Washington Area Butterfly Club

Events Archive

2007 Butterfly Events

January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007

July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007

Ongoing

Sundays through September 30
Butterfly Walk, Vienna, VA: 3:00 p.m. Meadowlark members: free. Non-members: adults, $4; seniors and children (7-17), $1.50 per person; 6 and under, free. Fees help Meadowlark's butterfly habitat restoration projects. Walk into the winged world of butterflies with this introductory guided stroll with hobbyist/butterfly enthusiast Mona Miller. Learn how gardens attract these enticing, magical creatures. Participants may get to help release butterflies, when available. Reservations not required. Rental binoculars are available. Held at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, VA; meet in the visitor's center. Weather dependent; call 703-255-3631, Ext. 0, to confirm walk plans.

January 2007

Saturday, January 6
Aquatic Insect Ecology, Lothian, MD: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. For adults and children over 10. Entrance Fees: Adults, $3; children under 18, $2; over 60, $2. Bundle up and come explore a stream! Winter is the best time to study and identify aquatic insects. We will learn how to differentiate between the larvae of mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, true flies and other stream invertebrates. The role of invertebrates in monitoring stream health will be discussed. Then join us on January 12 to monitor the stream. Held at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD. Call 410-741-9330 to make reservations.
Sunday, January 21
Insects on Ice, Leesburg, VA: 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ANS/LWC members: $18; Nonmembers: $25. Join Nate Erwin, director of the Smithsonian’s Insect Zoo, for a look at insects in winter on the grounds of the Audubon Naturalist Society’s Rust Sanctuary in Leesburg. The afternoon's indoor/outdoor activities will focus on the winter ecology of insects, including the life cycles and survival tactics of some common ones. We will explore meadows and forest, looking for insects under cover, cocoons, galls, egg cases, and hibernating caterpillars. This program is co-sponsored by the Audubon Naturalist Society and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. Rust Sanctuary is located at 802 Children's Center Road, Leesburg, VA. To register contact ANS at 301-652-9188 x16.
Sunday, January 21
Bug Browse, Wheaton, MD: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Course #: 25507. All ages. Are you missing our insect friends? Come browse our collection and talk with the naturalist about your favorite bug stories. No reservations required. Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
WABC Monthly Meeting, Arlington, VA: 7:30 p.m. Free; open to the public. Edd Barrows of Georgetown University will speak to the Washington Area Butterfly Club about "Views of the Endangered Karner Blue." The spritely Karner Blue Butterfly (KBB, Lycaeides melissa samuelis) is native to Northeastern and North Central U.S. and Ontario, Canada. Unfortunately, many KBB populations vanished in the 1900s, and in 1992, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the KBB a federally endangered species. Since then, many people have studied the KBB with regard to its basic biology and conservation. This species has many requirements, including open, fire-disturbed areas; forest edges; snow cover; and larval and adult foods. The literature reports about 90 nectar-plant species for the KBB, but full studies of the nectar species are yet to be made. Edd Barrows' talk surveys confirmed and possible nectar species based on observations in three KBB sites in Central Wisconsin. This photo essay will afford you the opportunity to hone your knowledge of butterfly nectar plants and butterfly species. The presentation emphasizes Juneau and Wood Counties, Wisconsin which have about 91 butterfly species. Please come prepared to identify Mid-western U.S. butterflies.
Since 1975, Edd has worked as a professor in the Department of Biology at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. His research primarily centers on local arthropod biodiversity and conservation, and his popular-style book (Nature, Gardens, and Georgetown, 2006) concerns local conservation, environmental change, gardens, history, and nature, and includes information on some local butterflies.
Talk held at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., 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 27
Are You a Bee? Arlington, VA: 1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Ages 3 - 5 with an adult. $2 fee per child. Program # 623103L. Enjoy this fantastic book by Judy Allen and learn all about honeybees through bee dancing and other activities. Held at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Rd., Arlington, VA. Registration Office: 703-228-3403 or register online: https:\\registration.co.arlington.va.us\

February 2007

Thursdays, February 8 and 15
Cattys and Flies, Sterling, VA: 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Course #: 203176. Ages 2 - 3. $18. From a caterpillar to a butterfly, we will explore and learn about lifecycles and take a craft or two home to share. Held at the Sterling Community Center, 120 Enterprise Street, Sterling, VA. Call 703-430-9480 for registration information. Automated phone registration (requires setup): call 703-443-9338.
Saturday, February 10
Rappahannock Wildlife Habitat Open House: Learn How to Go Wild in Your Backyard, Sperryville, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Presentation on Biodiversity in Habitat at 10:00 a.m. Free. Want to attract wildlife to your property? Don't know what to do about all that ailanthus, autumn olive, and mile-a-minute that are taking over and displacing native plants? Want to protect your stream banks with native plants? Don't know what native plants to plant or where to get them? Need some financial help or technical expertise?
Get answers at the Wildlife Habitat Open House, sponsored by the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection's Biodiversity Task Force, in partnership with the Piedmont Environmental Council. More than a dozen government and nongovernmental conservation organizations will be there to offer help with habitat issues, from education and training to onsite expertise to providing plants and funding.
Held at the Schoolhouse, 12018 Lee Highway, Sperryville, VA 22740 (Rt. 211 at the junction with Rt. 522 south). If you have questions, contact Pam Owen at 540-675-9989 or Biodiversity@RLEP.org.
Tuesday, February 13
Moths of Maryland, College Park, MD: Cancelled due to inclement weather! 7:30 p.m. Monthly meeting of the Prince George's Audubon Society. Bob Patterson is a well-known member of the local natural history scene. For several years he was the compiler of the Bowie Christmas Bird Count; then he was an active data collector for Maryland's Breeding Bird Atlas Project. More recently, he developed a number of natural history web sites. His interest in organizing a local natural history club resulted in the formation of the Prince George's Audubon Society over 30 years ago.
In recent years, Mr Patterson's interest has turned toward photography of insects, particularly moths, and he has quickly become an authority on the moths of eastern North America. This is both a diverse and an under-appreciated group of nocturnal animals. Like their more popular butterfly cousins, moths can be stunningly beautiful. Unlike butterflies, moths are challenging to identify when several hundred species can occur in a single suburban backyard!
Join PGAS on February 13 to meet one of the chapter's founders and to find out what you've been missing by sleeping at night. You can also visit Bob's website for more great moth photos.
Held at the College Park Airport Annex, 1909 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park, MD. Directions can be found here.
Friday, February 16
Beetles, Bahamas, Biogeography: Darkling Discoveries from Sunlit Islands, Baltimore, MD: 8:00 p.m. Monthly meeting of the Maryland Entomological Society. Warren Steiner is a museum specialist at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution, a position he has held since 1981. His interests and research involves the Biosystematics of Coleoptera, especially Tenebrionidae, Phalacridae, and aquatic beetles. Moreover, his work includes zoogeography, dispersal and the spread of adventive species and plant-insect interactions. Warren participates frequently in biodiversity surveys and often lectures to various scientific societies on his research findings and travels (to more than 20 foreign countries and remote islands) He serves as instructor for a short course offered by the Audubon Naturalist's Society, "Introduction to the Natural History of Beetles." Warren has published around 60 scientific papers and is a member of many scientific societies.
Held in the Bioscience Bldg., Room 004, at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250.
Friday, February 16
Butterflies in Winter, Herndon, VA: 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Families, all ages. $7 per family. Where do butterflies go in the winter? What is that crumple of leaves under the bush? How does a miniscule egg form into a beautiful creature of flight? Can you raise butterfly eggs to adulthood for release? These and many more questions will be answered by The Butterfly Lady! Learn how you can help Herndon’s butterfly population and encourage butterflies to overwinter in your very own backyard. Children will take home a butterfly. Meet at the Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Avenue, Herndon, VA. 703-787-7300.
Friday, February 16
Butterflies in Winter, Herndon, VA: 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Families, all ages. $7 per family. Where do butterflies go in the winter? What is that crumple of leaves under the bush? How does a miniscule egg form into a beautiful creature of flight? Can you raise butterfly eggs to adulthood for release? These and many more questions will be answered by The Butterfly Lady! Learn how you can help Herndon’s butterfly population and encourage butterflies to overwinter in your very own backyard. Children will take home a butterfly. Meet at the Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Avenue, Herndon, VA. 703-787-7300.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
WABC Monthly Meeting, Arlington, VA: 7:30 p.m. Free; open to the public. Bruce Beehler will speak about Exploring the Lost World of the Foja Mountains, Indonesian New Guinea.
In November 2005 a team of Indonesian, American, and Australian scientists shuttled by helicopter into a mist-shrouded lost world atop the isolated Foja Mountains of Papua, Indonesia's easternmost and least-explored province on the western side of the great tropical island of New Guinea. There they discovered dozens of species new to science, and an environment entirely free of human impact. The most remarkable of their discoveries included four new butterfly species, a new species of honeyeater (the first new bird species discovered on the island of New Guinea since 1939), more than twenty new frogs, dozens of new plants, and several new mammals. They also located the formerly unknown breeding grounds of a "lost" bird of paradise—the six-wired bird of paradise (Parotia berlepschi). The team obtained the first photographs of the Golden-fronted Bowerbird displaying at its bower, and recorded a new large mammal for Indonesia, the Golden-mantled Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus pulcherrimus). Talk held at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, VA.
Note: annual seed exchange! Please bring any seeds you may have from your favorite wildlife-attracting plants to swap with fellow habitat gardeners.
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, February 24
EcoSavvy Gardening Symposium: Techniques for Keeping Our Planet Healthy, Alexandria, VA: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration: $45; boxed lunch: $10 additional (please specify meat or vegetarian). Gardeners and homeowners can make a difference in our environment’s health; Green Spring Master Gardeners are committed to showing them how. The EcoSavvy Gardening Symposium brings together experts to share practical information on environmental issues, including Craig Tufts, chief naturalist for the National Wildlife Federation, on attracting wildlife into our gardens; the Green Spring Master Gardeners on rain gardens; and others. To view all speakers, visit the Green Spring Gardens web page. Green Spring is located at 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. To register, please call 703-642-5173.
Sunday, February 25
A Plea for Native Plants, Alexandria, VA: 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. $11. As urban and suburban sprawl creeps into natural areas throughout the East, the region's plant biodiversity diminishes. Doug Tallamy, Professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, presents a plea: plant native plants to nourish our local wildlife community. Part of the Green Spring Winter Lecture Series. Held at Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. Call 703-642-5173 to make reservations.

