow searching for insects, worms, slugs, and other small creatures, and learn the basics of identifying them. Wear shoes or boots that can get wet and muddy. Held at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD. Call 410-741-9330 or e-mail: jugbay@toad.net.
Saturday, July 13
Incredible Insects, Wheaton, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. All ages. No reservations required. We'll "beat bushes" and "sweep fields" to see what's hopping, crawling, and flying. Rain cancels. Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Call 301-946-9071.
Saturday, July 13
Creepy Crawlies, Laurel, MD: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Ages 5-7. Free; registration required. Come learn about our six-legged friends. Held at the National Wildlife Visitor Center, Powder Mill Rd, Laurel, MD. Call 301-497-5887.
Saturday, July 13
Odenata and Lepidoptera, Alexandria, VA: 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. From this introductory field trip with P.J. Dunn, the participant will learn about dragonflies and damselflies - what are they? - where do they live? - how long do they live? - do they bite? - and other fascinating facts about the life histories of "mosquito hawks." The Huntley Meadows boardwalk is a good place to observe great, up-close species diversity. Nesting wetland birds and blooming flora are also an attraction for this location. Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd. in Alexandria, VA.
Saturday, July 13; Sunday, July 14; Saturday, July 20; and Sunday, July 21
Habitat Stewards Training, Alexandria, VA: 7/13, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; 7/14, 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.; 7/20, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; 7/21, 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Reservations required. Make your community wildlife friendly! Become a National Wildlife Federation volunteer! You are invited to attend a Habitat Stewards training at Green Spring Gardens Park in Alexandria, VA (near the intersection of Braddock Road and #236, Little River Turnpike). Participants must attend all classes to become certified as National Wildlife Federation Habitat Stewards. For more information and to register for the class please contact Cindy Brown at 703-642-5173.
Sunday, July 14
Flower Power, NW D.C.: 10:00 a.m. Ages 4 to 12. Discover the important role flowers and their pollinators play in Rock Creek Park. Held at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road, NW D.C. (off Military Rd.). Call 202-895-6070.
Wednesday, July 17
An Evening with an Entomologist, Baltimore, MD: 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Learn how to attract insects of the night. Held at the Carrie Murray Nature Center, 1901 Ridgetop Rd., Baltimore, MD. Call 410-396-0808 to register.
Wednesday, July 17
Summer Research Seminar: Mysteries of the Monarch, Boyce, VA: 6:00 p.m. Free; no reservations required. Co-sponsored by the Virginia Native Plant Society and Blandy Experimental Farm. Lecture by Lincoln Brower, the world's authority on Monarch butterflies. The ecology of the Monarch butterfly has been the focus of Dr. Lincoln Brower's career for more than four decades. Learn about these fascinating creatures and how they overcome the deadly chemistry of their milkweed host plant and complete a treacherous migration to the mountains of Mexico. Trained as a biologist and zoologist at Princeton and Yale, Dr. Brower worked to solve the many mysteries of the Monarch during his years at the University of Florida. He now teaches at Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA. A potluck dinner follows the seminar; please bring a dish if you can join us for dinner. Held at Blandy Experimental Farm (VA State Arboretum), 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce, VA. Visit the Blandy website for directions: http://www.virginia.edu/~blandy. Telephone: 540-837-1758.
Friday, July 19
Butterflies Among Us, Stevenson, MD: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Ages 7 and up. Fee: $8.00. Learn the ways of life of a butterfly. Join an Irvine naturalist and create a suitable habitat for a caterpillar that you will take home to raise on your own! Leader: Jason McCauley. Held at Irvine Nature Center, 8400 Greenspring Avenue, Stevenson, MD. Call 410-484-2413.
Friday, July 19
Meadow Land, Millersville, MD: 5:00 p.m. Advance registration is required. Join Ranger Brian as we tromp through some of the meadows and old field habitat areas in search of a variety of butterflies, dragonflies, and other incredible insects. We'll also look at what wildflowers are blooming along the way. Held at Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Road, Millersville, MD. For more information or to register, call the park office at 410-222-6115.
Saturday, July 20
Butterflies at Banshee, Leesburg, VA: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Ages 14 & up. Free; no registration required. Join the Friends of Banshee Reeks, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, and Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve for a butterfly walk. We will investigate Banshee's many diverse natural areas and identify all the different butterflies we can find. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Banshee Reeks is located at 21085 The Woods Rd. in Leesburg, VA. Questions - contact Banshee Reeks at 703-669-0316; e-mail: bansheereeks@starpower.net; web page: www.bansheereeks.org.
