A Plant Well-Suited to May’s Spring Showers

by Judith Warrington, JRA Communications Coordinator

On my way to a weekend camping trip at James River State Park in Gladstone, I spied one of my favorite signs of spring growing along the roadside, the mayapple. If you’ve never stopped to examine this charming native perennial plant, start looking for them in mixed deciduous forests or along shaded roadsides and stream banks. Its downward curving multi-lobed leaves form a perfect little parasol, hence the mayapple’s more common name, umbrella plant.

The mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum, also called American mandrake (but no relation to the true European mandrake plant), devil’s apple or hog apple, forms bright green drifts along shady roadsides. Native to much of the Eastern and Central U.S., the plants form large colonies connected by rhizomes in moist, humus-rich soils. Springtime mushroom hunters consider the mayapple to be an indicator of the presence of tasty morels.

Plants can grow to 18 inches in height and a mature plant bears a single white flower that appears in early May, followed by a yellow-green fruit in summer. The apple name is probably due to the apple blossom-like appearance of the flower that grows under the leaves. The oblong berry itself looks more like a lime than an apple and has a lemony taste.

Mayapples have been used by the Native Americas and in folk medicine for their medicinal properties, and while the ripe fruit is not considered toxic in limited amounts, be on the safe side and don’t eat it. All other parts of the plant -- foliage, rhizomes and roots -- are highly poisonous. Even deer tend to leave this plant alone! So, if you are looking for a deer-resistant spring ground cover for naturalizing a shady, un-mowed area, this charming native could be the answer. Just be advised that the plant can be invasive and may go dormant in summer.

Although not endangered, leave plants in the wild. You can often find mayapple plants for sale at nurseries that carry native plants. Several ornamental Asian varieties of this herbaceous perennial may also be available. Plant one mayapple and you could soon have your own colony.

Whether you call them mayapples, umbrella plants or devil’s apples, these native plants are one of the welcome sights of warm weather on the James.

Poster Contest Winners

1st Place Winner
Heather Gay
Robious Middle School
6th Grade

JRA conducted a poster contest, "What a Healthy River Means to Me" for public middle school science students in the City of Richmond, City of Lynchburg, City of Williamsburg/James City and in the counties of Henrico and Chesterfield that lie within 5 miles of the James River. The poster contest was designed for students to apply what they have learned about a healthy river ecosystem. They illustrated the impact of clean water on their community; on the way in which people use the river; the benefits to wildlife; and the student’s life.

The top three winners were chosen from more than 100 entries. A $100 first place prize was awarded to Heather Gay of Robious Middle School in Midlothian, whose teacher, Kimberly Giska, will also receive $100 for purchasing classroom supplies. A $75 second place prize was given to Rebekah Chun of Sandusky Middle School in Lynchburg, whose teacher, Erin Davis, will also receive $75 for classroom supplies; and a $50 third place prize went to Emily Adams, also of Sandusky Middle School in Lynchburg, whose teacher, Ms. Davis, will receive $50 for classroom supplies.



2nd Place Winner
Rebekah Chun
Sandusky Middle School
8th Grade



“The range of entries was remarkable and that made choosing the winners especially difficult,” said Sherrie Tribble, JRA’s Special Events & Projects Manager. “It was clear to our staff that the students had a good understanding of river ecology and many of them included examples of local wildlife in their work. This competition was meant to give youngsters an opportunity to express what is important to them. Enjoying the river’s natural beauty, keeping the river litter-free, and having a good time on the water were the primary themes.”



3rd Place Winner
Emily Adams
Sandusky Middle School
8th Grade



JRA will be featuring the winning art work at the new James River Ecology School that is being established at Presquile National Wildlife Refuge. This contest was made possible through a generous grant given by Technical Foundations, Inc., a Richmond-based contractor, and a long-standing member of the James River Association.

 
Entrants that made the top ten:

Jahmorni Monroe
Albert Hill Middle School
6th Grade

 

Brandy Hamilton
Robious Middle School
6th Grade

Justyn Canada
Robious Middle School
6th Grade

Cadé Jones
John Rolfe Middle School
6th Grade

Sadie Lopez
Elkhardt Middle School
8th Grade

Lindsey Manning
Robious Middle School
6th Grade

Haley Quarles
WJCC- Berkeley Middle School
6th Grade

Thank you, Jamil!

At the Extreme Stream Makeover in Newport News we encountered an unlikely volunteer who turned out to be one of our most dedicated.

 Early Monday morning, we were registering volunteers at our “home base” in the K-Mart parking lot when a quiet, lanky teenager in low-slung pants rode his a bicycle up to the registration table, asked what we were doing… and could he have some of the food we’d set out for breakfast. “If you volunteer,” we told him. And to our surprise, he signed up!