March 2007

Sunday, March 4
Beekeeping Class, Chantilly, VA: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 12 years and up. Free; reservations required. Professional beekeeper Dane Hannum demonstrates the equipment needed for beekeeping during a working session at the Walney hives. Help him prepare the hives for spring, learn some bee biology, and enjoy a dessert made with honey. Held at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 5040 Walney Road, Chantilly, VA. Call 703-631-0013 for information and reservations.
Tuesday, March 6
Discover Nature: Early Bugs and Buds, Bethesda, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Ages 3 - 6. $5. Course #: 31770. Trees and wildflowers are already blooming, and that means their insect partners are out and about. We'll learn a little, play a little, and hike a little to see spring flowers in action. Held at Locust Grove Nature Center, Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Saturday, March 10
Make Your Backyard a Wildlife Habitat, Annandale, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Adults. Free; reservations required. Discover how you can easily and inexpensively make your backyard or apartment balcony a backyard habitat that provides food, shelter, water, and a place to raise young for wildlife. Learn to make a water source from materials you have at home and how to get your backyard certified as an official backyard wildlife habitat with the National Wildlife Federation. Information provided on using native plants to support native species. Held at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce Street, Annandale, VA. Call 703-941-1065.
Wednesday, March 14
Puppet Show: Caterpillar and Polliwog, Wheaton, MD: 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 1 - 12 yrs. $2. Course #: 30265. In our featured puppet show, a silly tadpole thinks he'll turn into a butterfly. See if he does! Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Thursday, March 22
Incorporating Native Plants in the Garden, Ridgely, MD: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. $12. This class introduces participants to the rewards and challenges of designing with native plants. Landscape designer Jan Kirsh, owner and president of Jan Kirsh Landscapes, Ltd. based in Talbot County, Maryland, will share her knowledge of working with native trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, and groundcovers, all within the framework of a mixed planting border. Discussing natives and some allied non-natives that grow comfortably on the Eastern Shore, Jan will talk about working with plants that are available to horticultural enthusiasts. She will reveal planting schemes that create four-season interest in a Mid-Shore garden. Drawing from her 24 years of experience, Jan will highlight gardens she has designed. In advance of the course, participants may e-mail jankirsh@starband.net with up to three design-related gardening questions. A portion of the class will be devoted to sharing observations and offering solutions to a handful of these garden design inquires. Held at Adkins Arboretum, 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, MD. 410-634-2847.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
WABC Monthly Meeting, Arlington, VA: 7:30 p.m. Free; open to the public. Daneila Rodrigues will speak about Monarch learning and memory.
Monarch butterflies have been the subject of many studies, particularly with respect to their amazing migratory behavior and their close relationship with the milkweed plant. However, we know very little about the learning abilities of these familiar butterflies. Monarchs have inborn color preferences, but that they also learn readily to associate colored models with a sugar reward. They quickly switch their preferences when the rewarding color changes, and will learn to avoid colored models that are filled with salt water rather than sugar water. Studies also have shown that monarchs can remember flower information for days or even weeks, depending on the duration of their initial training. Besides monarchs, other nymphalids also have good learning abilities, suggesting that learning is widespread among butterflies. Talk held at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., 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.
Thursday, March 22
Backyard Wildlife Habitats, Manassas, VA: 7:30 p.m. The March membership meeting of the Prince William Wildflower Society will feature the National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Wildlife Habitats program. Held at Bethel Lutheran Church on Plantation Lane just off Sudley Road in Manassas, VA.
Monday, March 26
Bees, Bugs and Butterflies, Leesburg, VA: 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Ages 3 - 5. $8. Course #: 304114-01. Have fun making insects and playing springtime games. Parent participation. Held at Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market Street, Leesburg, VA. Visit http://www.loudoun.gov/prcs/ for registration information. Automated phone registration (requires setup): call 703-443-9338.
Tuesday, March 27
Build a Bee House, Wheaton, MD: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 5 years and up. $8 (no fee for adults; register only person making nest box). Course #: 30287. Our native mason or orchard bee is an early spring pollinator. Build a nesting box so you can attract them to your yard. Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Tuesday, March 27
Puppet Show: Caterpillar and Polliwog, Wheaton, MD: 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 1 - 12 yrs. $2. Course #: 30266. In our featured puppet show, a silly tadpole thinks he'll turn into a butterfly. See if he does! Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Friday, March 30
An Introduction to EcoSavvy Gardening, Alexandria, VA: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. $11. The focus of Green Spring Master Gardeners' educational programs is EcoSavvy Gardening, or gardening practices that have a minimal negative impact on the environment. Find out how to be kind to Mother Nature while you are gardening. Held at Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. Call 703-642-5173 to make reservations.
Saturday, March 31
Native Plants: Compelling Landscapes, Washington, D.C.: 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. $85. This year’s Lahr Symposium is Native Plants: Compelling Landscapes. One speaker will discuss Naturalistic Gardening from the Gardener’s point of View, and there is a concurrent session on Watershed-Friendly Gardening. View the brochure for details. Held at the United States National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE Washington, D.C. 202-245-2726.
Saturday, March 31
Apprentice Naturalist - Planning a Wildlife Garden, Chantilly, VA: 11:00 a.m. - noon. 12 years and up. $3; reservations required. Have you ever wanted to attract certain birds or butterflies to your yard? Try wildlife gardening. This program introduces you to backyard habitats and how to create one in your yard. Now is the time to plan your spring garden plantings so you can grow instead of mow. Held at the Cub Run RECenter, 4630 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, VA. Call 703-817-9407 for reservations.