Saturday, July 20
Butterflies: Nature’s Festival of Colors, Laurel, MD: 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Ages 8 and older with adult. Discover the role that butterflies play in the ecosystem and learn to identify several common to Maryland on this guided hike. Field guide and water recommended. Held at the North Tract of Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, on Rt. 198 between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Rt. 32. For reservations, call 301-497-5887. Web site: www.patuxent.fws.gov.
Saturday, July 20
Butterflies & the Wild Plants They Need, Warrenton, VA: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fee: $40. Space is limited. Join WABC's Pat Durkin at the beautiful Wildcat Mountain Farm to study the biology and identification of butterflies. Classroom in Jocelyn Sladen's historic family home. Field work in private gardens, meadows, and wood edges. Added instructors Jocelyn Sladen and Regina Yurkonis will discuss butterfly plants, both wild and in the garden. There will also be the annual butterfly count on Sunday, July 21, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. which is open to the public. Be sure to ask about it when you call.
Sponsored by Environmental Studies at Airlie and the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. For information, registration, and directions, contact Environmental Studies at 540-341-3239 or send e-mail to es@iapm.org
Saturday, July 20; Sunday, July 21; and Saturday, August 3
Butterflies 2002, Airlie, VA: July 20: Coursework; July 21: Airlie Census; August 3: Waterford Census. The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will be assisting Environmental Studies at Airlie with a butterfly workshop. The workshop will be for anyone interested in the insect world, particularly butterflies. Hands-on learning in the field is emphasized. Participants will gain an understanding and appreciation of butterfly biology and identification, and contribute to the annual nationwide Butterfly Census. For more information, contact Environmental Studies at 540-341-3239 or es@iapm.org. Teachers - inquire about continuing education credits.
Sunday, July 21
Beautiful Butterflies, Clifton, VA: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Free family program; registration required. Summertime is prime-time for these "flying flowers." Discover some of the butterflies that live around Clifton and find out how they live. Held at the ANS Webb Sanctuary on Chestnut St. in Clifton, VA. Register online at www.audubonnaturalist.org/eereg.htm
Sunday, July 21
Bugs' Night Out, Millersville, MD: 8:15 p.m. Ages 8 and up with Adult. Advance registration is required. Join Ranger Brian and Ranger Adam along with special guest Dr. David Flaim from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland as we take a look at and listen for the bugs that live for the night. Moths, beetles, crickets, and other nocturnal creatures will be discussed as we walk about the park during this 1 1/2-hour evening program. Bring a small flashlight and do not wear white clothing to the program. Program will be cancelled if rainy or stormy weather occurs. Held at Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Road, Millersville, MD. For more information or to register, call the park office at 410-222-6115.
Sunday, July 21
Summer Wildflower Garden Tour, Prince William, VA: 12 noon to 5 p.m. Free. The Prince William Wildflower Society presents their second annual summer garden tour. Summer offers the opportunity to discover a world of colorful blooms and their interaction with many forms of wildlife. Two of the gardens on the tour include butterfly gardens: the Bass garden at 12604 Valley View Lane, Nokesville; and the Davis garden at 9900 Moor Green Drive, Manassas. Info and directions below:
Bass Garden: Summer at the Bass garden is a time for butterflies. Over 100 species of butterflies and moths come to feed and reproduce on the many species of grasses, sedges, wildflowers, and exotics. These include Joe Pye weed, sedum, coneflower, and several varieties of butterfly bush. Many species of birds such as wood thrush, bluebird, robin, and phoebe are on their second or third broods by July. Hummingbirds are regular visitors to the cardinal flowers at the pond as well as to the red monarda. Other flowering species at the pond include swamp mallow, summersweet, spatterdock, swamp milkweed, and pickerel weed. Walk along the pathways under a shady canopy of oaks and hickories to enjoy these surroundings. Directions: From Manassas, take Rt. 28 south (Nokesville Rd). Turn left at the traffic signal for Rt. 619, Bristow Rd. Go 1.5 miles and turn right onto Valley View Dr. Garden is 2.5 miles down on the right and appears as an oasis of trees. Do not park on the curve on the road. Pull into the driveway, taking care to park without boxing in other cars.