ESM volunteer Jamil Lee takes a break during a trash cleanup.



Jamil Lee worked the morning shift planting a large rain garden at Stoney Run Athletic Complex, although he didn’t work too hard, ate lunch, then worked the afternoon shift. At the end of the day we figured we’d seen the last of him. But bright and early Tuesday morning he was back again, ate breakfast and worked all day. This time a little harder than the previous day. Before he left, he said he could only work a half-day on Wednesday, but he’d be here in the afternoon. And he was. In fact, he was there for every day of ESM.

 The Monday volunteers from Anheuser-Busch must have passed on the story of this young, hungry volunteer. Each day the next group of A-B volunteers made sure Jamil had a buddy to work with him. While the company does not have an established youth mentoring program, these volunteers simply took it upon themselves to take this youngster under their wing for the week.

By the end of the Extreme Stream Makeover on Friday afternoon, Jamil had logged more volunteer hours than any other individual. When the media showed up, Jamil was there to help carry their equipment. He ended up being photographed by a local newspaper and interviewed by a TV station reporter.

At JRA we talk a lot about engaging young people in our efforts to protect the watershed. We may never know what inspired this youth to plant, haul mulch and pick up trash with JRA all week, but we’re certainly glad that he did. Thank you, Jamil!









The James River Steward's Almanac

The James and Your Lawn

by Gabe Silver, JRA Education and Outreach Manager

Be a Friend of the River…choose the right mower.  

Gasoline-powered lawn mowers and trimmers add quite a bit of pollution to the atmosphere, not only reducing the quality of the air we breathe but also polluting our rivers and the Bay. Air pollution easily translates to water pollution when it rains: as much as one third of nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay comes from air pollution.

Two-stroke engines, lack of emissions controls, and poor maintenance can all lead to lawn care becoming a larger burden on our environment than it has to be. The EPA says 5 percent of urban air pollution comes from gas-powered lawn equipment. Additionally, gas mowers use 580 million gallons of gas yearly with 17 million gallons being spilled during the refueling process.

Depending on the size of your lawn (which can always be reduced), there are many options available to you. First and foremost, you can keep your current equipment well-maintained. If you are ready to buy new equipment or downsize from what you use today, consider one of the following air and water-friendly options.

1. Four-stroke gasoline engines (no oil burning!)
2. Electric motor powered equipment (corded or cordless)
3. Hand-powered equipment (You guessed it…this is the best!)

This spring, please remember to consider your neighbor’s quality of life and the environment when choosing your lawn care equipment.

More Info About Greener Lawn Mowers

Be a Guardian of the River…reduce the size of your lawn.

Yes, it’s true, the big American lawn tends to be one of the worse environmental offenders around our homes. Caring for the lawn doesn’t just take a lot out of your free time; it also puts a lot of pollution into the environment. With 40 million acres of lawn across the country, the fuel, fertilizer, and herbicides really stack up against a clean environment.

This season, ask yourself if you really use your whole lawn. How much lawn do you need? Could you replace certain parts of your lawn with a mulched bed of beautiful native perennials, shrubs, or trees? What will you do with your free time not spent caring for un-used lawn space in the future?


After asking these questions, it’s time to take action. Decide how you want to reduce your lawn size this season and have at it! Then start enjoying the money and time you save.

More on the American Lawn

Turf Alternatives Video

Wildlife of the James - Migratory Fish in the James River

By Gabe Silver, JRA Education and Outreach Manager

As a fisherman, it is impossible to live near the falls of the James River and not feel fish in your blood this time of year. In spring, the warming water temperature in the James triggers legendary runs of migratory fish coming up the river both to spawn and to eat the spawners. The numerous herring, shad, and rockfish in the river draw another species to the river in droves- Homo sapiens “piscavore”- our beloved fishermen, known for their absence from family life this time of year.  The boat ramps and banks are crowded but there are enough fish for everyone, as long as everyone obeys catch limits and other wildlife laws.

The species of fish most sought after this time of year in the James are these:

1. American shad - a protected species that was once a mainstay in the American diet and has been decimated by dams and overharvest. A strong fighter up to 5 lbs.

2. White Perch -This small cousin of the rockfish (striped bass) is thought by some to be the best eating fish you can catch. With a stringer full, you’ve got dinner.

3. Rockfish - the striped bass is a voracious predator that can grow to over 50 lbs and is famous in restaurants and in fishing ports.

4. Hickory shad - these more numerous and smaller cousins of the American shad can be harvested in tidal waters under current regulations and are also tenacious fighters.

