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A Bird’s Eye View of the Low Line

August 11, 2020

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Part of the reason we are introducing #organic and

Part of the reason we are introducing #organic and #sustainable practices on the Low Line is to embrace nature’s natural balance. By keeping harmful chemicals away from our projects we make it safe for #garden spiders like this one to set up shop. They’re part of a well-balanced eco-system, so when we see them in the gardens we know we’re on the right track!

Photo credit to Kelly M.

#ecofriendly #rva #richmond #lowline #lowlinegardens #capitaltrees #urbangarden #urbanlandscape #publicgarden #green #greenspace

If you’re off work today in honor of Labor Day,

If you’re off work today in honor of Labor Day, consider spending some time recharging by connecting with nature down at the Low Line Gardens and Low Line Green.

Photo credit to Kelly M.

#RVA #Richmond #LowLineRVA #CapitalTrees #UrbanGarden #Greenspace #PublicGreenspace #LaborDay

Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is a nativ

Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) is a native tree and is featured at the Low Line Gardens and also earned a spot here, at the Low Line Green.⠀
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#nativetrees #planttrees #ecofriendly #RVA #RichmondVA #UrbanGarden #RainGarden⠀

When you visit the @virginiacapitaltrail next, mak

When you visit the @virginiacapitaltrail next, make sure you take in your surroundings! There’s some beautiful foliage to be seen along the Low Line - the linear garden that stretches from Great Shiplock Park to the Floodwall.⠀
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#CapitalTrees #RVA #RichmondVA #LowLine #VirginiaCapitalTrail #Trail⠀

Somewhere along the line, bark mulch became the go

Somewhere along the line, bark mulch became the go-to cover for landscapers. But bark mulch doesn’t do a great job of adding nutrients back to the soil, and over time it can do more harm than good by making it difficult for air, water and nutrients to get to the plants. At our projects, you may notice that we’ve started taking a different approach. When we prune plants, we leave the pruned foliage “in place” underneath the plants where it can slowly break down and return nutrients back to the soil. This practice is called “mulch in situ.” It may look a little less tidy but it’s a great way to reduce garden waste and naturally improve the health of your soil.⠀
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#sustainability #gogreen #CapitalTrees #Compost #RVA #RichmondVA #Ecofriendly #UrbanGardening #PublicGreenspace #Greenspace

The Low Line Gardens' linear layout makes social d

The Low Line Gardens' linear layout makes social distancing a breeze. Embrace nature and get some fresh air, there’s plenty of room to spread out!

#LowLine #CapitalTrees #RVA #RichmondVA #SocialDistancing #Nature #GetOutside #FreshAir

Capital Trees has received the prestigious Harry J

Capital Trees has received the prestigious Harry J. Banker Gold Leaf Award for Outstanding Landscape Beautification, from the International Society of Arboriculture. ⠀
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The Department of Forestry Community Forestry Partnership Coordinator, Molly O’Liddy, nominated Capital Trees for the award. The DOF is a longtime partner of Capital Trees and has awarded us grants for planting native trees and shrubs during all three phases of The Low Line.⠀
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This international award is an inspiring affirmation that our work not only elevates Richmond’s public landscapes but is a model for municipalities (worldwide!) of the importance of transformative public landscapes.⠀
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#RVA #Richmond #UrbanGarden #PublicLandscape #Greenspace #Green #Nature #NativePlants #CapitalTrees #GoldLeafAward⠀

Spring and summer have flown by, and this year has

Spring and summer have flown by, and this year has proven to be tumultuous and rife with change. One thing that’s become more apparent than ever is that our community needs access to safe and beautiful outdoor space. We need places to take in nature, to feel more centered, and to reconnect (from 6 feet apart) with friends. If access to green space is something you feel passionate about, please consider supporting Capital Trees. We advocate for, create and maintain public greenspace in Richmond, and private donations are a big part of that. https://bit.ly/3fpHQT4

Public gardens take a lot of work to maintain. Oft

Public gardens take a lot of work to maintain. Often, they rely on synthetic chemicals and fertilizers to keep weeds at bay. So, this year, we’re integrating more sustainable management practices into our maintenance protocols for the Low Line and the Low Line Green. We’ll start sharing about our new approach so you can learn more!⠀
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#Sustainability #sustainable #GoGreen #CapitalTrees #RVA #RichmondVA #ReduceRunoff #Organic #EcoFriendly #EnvironmentallyFriendly⠀

It's time for another "Meet A Board Member" Friday

It's time for another "Meet A Board Member" Friday!