April 2007

Tuesday, April 3
Bug Festival, Rockville, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 2 yrs and up. Course #: 30868. No reservations required! $5. Bugs are the best! Join us for a special insect festival. Learn about bugs, meet live bugs and make a bug craft to take home. Try eating a bug too! Buy a passport and visit all the passport stations. Visit 5 stations or more, get a stamp at each station and receive a special insect prize to take home. Bug fun for the entire family! Activities are ongoing. Held at Meadowside Nature Center, Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD.
Wednesday, April 4
Bay Friendly Landscaping, La Plata, MD: 7:30 p.m. Monthly meeting of the Southern Maryland Audubon Society, presented by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. As spring planting season approaches, learn about using native plants to improve wildlife habitat while reducing the need for chemicals and mowing. Find out how to create a more environmentally friendly space to enjoy the great outdoors while also protecting the Chesapeake Bay. Held at La Plata United Methodist Church, Charles County; Corner of Rt. 6 and Rt. 301 in La Plata, MD.
Saturday, April 7
Bug Me, Sterling, VA: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Ages 3 and up. Call to register. Pay at door: $4. Discover what makes a bug a bug, then search for them on a walk. Adult must accompany children. Held at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling, VA. 571-258-3700.
Saturday, April 7
Lecture: Natural Resources Design, Inc., Beltsville, MD: 1:00 p.m. Lectures at Behnkes, Prince George's County. RSVP: Space is limited, please call 301-937-1100 to reserve your seat. The Behnke Nurseries, Co., is sponsoring a series of lectures/workshops on the themes of native and invasive plants. This free presentation is by Lauren Wheeler and Jenny Reed of Natural Resources Design, Inc. Envision a beautiful and spiritual garden using native plants. Create a true sense of place in harmony with Maryland—a garden that welcomes wildlife and soothes the senses. That is the approach taken by Natural Resources Design. Explore their vision of gardening.
Location: 11300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD (U.S. Route 1), 2 miles north of Capital Beltway Exit 25 (same exit as Ikea).
Wednesday, April 11
Bayscaping your Yard, Eldersburg, MD: 7:00 p.m. Lecture with the Audubon Society of Central MD. Learn how to create natural habitats for birds and other wildlife using native Maryland plants. Held at the Eldersburg Library (Carroll County), 6400 Hemlock Drive, Eldersburg, MD 21784.
Monday, April 16
Nature Tots: Flutter Friends, Laurel, MD: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 4. Introduce your preschooler to the beautiful world of the butterfly through stories, songs, and more in this interactive 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/.
Tuesday, April 17
Saving the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly, Grantsville, MD: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Free; open to the public. The Western Mountains Chapter of the Maryland Native Plant Society will hold its regular meeting at the New Germany State Park lakehouse. The guest speaker will be Pat Durkin, founder and director of the Baltimore Checkerspot Restoration Project. Ms. Durkin will give a PowerPoint presentation called "Saving Maryland’s Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly." Her program will begin immediately following the regular business meeting.
Directions: From I-68 take exit 22 and follow signs for New Germany State Park. Turn left into the park onto McAndrews Hill Road. The meeting will be held in the lakehouse. Parking is available in Lots # 4 or 5; there are also handicap accessible parking spaces at the lakehouse.
Tuesdays, April 17 - May 15
Creepy Crawlies, Chevy Chase, MD: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 5-week class. Ages 4 - 5. ANS members: $58; nonmembers: $78. Butterflies, rollypollies, worms, spiders, and water bugs are the focus of this favorite class. We’ll have fun rolling over logs, digging in the soil, netting in the pond and meadow, and creating buggy crafts. Woodend is located at 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD. Register by mailing or faxing the registration form (online at http://audubonnaturalist.org/pdf/catalog.pdf).
Wednesday, April 18
Butterfly Walk at Hoyle's Mill Conservation Park, Germantown, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Adults. $8. Course #: 31111. Offered through Black Hill Visitor Center, Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD. Hoyles Mill Conservation Park is in the 14000 block of Schaeffer Road, Germantown, MD. Meet at the gravel parking lot off White Ground Rd. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Friday, April 20
Little Acorns: Ladybugs, Annandale, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. or 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. 2-3 yrs. Reservations and advanced payment required. $5. Cultures around the world applaud the ladybug as a welcomed guest in the garden. Find out why as you meet and greet your own ladybug before releasing her (or him) into the garden. Through stories, activities and a walk, learn the secrets of the ladybird beetle. Held at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce Street, Annandale, VA. Call 703-941-1065.
Saturday, April 21
Hugs for Bugs, Arlington, VA: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 7 - 9. $2 fee per child due at the park on the day of the program. Registration required. Program # 633102I. You know about the bees, but do you know about ants, beetles and flies? Bugs pollinate many of our favorite foods and flowers as well as keep our parks clean and tidy. Get a little "buggie" while discovering the amazing world of insects. Held at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Rd., Arlington, VA. Registration Office: 703-228-3403 or register online: https:\\registration.co.arlington.va.us\.
Thursday, April 26
WABC Monthly Meeting, Chevy Chase, MD: 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Free; open to the public. Rich Cech presents "Butterfly Habitats on the East Coast." Many of our butterfly species rely upon unusual and exotic natural habitats for their survival. This illustrated presentation, by the co-author of "Butterflies of the East Coast: An Observer’s Guide," will explain how to identify butterfly habitats, as well as how to distinguish those of special value. Participants will be able to purchase the newly published paper edition of the guide before and after the lecture. Join us at the Audubon Naturalist Society Headquarters, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, Maryland. The ANS Sanctuary Shop will open at 7:15 pm and offer a 20 percent discount on any items in the Shop (excluding optics) for those attending the event.
Directions to Woodend (ADC Montgomery County Map 39-B-2): Exit I-495/Beltway onto 185, Connecticut Avenue South. Turn left onto Manor Road. At the traffic light, turn right onto Jones Bridge Road. At intersection of Jones Bridge and Jones Mill Roads, turn left onto Jones Mill. (Proceed with caution due to limited visibility.) Drive north on Jones Mill just past road sign indicating Nature Center and turn left onto the entrance road to ANS. Proceed up the drive to the Mansion and Sanctuary shop on your left.
Saturday, April 28
Butterflies: Nature’s Festival of Colours, Laurel, MD: 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Ages 10+. Free; reservations required. Discover the role that butterflies play in the ecosystem and learn to identify several common to Maryland on this guided 2.5 mile hike. Field guide recommended. Bring water and dress for the outdoors. 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, April 28
Butterflies and Wildflowers, Mount Pleasant, MD: 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Join the Howard County Bird Club to walk the meadows and fields of the Howard Conservancy Property to enjoy the butterflies and wildflowers of the farm. Leaders: Dick Smith for butterflies and Bob Solem for wildflowers. Meet in the parking lot. Email Bob at odenata@msn.com for information. Facilities available.
Friday, April 30
Nature Tots: Bugs! Laurel, MD: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3-4. Come explore the wonderful world of bugs through this fun and hands-on program for your preschooler. 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/