All of these fish have something in common. They are anadromous fish, meaning they live in saltwater but then come to the James to spawn, have fascinating adaptations that allow them to move between saltwater and freshwater throughout their life cycle. The difference of these environments is extreme; it would be something akin to a human being able to survive naked in Antarctica and Death Valley all in the same month. These amazing fish have been a boon to humans living on the banks of the James for thousands of years, and today they still are.

Learn More:


Shad Cam at Bosher’s Dam Fish Passage

Wildlife of the James Article about the American Shad

Go Native!

Spring is the time to start planting! Native plants provide the type of shelter and food that are necessary to sustain local wildlife. Doug Tallamy and the University of Delaware compiled a list of the most beneficial native plants, which is based on the plant’s ability to support native insect herbivores, as well as support overall biodiversity.

The top 5 woody plants and top 5 perennials for the Central Virginia region are:

Top 5 Woody Plants:

Quercus (Oak)

Prunus (Black Cherry)

Salix (Willow)

Betula (Birch)

Populus (Poplar)

More Top Woody Plants

More Top Woody Plants

Top 5 Perennials:

Solidago (Goldenrod)

Aster (Asters)

Helianthus (Sunflower)

Eupatorium (Joe Pye, Boneset)

Ipomoea (Morning Glory)

More Top Perennials

JRA’s Extreme Stream Makeover Program Receives 2011 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award

The James River Association’s “Extreme Stream Makeover” initiative was a Gold Medal award winner in the 2011 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award. The awards recognize the significant contributions of environmental and conservation leaders in three categories: environmental projects, environmental programs and land conservation. The awards were presented to the winning to businesses and industrial facilities, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies and individuals on April 6 at the Environment Virginia Symposium in Lexington.


Speaking about the awards, Governor Bob McDonnell remarked, “We are very proud of the Virginians in these private, non-profit and government entities who have demonstrated the innovation and dedication to improve our environment and make the lives of their fellow Virginians better.”

You can be part of this “award-winning” experience. JRA will be holding an Extreme Stream Makeover on April 11-15 in Newport News. For more information on Extreme Stream Makeover or to volunteer, visit http://www.extremestreammakeover.org/

Naval Warfare Was Changed Forever on the James River



Currier & Ives’ 1862 lithograph  of the
 combat between the “Monitor” and the “Merrimac”



by Judith Warrington

In early March 1862, Union naval forces controlled the lower Chesapeake Bay supplying their land troops and making trade and transport difficult for the Confederacy. On March 8, five of the Union’s most powerful men o’ war lay at anchor in Hampton Roads, when across the river came the CSS Virginia, formerly the USS Merrimack. Unlike the conventional wooden warships at anchor, the Virginia had been converted into a maneuverable, steam-powered ironclad.

Upon first sighting of the ironclad vessel, the Union ships called all crews to quarters and began firing steadily, hitting the Virginia many times, but never slowing its progress. An eyewitness described the approaching ironclad as looking “like the roof of a very big barn belching forth smoke as from a chimney on fire.” Returning fire from her cannons, the Virginia rammed the wooden-hulled sloop, USS Cumberland. Even as she went down, the Cumberland’s crew continued firing its guns in order to prevent the ironclad from destroying any other ships. A gallant action, but it was all in vain.

The frigate USS Congress was next in the Virginia’s sights. It floundered helplessly, having run aground in a failed attempt to escape. After an hour of exchanging fire, the Congress surrendered, its crew abandoned ship and then set it afire. Likewise, the steam-propelled USS Minnesota had gone aground. Only the fading daylight spared it until the next day when the Virginia would return.

As March 9 dawned, the Virginia returned to finish off the Minnesota and the remaining Union ships. But along side the frigate was the Union’s own ironclad, the USS Monitor, which had arrived from New York not long after the Virginia’s departure the previous evening. So began what many historians consider to be the first modern naval battle as the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (or as many people refer to it in this battle, the Merrimack) blasted away at each other off Sewell’s Point. Both ironclads suffered severe damage. At midday, the Monitor’s commanding officer was blinded by shrapnel, forcing the ship to temporarily withdraw. This gave the Virginia an opportunity to return to Norfolk. The engagement was essentially a stalemate, but it changed the history of naval warfare forever.

The Virginia survived another two months, only to be scuttled when Norfolk fell to Union forces in May 1862. Although the Monitor sank off Cape Hatteras on New Year’s Eve of the same year, that’s not the end of its story. To learn more about the fate of the USS Monitor, visit http://www.marinersmuseum.org/uss-monitor-center/uss-monitor-center