Growing’s On at MeadowlarkFall2022 A NOVA Parks property
Admission closes 30 minutes prior to garden closure.
Openatrium@nvrpa.orgbyappointment
THE ATRIUM OFFICE
Online: lightshttps://www.novaparks.com/events/winter-walk-of-atrium-at-meadowlarkhttps://www.novaparks.com/weddings-catering/the-meadowlark-botanical-gardenshttps://www.novaparks.com/parks/
In person: 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct. Vienna VA 22182
No daytime garden hours on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
CONTRIBUTORS
JulesCo-editors:Maloney Chelsea Mahaffey
instagram.com/winterwalkoflights/
VISIT US: facebook.com/MeadowlarksWinterWalkOfLightsinstagram.com/theatriumatmeadowlarkfacebook.com/theatriumatmeadowlarkinstagram.com/meadowlarkbotanicalgardensfacebook.com/MeadowlarkGardensmeadowlark@nvrpa.org703-255-3631
Photography: Tom Stovall, Dennis Govoni. Jules Maloney, Chelsea Mahaffey
10am – 4 pm – November through March
10am – 7 pm – April through October
CONTACT US:
HOURS OF OPERATIONS
MEADOWLARK BOTANICAL GARDENS THE ATRIUM OFFICE VISIT
EMPLOYEEFROMCONTACTUSUSTHEMANAGERSPOTLIGHT
HOURSCONTENTSCONTRIBUTORSOFOPERATIONS
CHRIS LIEBERMANN AROUND THE GARDEN THE BONSAI PAVILION THE SEASONAL GARDEN EVENTS AND PROGRAMS SNEAK PEAK WE'RE HIRING!
EXCLUSIVE MEMBER BENEFITS GIFT IDEAS WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON IN THE GARDENS
Chelsea Mahaffey
Our volunteers are in wildly different stages of their life. Some people are life-long visitors of the garden and have finally found time as an adult in retirement. Some are taking a break from college or are on gap year and want to learn a new skill. Others are working remotely and want to find some time for socialization. Some found us during the pandemic because they wanted to find opportunities outdoors.
Volunteerism is important, now more than ever.
From the Manager
People all over the world engage in volunteerism for a variety of reasons: to improve their community, to gain a new network of like-minded friends, to support their local charitable institution, or to learn a new skill. Volunteers at Meadowlark echo the same sentiment and then more. They are learning about native plants in our Potomac Valley Collection. They are teaching us a few things about technology with our historical digitization project. They are fielding visitor questions and helping us develop a more robust tour program.
We are grateful for the decades of volunteerism as well as its recent growth at the garden. As many people decide to reconnect with nature in their own way, they are finding joy in our volunteer opportunities. From garden volunteers to visitor relation aides, trails volunteers tospecial event volunteers, Meadowlark runs on volunteer power. Find out more about volunteering at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens on our website.
As always, thank you!
Employee Spotlight
It has been exciting to both learn and teach in my leadership position.
Getting to know Meadowlark’s staff
My background is in Facilities Management. I’ve worked as Ranger and a volunteer for the State of Maryland. I saw the job opening at Meadowlark, which was an opportunity to use my skills and experience, so I applied. I accepted a job as a maintenance tech and have been promoted since.
What do you wish other people knew about Meadowlark?
What do you do when you aren’t at Meadowlark?
Tell me how you first got involved with Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
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I love to spend time with my wife and daughter, especially outdoors. I enjoy working in my personal woodshop, turning wood to make various items like pens and magnifying glasses to sell in my side business.
Chris Liebermann
Chris Lieberman is our Maintenance Supervisor at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. Chris leads his team in the day-to-day operations of the Gardens and can be found teaching his staff how to repair irrigation, planning and setting up for Winter Walk of Lights, or assessing any of our facilities on campus. Chris is also a certified facilities management professional.
Who are you and what is your role at Meadowlark?