May 2007

Tuesday, May 1 and May 8
Flutter By Butterfly, Sterling, VA: 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Ages 2 - 3. $16 (+$4 supplies). Your little ones will be aflutter learning about butterflies and other bugs. Held at the Sterling Annex Community Center, 1115 W. Church Road, Sterling, VA. 703-430-6673.
Saturday, May 5
Audubon at Home and Beyond, Herndon, VA: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. $15 covers class materials and a light lunch. Carol Hadlock's backyard will be your classroom for this workshop, where you will learn to put the principles of Audubon at Home to work in your yard, creating a healthier environment for you, your family, and pets, while at the same time giving birds and pollinators a helping hand. Things should be popping in the garden, the birds will be singing, and outdoor activities will make this a fun, informative day. Carol Hadlock is an ASNV Master Naturalist and National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward. Held at 515 Alabama Drive, Herndon, VA. To sign up, visit the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia page and click the Adult Education link.
Saturday, May 5
Backyard Nature Gardening, Annandale, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. $26 per person. Program is appropriate for ages 13 and up. Create attractive backyard habitats using the latest techniques in composting and organic gardening techniques. Learn how to create rain gardens and make rain barrels. Explore the advantages of planting native species and how to recognize and control invasive species. Held at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce Street, Annandale, VA. Call 703-941-1065 for information.
Saturday, May 5
Planting for Wildlife Workshop, Rockville, MD: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8 years and up. 11:30: class # 31155, free. 1:30: class # 31156, $5. Learn how you can design and plant your gardens at home to help wildlife. Simple features and selecting the right plants are really important. At the same time, learn what plants deer do not prefer (no promises). After the lecture, help plant some of the gardens at Meadowside. Naturalist: Sandy Staples. Held at Meadowside Nature Center, Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Saturday, May 5
Flower Power, Lothian, MD: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. All ages. Entrance Fees: Adults, $3; children under 18, $2; over 60, $2. Come explore our meadow and learn about pollination and the important role butterflies and bees play in making new flowers. Also learn how to attract butterflies to your own backyard! Held at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD. Call 410-741-9330 to make reservations.
Saturday, May 5 - Sunday, September 16
Wings of Fancy: World of Flight, Wheaton, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily. $5.00 adults; $4.00 ages 3 - 12. Welcome new Asian butterflies to the Wings of Fancy. More than 30 species of Asian butterflies will join our Costa Rican and North American butterflies in flight in the only international exhibit in the metropolitan area. Be surrounded by butterflies flying freely among the tropical flowering nectar plants. Groups of 15 or more by appointment only; call 301-962-1467 for reservations. We regret that we are unable to accommodate strollers in the Butterfly Exhibit. To volunteer at the exhibit, call 301-962-1429. Held at the Brookside Gardens South Conservatory, 1500 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD.
Sunday, May 6
Butterfly Walk, Vienna, VA: 12 noon. Mona Miller will again lead butterfly walks at Meadowlark Regional Park from May through September, beginning with the first Sunday in May. Held at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, VA.
Sunday, May 6
Butterfly Hike, Soldier's Delight N.E.A., Owings Mills, MD: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. $2 per person. Cancelled if raining. Please sign up in advance. This terrific program is only offered once in the spring and one more time in the fall. Don’t miss an opportunity to see a great slide show and then hike with one of the area’s leading butterfly experts. Butterfly expert Dick Smith will present a short slide show on barrens butterflies and then lead us for about 2 miles through the globally rare serpentine barrens ecosystem at Soldiers Delight. We will search for locally-occurring and serpentine-endemic mid-spring butterflies such as the fragile Falcate Orangetip, the small and attractively bark-scalloped Eastern Pine Elfin, and the bluestem grass dependent Cobweb and Dusted Skippers. Additionally, we will examine and identify several of the native grasses and wildflowers seldom seen in abundance elsewhere around Maryland. Close-focus binoculars are recommended, but butterfly net-and-release (with in-jar identification) will be conducted by the leader.
Directions: From the Beltway (I-695), take I-795 to Franklin Blvd, west,turn right. Bear right at Church Road. Turn left at stop sign onto Berrymans Lane. Turn left at Deer Park Road and go 2.5 miles to Visitor Center entrance on right.
Phone: 410-465-3287; e-mail: lmartin@dnr.state.md.us
Wednesday, May 9
Butterfly Madness, Purcellville, VA: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Ages 3-4. $10. Join us for a butterfly story and craft. Stay and play with your friends and have a snack too! Snack included. Held at Loudoun Valley Community Center, 320 W. School Street, Purcellville, VA. 540-338-4122/4123.
Thursday, May 10
Storytime On The Lake: Beautiful B-flies, Boyds, MD: 1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Ages 3-6. $4. Program #31401. Magic unfolds with tales of Nature's Living Rainbows - the Butterflies! Cruise the lake shores looking for our winged friends and make a beautiful flying Tiger Swallowtail. Held at the Black Hill Visitor Center, Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Thursday, May 10
The World of Butterflies on Taiwan, Washington, D.C.: 4:00 p.m. In an illustrated lecture, Tsai Bae-chun shares stories of decades spent tracking and photographing Taiwan's most elusive butterflies. He tells of being the first to document many species such as Taiwan's magnificent broad-tailed swallowtail (Agehana maraho). Mr. Tsai (or "Mr. Butterfly") is an art photographer who uses his work to turn public attention to nature. Introduced by Museum research entomologist Dr. Don R. Davis. Held in the Baird Auditorium, National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street & Constitution Ave. NW, in Washington, D.C. 20560.
Saturday, May 12
Crazy Caterpillars, Alexandria, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Children; $5. Munch, munch, munch... who's eating in the garden? Find out about these wonderful wigglers and make an egg carton caterpillar to take home. Held at Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. Call 703-642-5173 to make reservations.
Saturday, May 12
Butterflies, Alexandria, VA: 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Fee: $5. Children 6 - 12 years. Join the Naturalist Staff at Brenman Park (Samuel Tucker Elementary if raining) in celebrating Alexandria Earth Day. Lots of family fun! Offered through the Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center, 5700 Sanger Ave., Alexandria, VA. 703-838-4829.
Saturday, May 12
Dragonfly Survey at Riverbend Park, Great Falls, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Free. For adults or children 8 and up with an accompanying adult. Program cancelled if rain. Reservations are required. Riverbend Park is home to more than 40 species of dragonflies. Help add to the growing species list by collecting cast skins (exoskeletons) along the Potomac River. We hope to witness emerging dragonflies and see early season adult dragonflies on the wing. Held at the Riverbend Visitor Center, 8814 Jeffery Road, Great Falls, VA. Call 703-759-9018 for information.
Sunday, May 13
Butterfly Walk, Vienna, VA: 12 noon. See Ongoing above, or click here to view a flyer.
Sunday, May 13
Butterfly Walk, Delaplane, VA: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Free. Celebrate Mother’s Day by looking for butterflies on a two-mile trek with Mary Alexander and Steve Malone of the Washington Area Butterfly Club. See the brilliance and variety of Sky Meadows’ butterflies. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. Meet on the back porch of the house at Sky Meadows. Sky Meadows State Park, 11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane, VA 20144. (540) 592-3556.
Tuesday, May 15
Bugs To Butterflies, Rockville, MD: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 3 - 7 yrs. $5. Program #: 31100. Get all the buggy facts and buggy lore. Take a hike to look for insects and make an insect to take home. Held at Meadowside Nature Center, Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Wednesday, May 16