We're excited to welcome Genni Sasnett to our Board of Trustees!

Before her retirement in January 2014, Genni Sasnett was the COO for a not for profit agency headquartered in the District of Columbia serving people with disabilities in 100% facility-free services in DC, NJ, TN, VA and PA. Genni’s passion is working directly with private provider agencies, assisting them with conversion from sheltered work and other segregated services to competitive, integrated employment. Most recently, Genni has worked with provider agencies in Al, DC, PA, MI, IA, GA, IL, UT, LA and MD on provider transformation through the Office on Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), and with other agencies in MA through the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI). Genni is one of four authors of “Provider Transformation 1.0” and is an author and co-editor of “Provider Transformation 2.0”, both are manuals produced under the auspices of ODEP. Genni earned an undergraduate degree in Special Education from Georgia State University and holds a master’s degree in Transitional Vocational Special Education from George Washington University. She was the proud recipient of APSE’s professional award in 2018.

Her community service experience is extensive, and includes:

2015 – Chair, Church Hill UCI Welcoming Committee

2017-19 VP, President, Past President, Church Hill Association 0f RVA

2019 – Participant, Richmond 300 Master Plan Land Use Working Group

2017 – Present, Member, the Woman’s Club, Richmond

A little #transformationtuesday featuring the Low

A little #transformationtuesday featuring the Low Line Green. A forgotten, and underused piece of land that is now blooming with beautiful native plants.⠀
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#CapitalTrees #RichmondVA #Richmond #RVA #ShockoeBottom #UrbanGarden #Greenspace #BeforeAndAfter #PublicLandscaping #UrbanPlanning #Greening⠀

This "Meet A Board Member" Friday we're welcoming

This "Meet A Board Member" Friday we're welcoming Kathryn West BACK to the Board of Trustees. We're so glad to have her back on the Board!

Kathryn Blackwell West served on the Capital Trees Board from 2014-2017. During her tenure, she served as Chair of the Governance Committee and Secretary. For 25 years, Kathryn enjoyed a successful banking career at SunTrust and Bank of America. She is currently a realtor with Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville using her banking experience to help clients with their real estate needs. Kathryn earned a BA from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, an MBA from the University of Richmond, and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from ConnectVA. She is a member of the James River Garden Club and The Woman’s Club and she serves on the Mission Committee at St. James’s Episcopal Church. Kathryn also fosters puppies and kittens for the Richmond SPCA.

We’re doing our part to support the monarch butt

We’re doing our part to support the monarch butterfly populations. Shown here is Asclepius tuberosa, more commonly known as butterfly weed which serves as a host plant for monarchs. Did you know? Milkweed is the ONLY plant that monarch caterpillars eat - without it, the numbers of monarchs will continue to decline.⠀
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#butterflies #monarchs #monarchbutterfly #butterflygarden #milkweed #pollinatorgarden #pollinatorfriendly #rva #richmond #capitaltrees⠀

"Meet A Board Member" Friday is back, and we're hi

"Meet A Board Member" Friday is back, and we're highlighting Dylan Hendrickson and welcome him as a newcomer to our Board of Trustees. We're looking forward to your contributions Dylan!

We've included his bio below:

Dylan graduated from VCU with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in December 2017. He is currently a VCU Master’s Degree candidate in the Master of Accountancy w/ a concentration in Data Analytics program and will graduate this August. Dylan began his professional career at Worth Higgins & Associates as an A/R & A/P associate in January 2018. He started work in public accounting at WellsColeman in October 2018 providing assurance and tax services to a diverse set of local private companies, nonprofit organizations, and high net-worth individuals. He has been a member of the Capital Trees Finance Committee since September 2019 and was selected to serve on the Virginia Society of CPAs 2020 – 2021 Young Professional Advisory Council.