My name is Chris Liebermann. I am the Maintenance Superviosr at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. I have been a part of the Meadowlark staff for almost 17 years. During the first five years, I was a Maintenance Technician and then was promoted to Maintenance Supervisor 12 years ago. I oversee the grounds and facilities of our 95-acre property including six buildings, 3 ponds, miles of trails, and many acres of turf. For the past 10 years, I have also overseen the installation, maintenance, and takedown of the Winter Walk of Lights as well as planning, creating, and purchasing new light display features.
With such a diverse landscape, there is a place for everyone in the gardens to be able to reconnect with Nature and just unwind. I always like to walk our unpaved trails when I get a chance, and sometimes just stop to listen. Some of the best ones can be found in the back of the property including Packard Trail.
The interesting people, places, and things about the garden
Around the Garden
On display at the Bonsai Pavilion from early Spring through October, the collection of bonsai changes seasonally and includes conifers, deciduous, and tropical species. Stop by the Pavilion on weekends between 10am and 1pm, where you can talk Bonsai with a volunteer docent from the NVBS, weather permitting. To learn more about the fascinating art of Bonsai or to volunteer, visit nvbsbonsai.org.
The addition of Bonsai to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens started in 2010 with the donation of a bonsai collection from Dr. William Orsinger, a longtime member of the Northern Virginia Bonsai Society (NVBS). In 2018, NVBS partnered with Meadowlark to construct the Bonsai Pavilion which was made possible with donations from Eric Yoshihashi and Rae Nuppenau. Since the opening of the Bonsai Pavilion, members of the NVBS loan their Bonsai trees for display in the Pavilion and provide daily care.
The Bonsai Pavilion
side of the bed is an interpretation of regional short meadows, primarily composed of clumping grasses and non-woody flowering plants. It exemplifies a habitat following an extreme disturbance such as a severe wildfire or volcanic
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
Located on the along the windows of the back terrace of the Visitor Center, the Seasonal Garden is transformed each Spring. This year, Meadowlark Horticulturist Sara Do presents a depiction of Ecological Succession with a garden entitled Beauty in NatureChange.isdynamic
OstrichFfern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)
Blue Gramma (Bouteloua gracilis)
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Flamethrower')
The Seasonal Garden
Plant Species Highlighted:
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey')
– constantly changing. While some of these changes are slow and occur over numerous human lifespans, this seasonal display exhibits changes in our regional ecosystems understood as ecological succession. Ecological succession is a fascinating process with many paths and driven by different levels of disturbance. This display shows one of many paths of ecological
Onsuccession.thesunny
move across the bed towards the shade, grasses and non-woody plants are slowly replaced by shrubs and trees. This transition is characteristic to our region’s land ecosystems with woody plants becoming more dominant when few extreme disturbances occur.
Asexplosion.theeyes
At the far side of the bed lies deceased trees, fallen logs, and fungi – meant to represent the breakdown of plant material and return of nutrients to the ground. As time passes, trees die and fall, creating homes for decomposers (like mushrooms) who then return the nutrients back to the earth.
Pup Days at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Nov 2 & 16, Dec 7 & 21 | 10am - 3:30pm
Photographers, birders, strollers, and anyone who enjoys a peaceful morning walk are invited to visit during special hours starting at 6:00 a.m. (The Gardens normally open at 10:00 a.m.) Regular Garden admission/ memberships apply.
Virginia Chamber Orchestra joins us for another season of music at the Korean Bell Garden. VCO quintets will entertain us with classical music in an intimate setting. Bring a blanket to enjoy this outdoor concert. Free with regular garden admission or membership.
Sunrise Hours in the Gardens
Dress up your pup for a treat during this festive season!
September 24 at 6:30am
Events & Programs
September 18 & 25 | 3pm - 4pm
Informal educational offerings are advertised on social media. These programsand hands on demonstrations will highlight seasonal blooms. Keep an eye on our events page for details.