Nature Tots: Busy Bees! Laurel, MD: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 4. What’s the buzz with bees? Learn the life of a bee through songs, stories and crafts; and discover why these creatures are so important to humans! 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/
Wednesday, May 16
Saving the Chesapeake Bay: Reason for Hope in Every Garden, Wheaton, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Free; registration required. Course #: 31949. Roberta Faul-Zeitler & Dennis Zutant, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Speaker’s Bureau. The Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary – and a beloved national treasure that is under assault from many factors: sprawl, loss of trees and forests, air pollution, excess nitrogen from fertilizer, and runoff throughout its 64,000-square-mile watershed. Learn about the current state of the Bay and how you can make a difference. We’ll include tips for Bay-friendly gardening, lawn care, stormwater management, and best practices when building or expanding your property. Held in the Brookside Gardens Visitors Center Auditorium, 1500 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Thursday, May 17
Crazy Caterpillars, Alexandria, VA: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. - noon. Children; $5. Munch, munch, munch... who's eating in the garden? Find out about these wonderful wigglers and make an egg carton caterpillar to take home. Held at Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA. Call 703-642-5173 to make reservations.
Thursday, May 17
Pollinator Puzzle, Bethesda, MD: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 3 - 6 yrs. $4. Program #: 31798. How does a stationary plant gather pollen from far and wide to fertilize its flowers? We'll peer deep into nectaries and study petals to find out how plants lure their pollinators. Held at Locust Grove Nature Center, Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Thursday, May 17
Beautiful Butterflies, Leesburg, VA: 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Ages 2 - 3. $4. Program #: 304137. Create and decorate beautiful fluttering butterflies for all to see! Parent participation. Held at Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market Street, Leesburg, VA. 703-771-5913.
Saturday, May 19
Butterflies: Nature’s Festival of Colours, Laurel, MD: 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Ages 10+. Free; reservations required. Discover the role that butterflies play in the ecosystem and learn to identify several common to Maryland on this guided 2.5 mile hike. Field guide recommended. Bring water and dress for the outdoors. 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, May 19
Butterflies and Dragonflies at Banshee Reeks, Leesburg, VA: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Free. Join the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for one of our free, family butterfly and dragonfly walks. We will investigate some of the many diverse natural areas at Banshee Reeks and identify all of the butterflies and dragonflies we can find. If you own binoculars, please bring them. Banshee Reeks Nature Reserve is located at 21085 The Woods Road, Leesburg, VA. 703-669-0316. Questions: contact Andy Rabin at stylurus@gmail.com.
Sunday, May 20
Butterfly Walk, Vienna, VA: 12 noon. See Ongoing above, or click here to view a flyer.
Sunday, May 20
Butterflies of Blue Mountain, Linden, VA: Full-day field trip. ANS members: $28; Nonmembers: $39. Leaders: Dick Smith and Stephanie Mason. Blue Mountain, near Linden, VA, is best known for its spectacular wildflower display earlier in the month at the Thompson Wildlife Management Area. We’ll search for the rich diversity of butterflies that can be found here at the lower elevation Lake Thompson, as well as at the summit. We’ll hope to find swallowtails, including the uncommon Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail; the Appalachian Azure and other blues; plus other species both common and uncommon. Register by mailing or faxing the registration form (online at http://audubonnaturalist.org/pdf/catalog.pdf).
Sunday, May 20
Butterfly Walk, Great Falls, VA: 2:00 p.m. WABC member Scott Baron will be leading a walk from the Riverbend Park Nature Center, 8814 Jeffery Road, Great Falls, VA. Go to the second park entrance and meet in the nature center parking lot (that's the nature center near the meadow, NOT the visitor center near the Potomac). Juniper (Olive) hairstreaks have been seen here.
Tuesday, May 22
Puppet Show: Monarch's Migration, Laurel, MD: 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. All Ages. No Registration Necessary. Where is Monarch going? Migrate with Monarch on his journey to find out just where all monarchs like to travel and why! Puppet shows run about 20 minutes. The National Wildlife Visitor Center is located on Powder Mill Rd. between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Route 197 in Laurel, MD. For info, call 301-497-5887 or visit http://patuxent.fws.gov/
Wednesday, May 23
Beautiful Butterflies, Wheaton, MD: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 3 - 5 yrs. $5. Program #: 30422. Learn all about these flying flowers through a story, hike and craft. Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Wednesday, May 23
Planting a Butterfly Garden, Bethesda, MD: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 4 - 8 yrs. $6. Course #: 31805. We're not the only beneficiaries of a flower garden! After learning about butterfly development and structure, we'll help plant some flowers to attract them, and pot our own butterfly nectar source to grow at home. Held at Locust Grove Nature Center, Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Wednesday, May 23
Becoming Butterflies - Butterfly Tales, Rockville, MD: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 3 - 7 yrs. $5. Course #: 31115. Join us while we explore the life cycles of butterflies through stories, a craft and a tour of our butterfly garden. Held at Meadowside Nature Center, Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Saturday, May 26
Focus on Butterflies! Wheaton, MD: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Fee: $20; registration required. Course #: 30771. Don’t miss this opportunity to have the butterfly exhibit all to yourself – almost! On these special mornings, a limited number of photographers (10) will be welcomed (with their tripods) into the conservatory to photograph Brookside’s remarkable butterflies prior to the display opening to the public. Enjoy a quiet morning in the conservatory, when the light is perfect and the butterflies are just becoming active. Held in the Brookside Gardens Conservatory, 1500 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Sunday, May 27
Puppet Show: Monarch's Migration, Laurel, MD: 10:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. All Ages. No Registration Necessary. Where is Monarch going? Migrate with Monarch on his journey to find out just where all monarchs like to travel and why! Puppet shows run about 20 minutes. 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, May 27
Butterfly Walk, Vienna, VA: 12 noon. See Ongoing above, or click here to view a flyer.
Wednesday, May 30
Waggle Dance, Rockville, MD: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 3 - 6 yrs. $5. Course #: 31106. Let's wiggle and waggle as we learn about honey bees through stories, a craft and a visit to our observation hive! Held at Meadowside Nature Center, Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Wednesday, May 30
Nature Tots: Insects! Laurel, MD: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 4. Uncover the mysteries of creepy crawly insects through songs, stories, and an insect hike. 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/
Wednesday, May 30
USBG Butterfly Garden, Washington, D.C.: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Code: FT053007. FREE: Pre-Registration Preferred. Margaret Atwell, USBG Gardener. Spring is here and the perennials are finally pushing their way out of the soil. Flutter through the butterfly garden with Ms. Atwell as she shares tips on which plants you should grow for caterpillars, butterflies, and other wonderful pollinators. General maintenance tips will also be discussed. Location: National Garden Lawn Terrace. Held at the U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. Register via USBG Web page.
Thursday, May 31
Baby Bumblebee, Laurel, MD: 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Ages 3 - 4. $6. Program #: 304142. Make little bumblebees and learn a new bumblebee song. Parent participation. Held at Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market Street, Leesburg, VA. 703-771-5913.

