I did a short weekend in Richmond, anchored by the Virginia Master Naturalists conference. I attended only one field trip, and one indoor session. A few of the sessions duplicated webinars that I’ve attended recently. But it was nice to walk a bit with Johnny Townsend on trails at Pony Pasture (where I had visited with Genevieve Wall last year.)
Friday was hot, so for my first visit to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (free! thanks, Friends of National Arboretum reciprocal membership), I ducked into the shade as much as I could.
Today started out cool and rainy. My intent was to stop by Widewater State Park for a quick visit. Giving the rain a chance to blow off, I took the long way home on U.S. 1 instead of I-95. Widewater, though small and designed for water access, had a few treats to offer: a single inflorescence of Marsh Fleabane (Pluchea odorata), a pollinator garden bursting with Bidens and host to two new moths for me, Goldenrod Stowaway (Cirrhophanus triangulifer) and Hawaiian Beet Webworm Moth (Spoladea recurvalis), and some late Summer Azures. Osprey, Belted Kingfisher, and Double-crested Cormorant scooting about on Aquia Creek.