Davis Garden: This spacious woodland garden with an understory of mountain laurel, dogwood, American holly, chokeberry, mapleleaf viburnum, and blueberries is now three years old. Wide maintenance paths connect numerous beds and planted areas that contain smaller access paths. An area of spring ephemerals planted on a slope lead to a wet garden planted with summer-blooming green-headed coneflower and cardinal flower. A large butterfly garden visible from the road is colorful with summer phlox, monarda, liatris, and dame's rocket. Other summer bloomers include purple coneflower, blue lobelia, black-eyed Susans, yarrow, sunflowers, New York ironweed, goldenrod, and asters. Refreshments will be served in this garden. Directions: From the Bass Garden, proceed to the right, then turn left onto Parkgate Dr. Go .5 miles and turn left onto Flory Rd. Drive .2 miles and turn right onto Crockett Rd. Proceed .1 mile and turn left onto Old Church Rd. Go .6 miles and turn right onto Rt. 619/Bristow Rd. Drive .6 miles and turn left onto Lucasville Rd. Follow for 1.3 miles and turn left onto Moor Green Dr. Proceed .5 miles to garden on the right. From Manassas, Go south on Rt. 234, (Sudley Road/Grant Avenue/Dumfries Road). After the Wellington Giant, turn right at the light onto Hastings Dr., go .3 miles and turn left onto Lucasville Rd. Follow Lucasville for 1.9 miles, turning right onto Moor Green Drive. Go .5 miles to garden on the right.
Monday, July 22
Nature Buddies: Bugs, Alexandria, VA: 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 4 years and up. Fee: $5. Reservations required. Praying mantids, dragonflies, leafhoppers, butterflies: insects are buzzing everywhere! Become an entomologist and join an insect safari. Sponsored by Friends of Huntley Meadows Park. Held at the Huntley Meadows Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, VA. Call 703-768-2525.
Wednesday, July 24
Discovery Hike: Insect Hunt, Bethesda, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 5 w/adult. Creeping under logs, leaping through the grass, walking over flowers, flying as we pass! Overhead and under ground, find the insects all around. Held at Locust Grove Nature Center in Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD. Call 301-299-1990.
Wednesday, July 24
Moonstruck Moths, Bethesda, MD: 8:15 p.m. - approx. 9:15 p.m. Ages 7 - adult. Fee: $2. Of the 94,000 known insect species in North America, over 10,000 are moths. Yet most people are familiar with only a few showy varieties, and regard the others as nuisances that flutter about porch lights on warm summer nights. Take this opportunity to learn how adaptive moths are, how they differ from their butterfly cousins, how they contribute to our ecosystem, and why they persist in flying around lights! Held at Locust Grove Nature Center in Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD. Call 301-299-1990.
Wednesday, July 24
Evening Explorations: Meadow Mania, Chantilly, VA: 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Free. Reservations required. Venture into the wonderful world of bugs. Search the meadow and learn about insects. Bring a large-mouthed plastic jar to catch and release insects. Held at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 5040 Walney Road, Chantilly, VA. Call 703-631-0013.
Thursday, July 25 and Sunday, July 28
Beginning Butterflies, Chevy Chase, MD and Washington, D.C.: Thursday: 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., lecture; Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., field trip. ANS members: $30; nonmembers: $42. An Audubon Naturalist Society program. Lecture at Woodend in Chevy Chase. Leader: Pat Durkin. Great Spangled Fritillaries, Painted Ladies, Monarchs: butterflies are a joy to think about and lovely to behold. But that's only the beginning of the fascination. On Thursday evening, learn the amazing life history of the butterfly, basic identification skills, and how to lure the region's showiest species to your yard. On Sunday's field trip to the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., we'll search for butterflies in natural habitat--meadow, wood edge, and riverine--and investigate several approaches to butterfly gardening. Register online at www.audubonnaturalist.org/eereg.htm
Thursday, July 25
Nature Tots Discovery Hike: Insect Hunt, Bethesda, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 5 w/adult. Creeping under logs, leaping through the grass, walking over flowers, flying as we pass! Overhead and under ground, find the insects all around. Activities and hike are designed for 3 - 5 year olds, but younger siblings in carriers are welcome to attend. Held at Locust Grove Nature Center in Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD. Call 301-299-1990.