June 2007

Saturday, June 2
Butterfly Basics, Chevy Chase, MD: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Free, but registration required. Leader: Pat Durkin. Tackling our region’s 150-plus butterfly species all at once is a quick route to brain-overload. Get started with a dozen or so that are typical of early summer. We’ll start with a lecture covering field marks, behavior, and how to lure these beauties to your garden. We’ll then head outside on the grounds of our Woodend Sanctuary to look for butterflies and their host plants. Our leader is a founding member of the Washington Area Butterfly Club and teaches in the Natural History Field Studies program. Made possible by the generosity of an ANS member. Woodend is located at 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD. Register by mailing or faxing the registration form (online at http://audubonnaturalist.org/pdf/catalog.pdf).
Saturday, June 2 AND Saturday, June 9
Photographing Butterflies and Gardens, Wheaton, MD: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Fee: $44; registration required. Course number 29399. Joshua Taylor, Jr., Archiphoto Workshops. In a two-session workshop, learn how to capture striking images of butterflies and flowers, and the use of basic photographic equipment to capture memorable images. The workshop will include illustrated handouts and prints and a two-hour shooting session in the Conservatory with the instructor. The final session of the workshop will be a formal critique of participants’ photographs. Note: Participants should have a working knowledge of their camera, and bring ALL photo equipment to both sessions, including a digital memory card or film, extra batteries, and camera manual. A tripod is optional, but highly recommended. Held in the Brookside Gardens Conservatory (second session will be held in Visitors Center Adult Classroom), 1500 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Sunday, June 3
Butterfly Walk, Vienna, VA: 12 noon. See Ongoing above, or click here to view a flyer.
Sunday, June 3
Butterfly Gardening, Annandale, VA: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Free; reservations required. Families. Dr. Dexter Hinckley, ecologist, shares his enthusiasm for butterfly gardening with a slide show of local areas and native species. Join a discussion of how to bring winged jewels into your backyard. Information available on native plants that are host to caterpillars and nectar sources for the butterflies. Held at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce Street, Annandale, VA. Call 703-941-1065.
Monday, June 4
Lovely Lady Bugs, Leesburg, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Ages 3 - 5. $6. Make a lady bug visor for all to see. Held at Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market Street, Leesburg, VA. 703-771-5913.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, June 4, June 6, and June 8
Creepy Crawlers, Bluemont, VA: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 5. $54 (+$3 supplies). Learn everything you ever wanted to know about bugs. Bring a snack. Instructor: Lynn Harris. Held at the Bluemont Community Center, 33846 Snickersville Pike, Bluemont, VA. 540-554-8643.
Tuesday, June 5
Nature Tots: Incredible Insects, Laurel, MD: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. OR 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 4. Introduce your preschooler to the buzzy world of our friend the insect through stories, songs and more in this fun, interactive 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/.
Wednesday, June 6
The Buzz About Bees, Purcellville, VA: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ages 2 - 5. $7. Explore the world of bees by observing mason bees (they don't sting), creating a bee dance, and by making a honeycomb candle. Held at Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, VA. 540-338-7603.
Thursday, June 7
June Jitterbugs, Reston, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. $7/child non-residents. Ages: 18 months - 35 months. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Let's get buggy! From squirmy worms to beautiful butterflies, explore the miniature world of Reston's spiders and insects. Sing songs, meet some bugs, and search the forest for critters. Held at Walker Nature Education Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA. Program information and reservations: 703-435-6530.
Thursday, June 7
Birds and Bugs of the Night, Wheaton, MD: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Program #33605. 3 yrs and up. $4. Join us on a stroll as we listen for the sounds of birds, bugs and other night singers. Adults should bring one flashlight/family. Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Saturday, June 9
Focus on Butterflies! Wheaton, MD: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Fee: $20; registration required. Course #: 30772. Don’t miss this opportunity to have the butterfly exhibit all to yourself – almost! On these special mornings, a limited number of photographers (10) will be welcomed (with their tripods) into the conservatory to photograph Brookside’s remarkable butterflies prior to the display opening to the public. Enjoy a quiet morning in the conservatory, when the light is perfect and the butterflies are just becoming active. Held in the Brookside Gardens Conservatory, 1500 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Saturday, June 9
Dragonfly Walk for Beginners, Woodstock, MD: 10:00 a.m. - noon. Free. Co-sponsored by Howard County Conservancy and the Howard County Bird Club. Learn about these interesting insects and see the newly created wetland on the site, a natural location for dragonflies. Cancelled in case of rain. Facilities at Howard County Conservancy, 10520 Old Frederick Rd, Woodstock, MD, 21163. Meet in the parking lot at Mt. Pleasant. E-mail questions to bonnieott@verizon.net.
Saturday, June 9
Meadow Magic, Arlington, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Free; registration required. Ages 4 - 6 with an adult. Program # 643204A. Walk through our forest to the meadow and explore the differences along the way. We’ll search for insects, spiders and other creatures. Dress to get a little dirty. For more information, call 703-228-3403. Register on-line at https://registration.arlingtonva.us/vsiwebtrac.html or call 703-228-4747. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Rd., Arlington, VA 22207.
Saturday, June 9
Butterflies: Nature’s Festival of Colours, Laurel, MD: 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Ages 10+. Free; reservations required. Discover the role that butterflies play in the ecosystem and learn to identify several common to Maryland on this guided 2.5 mile hike. Field guide recommended. Bring water and dress for the outdoors. 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/
Sunday, June 10
Butterfly Walk, Vienna, VA: 12 noon. See Ongoing above, or click here to view a flyer.
Monday, June 11
June Jitterbugs, Reston, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. $7/child non-residents. Ages: 18 months - 35 months. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Let's get buggy! From squirmy worms to beautiful butterflies, explore the miniature world of Reston's spiders and insects. Sing songs, meet some bugs, and search the forest for critters. Held at Walker Nature Education Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA. Program information and reservations: 703-435-6530.
Monday, June 11
Butterflies—Nature's Jewels, Sterling, VA: 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. OR 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 5; drop-off class. $10.50. Search for butterflies and caterpillars among the trees and flowers. Held at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling, VA. 703-444-1275.
Monday, June 11
Butterfly Buddies, Purcellville, VA: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ages 2 - 5. $7. Learn more about the life cycle of the beautiful butterfly. Held at Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, VA. 540-338-7603.
Wednesday, June 13
Dazzling Dragonflies, Great Falls, VA: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. $5. Ages 4 - 6 years. Reservations and advance payment required. Meet a dragonfly up close and then become a dragonfly through activities. Take a short hike and search for dragonflies and damselflies. Held at the Riverbend Park Nature Center, 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls, VA. 703-759-9018.
Wednesday, June 13
Ladybug, Ladybug, Arlington, VA: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (Program # 644502A); 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Program # 644502B); OR 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Program # 644502C). $3/per child, collected at program. Registration required. Ages: 3 to 5 years with an accompanying adult. Preschoolers will learn about these lovely spotted insects in this highly interactive program which may include stories, a craft, and a short hike. The theme for preschool programs is repeated during the month, so please register for only one session at each nature center per month. Parents are invited to stay and observe, or those with younger siblings may visit the rest of the building during the program. Held at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, VA. Registration Office: 703-228-4747 or register online: https:\\registration.co.arlington.va.us\vsiwebtrac.html.
Wednesday, June 13
National Garden Tour, Washington, DC: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. FREE: Pre-registration Requested. Code: FT061307. Robert Pritchard, USBG Gardener Supervisor. Wander through the recently opened National Garden. Discover what plants are growing in the Regional Garden, which roses seem to grow best in our area, and what plants attract pollinators to your garden. Tour is canceled if it rains. Location: National Garden - Terrace Entrance, U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. Register at http://www.usbg.gov/education/registration/index.cfm?ev_id=585.
Wednesday, June 13
Dragonfly Walk, Wheaton, MD: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Program #33618. 18 yrs and up. $6. Enjoy a walk through Wheaton Regional Park as we find and identify dragonflies along ponds and Pine Lake. Rain cancels program. Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Wednesday, June 13
Family Van Trip: Magical Fireflies, Boyds, MD: 8:30 p.m. - 10:45 p.m. Program #34956. 5 yrs & up. $12. Catch the magic of fireflies and all things that glow in the dark! Start the night out right by making the famous, really cool, anatomically correct flying/glow firefly, then travel by van to the Naturalist's secret mystical spot where you will see thousands of fireflies. Bring your camera and leave with awe. Maybe you will see some flying Fairies mixed in, too! Held at the Black Hill Visitor Center, Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Thursday, June 14
Ladybug, Ladybug, Arlington, VA: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (Program # 644502D); OR 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Program # 644502E). $3/per child, collected at program. Registration required. Ages: 3 to 5 years with an accompanying adult. Preschoolers will learn about these lovely spotted insects in this highly interactive program which may include stories, a craft, and a short hike. The theme for preschool programs is repeated during the month, so please register for only one session at each nature center per month. Parents are invited to stay and observe, or those with younger siblings may visit the rest of the building during the program. Held at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, VA. Registration Office: 703-228-4747 or register online: https:\\registration.co.arlington.va.us\vsiwebtrac.html.
Thursday, June 14
Butterflies—Nature's Jewels, Sterling, VA: 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. OR 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 5; drop-off class. $10.50. Search for butterflies and caterpillars among the trees and flowers. Held at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling, VA. 703-444-1275.
Friday, June 15
The Bug Bunch, Purcellville, VA: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ages 2 - 5. $7. Experience the world of insects through activities and crafts. Held at Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, VA. 540-338-7603.
Friday, June 15
Friday Night at the Movies: "Microcosmos," Lothian, MD: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Free and all ages are welcome. Join us for a fun evening in the Wetlands Center watching this fascinating film about insects. Afterwards we can discuss the movie. Join us on Saturday for a hike to search for insects in the field and forest. Held at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD. Call 410-741-9330 to make reservations.
Saturday, June 16
Insects Everywhere! Lothian, MD: 10:00 a.m. - noon. All ages are invited. Insects come in all shapes and sizes and can be found in every environment. Come explore the Sanctuary to learn more about a day in the life of an insect. Held at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD. Call 410-741-9330 to make reservations.
