After two years, the long-awaited return of the Bluebell Festival is finally upon us.
The Bluebell Festival is a free, family-friendly event that allows everyone to learn about and enjoy nature.
Participants will be able to tour the Cedar Run shoreline, where they can see the Virginia Bluebells that spread across an almost mile-long space.
It will be held at Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area, 1014 Deepwood Lane in Nokesville, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 10, according to a release from the Prince William Conservation Alliance (PWCA). More information regarding the event activities can be found on the PWCA website.
This action-packed day will be filled with different activities, including birding along the Bluebell Trail and checking out bird and bee habitats.
There, you will connect with people trying to enhance Prince William County and the groups that lead the charge.
Make sure to wear proper attire for the event, because you will be out in nature. This includes long pants, solid shoes, and socks that can go over your pants.
The Bluebell Festival is made possible by its sponsors, PWCA and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, and supporter Marine Corps Base Quantico.
| 10:20 a.m. |
Candice Lowther
PWCA |
Birding the Bluebell Trail |
| 10:40 a.m. |
Phil Silas
PWCA |
Exploring habitats for birds and bees |
| 11 a.m. |
Michael Keiffer
Bull Run Mountain Conservancy |
Discover nature |
| 11:20 a.m. |
Jim Klackowicz
Friends of Leesylvania State Park |
Riparian ecosystems |
| 11:40 a.m. |
Bill Olson
Rob Orison
Historic PW/PWCA |
History in the woods at the Green Level Cemetery |
| 12 p.m. |
Cindy Smith
George Mason University |
A home for every bird and bug |
| 12:20 p.m. |
Julie Flanagan
New Earth Photography |
Native trees, forest ecosystems |
| 12:40 p.m. |
Valerie Huelsman
PWC Forest Pest Mgt. |
How do bugs affect forest health? |
| 1 p.m. |
Eli Hosen
PWCA |
People in the woods |
| 1:20 p.m. |
Kevin Parker
PWCA |
The sounds of nature |
| 1:40 p.m. |
Larry Meade
NoVA Bird Club |
Things that fly — Birds, butterflies, and dragonflies |
| 2 p.m. |
Nancy Vehrs
VNPS/PWWS |
Woodland wildflowers and other native plants |
| 2:20 p.m. |
Jordan Herring
VA Dept. of Forestry |
Floodplain Forests |
| 3 p.m. |
Tom Thraller
Virginia Master Naturalists |
Bluebirds and beyond |
This article is written by Contributing Writer Nicholas Nohe.
