NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY - September 24, 2011
Thank you to all the volunteers whose hard work made National Public Lands Day such a success at the Historic Villages at Cape Henry.

Projects completed included the replacement of 180 worn wooden boards on the public walkway ordinarily used by visitors to the Historic Villages to access our unique stage and seating area.  Also accomplished by our dedicated volunteers was the planting of over 600 native coastal trees, shrubs, grasses and other herbaceous species in two secondary dune areas.  The planting of this diverse assemblage of coastal natives will increase the biodiversity of the area, greatly benefiting local wildlife and potentially reducing impacts associated with storm occurrences.

Species included in the planting effort: Amelanchier canadensis, Diospyros virginiana, Heterotheca gossypina (C. gossypina) , Prunus serotina, Rhus copallina, Sassafras albidum, Myrica cerifera, Muhlenbergia capillaris, Panicum amarum, Uniola paniculata, Solidago sempervirens, Iva imbricata, Borrichia frutescens, Sesuvium portulacastrum, Gaillardia pulchella, Helianthus debilis

Sources for planting materials: Wild Woods Farms, Virginia Beach, VA, Aquatic Plants of Florida, Sarasota, FL, London Bridge Nursery, Virginia Beach, VA, Appleseed Nurseries and Landscape, Eastville, VA