Saturday, June 16
Focus on Butterflies! Wheaton, MD: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Fee: $20; registration required. Course #: 30773. Don’t miss this opportunity to have the butterfly exhibit all to yourself – almost! On these special mornings, a limited number of photographers (10) will be welcomed (with their tripods) into the conservatory to photograph Brookside’s remarkable butterflies prior to the display opening to the public. Enjoy a quiet morning in the conservatory, when the light is perfect and the butterflies are just becoming active. Held in the Brookside Gardens Conservatory, 1500 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Saturday, June 16
Wild Ones: Chasing Fireflies, Arlington, VA: 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Ages 6 - 9. $2 fee per participant due at the park on the day of the program. Registration required. Program # 643204C. Kids are invited to join an exciting nature club. At this session we’ll learn about these fascinating glowing insects and then hike outside to catch some (then we’ll let them go). Dress to get messy. For more information call 703-228-3403. Register on-line at https://registration.arlingtonva.us/vsiwebtrac.html or call 703-228-4747. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Rd., Arlington, VA 22207.
Saturday, June 16
Second Howard County Dragonfly Count, Columbia, MD/Howard County: Appx. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Free. 5 groups of participants will count dragonflies and damselflies in pre-assigned areas of Howard County. No experience necessary; each group will have at least one experienced person. To sign up or for more info., contact June Tveekrem, June@SouthernSpreadwing.com or 410-715-3979. View the flyer at http://southernspreadwing.com/count2007.html
Saturday, June 16
Butterflies and Dragonflies at Bles Park, Ashburn, VA: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Free. Join the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for one of our free, family butterfly and dragonfly walks. This riverside park includes meadows and ponds which we will explore to identify all of the butterflies and dragonflies we can find. Bles Park, located at 44830 Riverside Parkway in the University Center development of Ashburn, is a 124-acre property that includes a 94-acre passive park with wetlands that will contain sections of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Broad Run Corridor Trail. If you own binoculars, please bring them. Questions: contact Andy Rabin at stylurus@gmail.com.
Sunday, June 17
Butterfly Walk, Vienna, VA: 12 noon. See Ongoing above, or click here to view a flyer.
Sunday, June 17
Butterfly Walk, Delaplane, VA: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Free. Celebrate Mother’s Day by looking for butterflies on a two-mile trek with Mary Alexander and Steve Malone of the Washington Area Butterfly Club. See the brilliance and variety of Sky Meadows’ butterflies. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. Meet on the back porch of the house at Sky Meadows. Sky Meadows State Park, 11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane, VA 20144. 540-592-3556.
Monday, June 18
Riverbend Dragonfly Count, Great Falls, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Free; reservations required. Ages 13 and up. Help count and net dragonflies as we walk to a variety of park habitats. More than 40 species have been recorded, and there are many more to find. Learn some dragonfly identification basics. Bring a lunch, water, and binoculars. Bring your own net or borrow one of ours. Held at the Riverbend Park Nature Center, 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls, VA. 703-759-9018.
Wednesday, June 20
A Walk in The Park: Wildflowers and Butterflies, Boyds, MD: 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Program #34263. 18 yrs & up. $4. We'll walk easy trails to watch the progress of spring. This will be a naturalist's walk, with time to observe, identify and appreciate birds, butterflies, and wildflowers. Location: Ovid Hazen Wells Park. Naturalist: Denise Gibbs. Offered through Black Hill Visitor Center, Black Hill Regional Park, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Thursday, June 21
Signs of Hope for a Disappearing Butterfly: The Baltimore Checkerspot, Montgomery County, MD: Section A: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Section B will be held Thursday, July 12.) Section A or B: ANS members: $21; Nonmembers: $29. Both sections: ANS Members: $37; Nonmembers: $51. Leader: Denise Gibbs. We’ll visit three sites in the upper part of Montgomery County, MD, where Maryland’s state butterfly, the Baltimore Checkerspot, has recently been found to occur naturally in the wild. Our leader, a county naturalist, has been a leader in efforts to protect and enhance this species’ wetland habitats on both private and park land. She will describe these efforts, whose results will be witnessed firsthand by participants. If we’re lucky, we will see Baltimore adults in flight on the first field trip. We’ll search for their eggs, caterpillars, and chrysalids on the later trip. Register for one or both sections. Offered through the Audubon Naturalist Society, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD. Register by mailing or faxing the registration form (online at http://audubonnaturalist.org/pdf/catalog.pdf).
Thursday, June 21
Wildlife in Your Backyard, Ridgely, MD: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Fee: $12 general public. Learn how to create a comfy home for wildlife right in your own one- to ten-acre backyard with Nevin Dawson, forest stewardship educator. Many landowners are interested in wildlife habitat but don’t know where to start. Wildlife habitat is an area that meets the life requirements of one or more animal species. An understanding of these requirements can help you provide for those species in which you are most interested. Topics will include deer management, planting for food and shelter, soft edge creation, and crops for wildlife. If there is a specific animal you would like information on, please e-mail the instructor at ndawson@umd.edu before the class. Nevin Dawson is the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension forest stewardship educator, based at Wye Research and Education Center in Queenstown. He has held extension duties in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Senegal, West Africa. Held at Adkins Arboretum, 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, MD. 410-634-2847.
Saturday, June 23
Focus on Butterflies! Wheaton, MD: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Fee: $20; registration required. Course #: 30774. Don’t miss this opportunity to have the butterfly exhibit all to yourself – almost! On these special mornings, a limited number of photographers (10) will be welcomed (with their tripods) into the conservatory to photograph Brookside’s remarkable butterflies prior to the display opening to the public. Enjoy a quiet morning in the conservatory, when the light is perfect and the butterflies are just becoming active. Held in the Brookside Gardens Conservatory, 1500 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Sunday, June 24
Butterfly Walk, Vienna, VA: 12 noon. See Ongoing above, or click here to view a flyer.
Sunday, June 24
Butterfly Walk, Great Falls, VA: 10:30 a.m. WABC member Scott Baron will be leading a walk from the Riverbend Park Nature Center, 8814 Jeffery Road, Great Falls, VA. Go to the second park entrance and meet in the nature center parking lot (that's the nature center near the meadow, NOT the visitor center near the Potomac). Juniper (Olive) hairstreaks have been seen here.
Sunday, June 24
Bee Aware! Arlington, VA: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Adults and children ages 11 and up with an adult. Join the staff of Long Branch Nature Center and Audubon at Home of Northern Virginia in celebration of National Pollinator Week with an Orchard Mason Bee workshop! Learn how and why to attract our native solitary bees, about their natural history, and build a bee box to take home! Donations to Audubon will be appreciated. For more information call 703-228-6535. Registration required by calling Audubon at 703-256-6895. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, VA 22204.
Sunday, June 24
Gardening for Pollinators, Arlington, VA: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Adults. Free. Registration required. Program # 644503C. Join us to learn how to make your garden more attractive to pollinators. Butterflies, hummingbirds, mason bees, moths and others will all be discussed; take home excellent handouts to help you make your yard pollinator friendly! Pollinator Seed Packets and Wildflower Plugs from Audubon at Home of Northern Virginia will help you get started. For more information, call 703-228-6535. Register on-line at https://registration.arlingtonva.us/vsiwebtrac.html or call 703-228-4747. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, VA 22204.
Monday, June 25
Little Explorers, Lovettsville, VA: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 5. $20. Search for critters, hunt for bugs! Short hike, songs, and games. Bring a bagged lunch for a picnic. Held at Lovettsville Community Center, 57 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville, VA. 540-822-5284.
Tuesday - Thursday, June 26 - June 28
Caterpillars/Butterflies, Aldie, VA: 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. $40. Ages 3 - 4. Come learn about bugs from Cathy. Held at the Arcola Community Center, 24328 Goshen Road, Aldie, VA. Call 703-327-3111 to make reservations.
Friday, June 29
Firefly Friday, Marriottsville, MD: 8:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. $2 per person. Come join a member of the park staff and learn about the bug that carries its own light. Hear a firefly story and see the bugs dance in the night with their lights all aglow. Meet in the parking area by contact station. Held at Patapsco Valley State Park, 3001 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD (Baltimore County). Please call 410-442-1454 or e-mail Joe Vogelpohl at jvogelpohl@dnr.state.md.us in advance to sign up.
Friday, June 29
Summer Firefly Hike, Bethesda, MD: 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Program #35156. 3 yrs & up. $2. Wander with us at dusk to watch the fireflies light up, wish the birds good night, and listen to the evening insect chorus. All participants must register and pay. Held at Locust Grove Nature Center, Cabin John Regional Park, 7777 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Friday, June 29
Storytime: I Wish I Were A Butterfly, Rockville, MD: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (Program #33691) OR 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Program #33692). 3 - 6 yrs. $5. Learn about the life cycle of butterflies and what magical creatures they are in their coats of many colors as we read a story, do a craft and go looking for the real thing! Naturalist: Sandy Staples. Held at Meadowside Nature Center, Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Saturday, June 30
Focus on Butterflies! Wheaton, MD: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Fee: $20; registration required. Course #: 30775. Don’t miss this opportunity to have the butterfly exhibit all to yourself – almost! On these special mornings, a limited number of photographers (10) will be welcomed (with their tripods) into the conservatory to photograph Brookside’s remarkable butterflies prior to the display opening to the public. Enjoy a quiet morning in the conservatory, when the light is perfect and the butterflies are just becoming active. Held in the Brookside Gardens Conservatory, 1500 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Saturday, June 30
Odonate (Dragonflies and Damselflies), Lothian, MD: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. For teens and adults. Join entomologist Dr. Benedict Hollister for his ongoing insect lecture series. Participants will see specimens to learn some of the basics, then travel outdoors to see these aerial acrobats in their element. Held at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD. Call 410-741-9330 to make reservations.
Saturday, June 30
Butterflies: Nature’s Festival of Colours, Laurel, MD: 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Ages 10+. Free; reservations required. Discover the role that butterflies play in the ecosystem and learn to identify several common to Maryland on this guided 2.5 mile hike. Field guide recommended. Bring water and dress for the outdoors. 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, June 30
Dragonflies of Patuxent, Laurel, MD: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Free; all ages. Come learn about dragonflies—the ferocious predator of pond and meadow—and how to identify several common ones in this hands-on hike. 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/.