Fall events
REGISTER
Sept 21, Oct 5 & 19 | 10am -6:30pm
Enjoy walking at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens with your pup on these select Wednesdays. Each dog owner/ handler must agree to and sign the Assumption of Risk and Rules of Participation before entering the Gardens. All dogs must be on 6-foot leash at all times. Retractable leashes are not permitted. Regular garden admission/ memberships apply for human visitors. Pup admission is $6 and free for Meadowlark members.
Stop by the Bonsai Pavilion where volunteer docents from the Northern Virginia Bonsai Society will share their knowledge about the art of Bonsai. Weather permitting. Free with regular garden admission/membership. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct | 10am-Noon
Music in the Gardens
CLICK HERE TO
Discover Zone: The Art of Bonsai
September 24, October 8 & 22 | 10am - Noon
Birding and breakfast in the Gardens! Check in at the Visitor Center to receive your Breakfast-on-the-Go and Feathered Friends Fun Find sheet which will provide suggestions on where to search for birds as well as some interesting nature facts. $10 per person. Online registration required.
Book Walk: THE SPIDER
Fall Bonsai Exhibition
October 29, 30 & 31 | 10am - 6pm
October 10 - 31
Breakfast with the Birds
Discovery Zone : All About Bells in the Korean Bell Garden
Children, age 2-4, will learn about different aspects of nature through a story and garden exploration. $9 per child. Preregistration is required.
September 24 | 7am - 9am
Learn about the art of Bonsai and enjoy some beautiful trees in an exhibition by the Northern Virginia Bonsai Society in the Visitor Center. Free.
Halloween Scavenger Hunt
September 22 & October 15 | 10:30am - 11:30am
Preschool Nature Nuts
Enjoy a walk with stops at stations to read the humorously illustrated book THE SPIDER from the Disgusting Critters series. In this book, Author and Illustrator Elise Gravel teaches about spiders in the most amusing manner that both adults and children will enjoy and remember. Free with regular Garden admission.
September 24 & 25 | 10am - 4pm
Put on your Halloween costume and enjoy hunting for jack-o-lanterns in the Children’s Garden. Turn in your completed Halloween scavenger hunt for a treat! Learn about spiders on our Book Walk Trail THE SPIDER and take some fun photos of the kids with our seasonal decorations in the Children’s Garden. $7 per person. All ages welcome.
Stop by the Korean Bell Garden to discover the art, history, and science of bells with volunteer docent Becky Strode. Free with regular garden admission/membership.
Mark your calendars! Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights opens on Friday, November 11 and continues every night through Sunday, January 8, 2023. Hundreds of flowers, birds, woodland animals, a stream complete with jumping fish, Mr. Tomlinson’s Garden (complete with rabbits), an Enchanted Forest, winter scenes and holiday trees---all in lights. Last year’s Winter Walk of Lights had more than 111,000 visitors so be sure to plan ahead and purchase your tickets when they go on sale in October. Visit www.winterwalkoflights.com for details, discounts, and to purchase your tickets.
Flexible schedules, a festive atmosphere, and fun coworkers make the Winter Walk of Lights a terrific place to work. Our energetic staff is diverse, including high school (age 16+) and college students, working adults who want to increase their income, and retirees who enjoy working a few nights each week. Apply a novaparks.com/employment.
WE’RE HIRING!
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Sneak Peak
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Exclusive Member Benefits
Free daily admission • Discounts in the Garden Gift Shop • Member only extended garden hours • Member Discount nights for Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights • Member appreciation days throughout the year (watch your email) Early access to Meadowlark’s Quarterly Newsletter Gift Ideas Hand made mugs from Elizabeth Ferrell. Book your company holiday party at the Atrium during the Winter Walk of Lights. Locally made magnify glass from Portable Pastimes. Ways to Celebrate the Season in the Gardens Bring the family for the Haloween Scavenger Hunt. Take a walk around Lake Caroline and watch the trees change colors. Volunteer with our staff during one of our fall events.2 3 Did you know you can renew your membership ONLINE? CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
@novaparksnovaparks.com I 703.352.5900