Thursday, July 25
Beautiful Butterflies: Their Identification and Life Stories, Boyds, MD: 9:30 a.m. - noon. Adults. Fee: $5. You'll be guided on short walks through the butterfly gardens, wildflower meadows, and other park areas by a naturalist whose passion is butterflies. Learn I.D. tips for our local species, where the best places are to find butterflies, and how they may de-stress and enrich your life. Held at the Black Hill Visitor's Center in Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD. Call 301-916-0220.
Friday, July 26 (and August 10)
Butterfly Garden Walk, Clinton, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Enjoy a walk through an established nature center butterfly garden known to attract some unusual species, such as the Sleepy Orange. Held at Clearwater Nature Center, 11000 Thrift Road, Clinton, MD. Info: 301-297-4575; TTY 301-699-2544.
Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28
Buglover's Paradise, Alexandria, VA: 10:00 a.m. - noon both days. Families. Fee: $1/child. 4 years and up with Adult. The park is buzzing with insect activity: grasshoppers, butterflies, ladybugs, and leafhoppers. Stop by our classroom for self-guided activities, a craft, and videos. Sponsored by Friends of Huntley Meadows Park. Held at the Huntley Meadows Visitor Center, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, VA. Call 703-768-2525.
Sunday, July 28
Mosquito Hawks, Severna Park, MD: 11:00 a.m. Ages 10 and up. Free. Learn about dragonflies. Held at the Earleigh Heights Ranger Station, Baltimore & Annapolis Trail Park, Severna Park, MD. Call 410-222-6244 to register.
Sunday, July 28
Worker Bees, NW D.C.: 10:00 a.m. For all ages. Come and take a look at the bee exhibit in the Rock Creek Park Nature Center and learn why they are called worker bees. Held at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road, NW D.C. (off Military Rd.). Call 202-895-6070.
Monday, July 29 - Wednesday, July 31
Summer Bugs, Bluemont, VA: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ages 6-10. $54/3 sessions. Supply fee: $3.00. Instructor: Ginny Trefny. Bugs, bugs, bugs are all around us. Come and learn about the fun bugs of Bluemont. We will do fun bug projects and many crafts. Bring a snack. Held at the Bluemont Community Center, 33846 Snickersville Pike, Bluemont, VA. Call 540-554-8643.
Tuesday, July 30
Junior Naturalists 1 and 2: Insect Extravaganza, Bethesda, MD: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Ages 6 - 12 (under 8 w/adult). Fee: $5. The age of insects is upon us! Come investigate their world with nets, magnifiers, and bug boxes. Held at Locust Grove Nature Center in Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD. Call 301-299-1990.

August 2002

Daily throughout August, except Tuesdays
Nature Escapes: Butterflies, Great Falls, VA: Noon - 5:00 p.m. Take part in self-guided activities including crafts, exhibits, and animal watching. August's theme is Butterflies. Held at the Riverbend Visitor Center in Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls, VA.
Ongoing through Sunday, September 22
Wings of Fancy, Wheaton, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily. Fee: $4 per person over age 3. Annual live butterfly show featuring species native to Maryland and North America. All stages in the life cycle. In the south conservatory. Brookside Gardens is located at 1800 Glenallan Avenue in Wheaton, MD. For more information, call 301-949-8230.
Monday, August 5
Gettin' Buggy, Purcellville, VA: 11:00 a.m. - Noon. Ages 2-2½. Fee: $6. Reservations required. Enjoy looking at and learning about different types of bugs, from fliers to crawlers. Held at Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, VA. Call 540-338-7603.
Thursday, August 8
Gettin' Buggy, Purcellville, VA: 11:00 a.m. - Noon. Ages 2-2½. Fee: $6. Reservations required. Enjoy looking at and learning about different types of bugs, from fliers to crawlers. Held at Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, VA. Call 540-338-7603.
Thursday, August 8
Bug Day Special Event, Boyds, MD: Ages 3 - adult. No underage siblings or strollers. Reservations required; space limited. At Little Bennett Regional Park. Join naturalists , entomologists, and volunteers at Hawk's Reach Activities Center. Activities will include: a Big Bug Browse; Bonkers For Bugs; Winged Wonders Butterfly Hike; Creepy Crawly Mask Making; a Craft: Insect Bath Fizzies and Soap; and Outdoor/Indoor Bug Games. Flyer with details available at Black Hill Visitor Center or at mncppc.org.
Friday, August 9
Insect Safari, Springfield, VA: 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Ages 6 and up. Fee: $3. Reservations required. The nocturnal world of insects offers a new world of discovery for nature lovers. Learn what cricket is chirping, see some beetle s