July 2007

Sunday, July 1
Dragonflies, Alexandria, VA: 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Adults. Free; reservations required. Cancelled if rain. 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. Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd. in Alexandria, VA. Call 703-768-2525 to make reservations.
Sunday, July 1
Dragons of the Air, Poolesville, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Members: $18; Nonmembers: $25. The wetlands at Hughes Hollow and the Potomac River near Poolesville, MD are an ideal spot to study dragonflies. Leading our search for both common and uncommon species is Karen Sheffield, a naturalist who has conducted seven years of dragonfly surveys at Riverbend Park in Fairfax County, VA. Offered through the Audubon Naturalist Society, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD. Register by mailing or faxing the registration form (online at http://audubonnaturalist.org/pdf/catalog.pdf).
Sunday, July 1
Bugging Out! NW Washington, D.C.: 11:00 a.m. Ages 5 - 10. Free. Explore the incredible world of insects while learning the important role that bugs play in nature. Offered through Rock Creek Park. Held at the Peirce Mill and Barn, located at the corner of Tilden Street (same as Park Road), NW and Beach Drive, Washington, D.C. 20015. Rock Creek Park Activity Line: 202-895-6239.
Sunday, July 1
Let's Hear it for the Beetles! Annandale, VA: 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Families. Free; reservations required. Meet the most common animal in the world: beetles. Naturalists introduce visitors to a variety of local beetles including ladybugs, fireflies, and bess beetles, all commonly found in Fairfax County. Discover what makes beetles such a successful insect. Learn about these harmless local creatures and how to safely catch and release them in your backyard. Held at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 7701 Royce Street, Annandale, VA. Call 703-941-1065.
Sunday, July 1
Butterfly Walk, Vienna, VA: 3:00 p.m. See Ongoing above, or click here to view a flyer.
Monday, July 2
Insect Pals, Sterling, VA: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Ages 2 - 4. No unregistered siblings, please. $7. Look for tracks, listen for bird calls, look under logs, and more with a grownup friend. Held at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling, VA. 571-258-3700.
Tuesday, July 3
Explore Insects, Clinton, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Ages 5 and up. $4. Be an entomologist for a day! Dress for hiking and use nets & bug boxes to collect specimens. Clearwater Nature Center is located at 11000 Thrift Road in Clinton, MD. Call 301-297-4575; TTY 301-699-2544 for more information.
Tuesdays, July 3 - August 14
Comprehensive Course on Butterflies, Chevy Chase, MD: 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. $335. Field Trips: July 7, 14, and 28. Instructor: Pat Durkin. Not only are butterflies among nature’s most beautiful creations, they have fascinating life histories. In this seven-week summer class, learn about the remarkable biology, behavior and plant relationships of butterflies and their caterpillars. Field and class experiences emphasize identification, conservation and butterfly gardening. Gain a foundation to continue your own gardening and conservation projects. This course is one in a series in USDA Graduate School’s certificate program in Natural History Field Studies, offered in partnership with Audubon Naturalist Society. Held at ANS's Woodend Sanctuary, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD. To register online: http://www.grad.usda.gov/course_details.php?cid=NATH2275E .
Friday, July 6
Bugs and Butterflies, Leesburg, VA: 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Ages 18 - 24 months. $4. Beautiful butterflies and wiggly bugs will be made in this class. Parent participation. Held at Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market Street, Leesburg, VA. 703-771-5913.
Friday, July 6
Meadow Bugs, Prince Frederick, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Ages 3 - 5 with adult. Reservations are required. Fee: $3. Snack will be provided. The grass in the meadow is so tall this time of year - you can hardly see over it! We'll use the sweep nets to discover what kinds of critters make their home in that tall grass. If you're into bugs, then this is the class for you! Come prepared for a meadow walk - wear a hat and bring some water! Held at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, 2880 Grays Rd., Prince Frederick, MD. Call 410-535-5327 to register.
Friday, July 6
Water Bugs, Arlington, VA: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Ages 8 - 10. $2 fee per participant due the day of the program. Registration required. Program # 643204E. If you think land insects are cool, wait until you see the amazing creepy-crawlies that make their home under the surface of the water. We’ll net in the pond, examine the array of water bugs that live there, and play insect games as we discover how these creatures survive in an underwater environment. Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Rd., Arlington, VA. Register on-line at https://registration.arlingtonva.us/vsiwebtrac.html or call 703-228-4747.
Friday, July 6
Firefly Hike, Sterling, VA: 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. All ages. $4; registration required. Pay at door. Explore these glowing insects! Bring a jar to catch and release fireflies on the trails. Remember your flashlight to play "firefly tag." Held at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling, VA. 571-258-3700.
Saturday, July 7
Meadow Bugs, Prince Frederick, MD: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Ages 3 - 5 with adult. Reservations are required. Fee: $3. Snack will be provided. The grass in the meadow is so tall this time of year - you can hardly see over it! We'll use the sweep nets to discover what kinds of critters make their home in that tall grass. If you're into bugs, then this is the class for you! Come prepared for a meadow walk - wear a hat and bring some water! Held at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, 2880 Grays Rd., Prince Frederick, MD. Call 410-535-5327 to register.
Saturday, July 7
Bug Me, Sterling, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. All ages. $4; registration required. Find out what makes a bug a bug, sing a fun song, create your own bug, and search for the wild ones. Held at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling, VA. 571-258-3700.
Saturday, July 7
Beetles, Bugs, and Butterflies, Wheaton, MD: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Ages: 3 yrs. and over. $8/child; $5/adult. Program #33650. Learn about insects through catch and release, an insect puppet show, and a visit to Brookside Gardens Wings of Fancy. Reservations required for all, but adults pay $5. Held at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton Regional Park, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD. Program registration is through ParkPASS. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Saturday, July 7
Roaches! Arlington, VA: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Families. Registration required. $1 fee per participant due the day of the program. Program #644504I. Learn about everyone’s favorite insect – cockroaches! Okay, maybe they’re not exactly everyone’s favorite, but they’re certainly an insect that is greatly misunderstood. Come on - be brave and scurry on over to join the fun: races, stories and games! We promise you’ll have fun. For more information, call 703-228-6535. Register on-line at https://registration.arlingtonva.us/vsiwebtrac.html or call 703-228-4747. Meet at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, VA.
Sunday, July 8
Butterfly Walk, Vienna, VA: 3:00 p.m. See Ongoing above, or click here to view a flyer.
Tuesday - Thursday, July 10 - July 12
Butterflies and Insects, Aldie, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Ages 3 - 4. $55. Cathy's Mini-Science. Come learn science with Ms. Cathy. Held at the Arcola Community Center, 24328 Goshen Road, Aldie, VA. Call 703-327-3111 to make reservations.
Tuesday - Thursday, July 10 - July 12
Ladybugs, Aldie, VA: 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Ages 3 - 4. $40. Cathy's Little B.U.G.S. Come learn about bugs with Cathy. Held at the Arcola Community Center, 24328 Goshen Road, Aldie, VA. Call 703-327-3111 to make reservations.
Wednesday, July 11
Storytime: Flying Jewels, Rockville, MD: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (Program #33707) OR 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Program #33708). Ages 3 - 6. $5. Dragonflies come in many shapes and colors. After we read a story and make a simple craft, we'll hike to the study pond to see if we can catch sight of these beautiful insects. Naturalist: Sandy Staples. Held at Meadowside Nature Center, Rock Creek Regional Park, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD. Go online at www.parkpass.org or use automated phone registration at 301-962-1477.
Thursday, July 12
Signs of Hope for a Disappearing Butterfly: The Baltimore Checkerspot, Montgomery County, MD: Section B: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Section A was held in June.) Section A or B: ANS members: $21; Nonmembers: $29. Both sections: ANS Members: $37; Nonmembers: $51. Leader: Denise Gibbs. We’ll visit three sites in the upper part of Montgomery County, MD, where Maryland’s state butterfly, the Baltimore Checkerspot, has recently been found to occur naturally in the wild. Our leader, a county naturalist, has been a leader in efforts to protect and enhance this species’ wetland habitats on both private and park land. She will describe these efforts, whose results will be witnessed firsthand by participants. If we’re lucky, we will see Baltimore adults in flight on the first field trip. We’ll search for their eggs, caterpillars, and chrysalids on the later trip. Register for one or both sections. Offered through the Audubon Naturalist Society, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD. Register by mailing or faxing the registration form (online at http://audubonnaturalist.org/pdf/catalog.pdf).
Thursday, July 12
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Sterling, VA: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Ages 3 - 5. $15 (+$3 supplies). Another popular book by Eric Carle. Join us for a morning filled with crafts and a story. Held at the Sterling Annex Community Center, 1115 W. Church Road, Sterling, VA. 703-430-6673.
Thursday, July 12
What the heck are Beneficial Insects? And how do I know one when I see it? SW Washington, D.C.: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. FREE: Pre-registration requested. Dayna Lane, USBG Plant Records Technician; specialist in Ecological Horticulture. Have you ever found a bug in your garden and didn't know whether to stomp it or love it? Come learn about: the numerous beneficial insects you may already have in your garden; which insect is considered the "Ugly Duckling" of the insect world, and why you will be HAPPY to see an invasion of aphid MUMMIES. With her slide show, Ms. Lane will show how beneficial insects help with pest management, how you can recognize them, and flowers to grow to attract these fascinating and helpful insects. Plus tips on Green Gardening! Held at the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory Classroom, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. Register through the USBG Web site.
Thursday, July 12 and Saturday, July 14
The Natural History of Caterpillars, Chevy Chase and Poolesville, MD: Thursday: 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.; Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ANS members: $35; Nonmembers: $49. Caterpillars are cool! Here’s a chance to learn about their many forms and their fascinating life histories, including defense strategies and ant associations. We’ll also focus on how to find and identify local caterpillars using recent field guides and discuss their host plant associations. Under the leadership of Nate Erwin, director of the Smithsonian Insect Zoo, we’ll combine an evening presentation at Woodend with a field exploration at Hughes Hollow, near Poolesville, MD. Offered through the Audubon Naturalist Society, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD. Register by mailing or faxing the registration form (online at