wildlife

Biologist helped revolutionize Blue Ridge Parkway’s wildlife management practices

Veteran ranger and Blue Ridge Parkway biologist Tom Davis follows a grassy path east from the Franklin County parking lot of one of the park’s oldest designated recreation sites. He passes through a gap in the weathered, stacked-rail cedar fence into a 2,500-foot mountaintop meadow of chest-high wildflowers abuzz with bees, birds, butterflies, and moths. […]

by Eric J. Wallace

Henry Hoke Interview

Five questions for the author of this lyrical novella. Open Throat by Henry Hoke. MCD. pp. 176. $25 Konstantin Rega: What drew you to tell this tale about a mountain lion in “ellay,” California? Henry Hoke: My real-world inspiration was the cougar P-22, which crossed the 405 freeway and roamed L.A.’s Griffith […]

by Konstantin Rega

Alpaca Love

Adorable and friendly, alpacas are big business in the Commonwealth. It’s impossible not to smile when you hike with an alpaca. On a blue-sky day, I’m strolling along the edge of a forest with Elkton, a white alpaca, at Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch in Purcellville. We duck under a tree […]

by peggy sijswerda

Where the Bears Are

As more prowl Virginia’s neighborhoods, it pays to be bear wise. When you put up a bird feeder in a suburban neighborhood, it’s a sure bet that the squirrels, or even a pesky raccoon, will have a go at it. What you may not expect, however, is to look out the window […]

by caroline kettlewell

Park Power

Richmond’s James River Park celebrates 50 years. (Photo by Kyle LaFerriere) Once a tangled stretch of wilderness, James River Park (JRP) now hosts more than two million people each year on more than 600 acres, spanning seven miles. The world took note: Outside Magazine hailed Richmond as the “Best River Town in […]

by tricia pearsall

The Furry Flyer

In a wingsuit of fur, the Southern flying squirrel takes to the air. When evening falls, and we retreat to our lighted shelters, wild things stalk the night. Owls hunt on silent wings. Deer mow down the ornamentals. Coyotes trot heedlessly through backyards. And squirrels fly overhead? Why yes indeed, they do. […]

by caroline kettlewell

Look to the Sky

A bird is a bird is a bird in this global count of our feathered flyers. Step outside to count backyard birds Feb. 17-20 and you’ll be joining global research on nature’s feathered aviators. “This count is so fun because anyone can take part—whether you are an expert, novice, or feeder watcher,” […]

by Konstantin Rega

Single-Minded Stinger

The cicada killer wasp is a one-bug specialist. (Illustration by John Holder) When the whirring, whining drone of dog-day cicadas vibrates through the haze of Virginia’s late-summer heat, it also marks the season when another species arises. A determined hunter, the cicada killer wasp prowls the air with a single prey in […]

by caroline kettlewell

Showy Showoff

The red-winged blackbird is no retiring songbird. (Illustration by Michael White) Whether you’re a beginning birder, or no birder at all, the male red-winged blackbird is pleasingly easy to spot. Glossy black in body, the male sports bright red “epaulets” edged with yellow on its wings. They’re a common bird with […]

by caroline kettlewell

The Buck Stops Here

Once extinct, Virginia’s Eastern elk are back. elk elk 2005 acrylic on reclaimed ply 10″ x 10.6” spring 2022 phil’s paintings are inspired by the overlooked erverydayness that surounds us. his artworks suggest the passage of time through a marked surface and evidences of wear. phil is represented by i2i art inc. at www.i2iart.com/phil […]

by caroline kettlewell

A Place Called Guinea

In Gloucester County, a centuries-old culture with its own dialect endures. guinea pics 01-28-2022 06 (Photography by Rob Ostermaier) A yard sign in front of the wooden house behind the white fence on Lillaston Lane summed up Guinea Neck in Gloucester County this way: “There’s no place like this place anywhere near this place so this […]

by Staff

Plunge into Planet Shark

Sink your teeth into the newest exhibit at the Science Museum of Virginia. (Courtesy of the Science Museum of Virginia) Sharks first appeared on the earth more than 450 million years ago. There are currently about 400 species and they range from a foot long (the cookiecutter shark) to 40 feet (the whale […]

by Staff

The New Herbal

A beautiful book of illustrated plant portraits and botanical knowledge. With his 1543 herb manual, botanical pioneer Leonhart Fuchs created a masterpiece of Renaissance botany and publishing. This edition is based on Fuchs’s personal, hand-colored original and features over 500 illustrations, including the first visual record of New World plant types such as maize, […]

by Staff

Touch Not the Cat

The venomous puss caterpillar is no cuddly kitten. (Illustration by Miriam Martincic) As we sat stuck at home last fall, a flurry of local news stories seized on the apocalyptic spirit of the season: “Weird-looking poisonous caterpillars are on the loose in Virginia,” one headline announced. “Alien hairball sends woman to emergency […]

by caroline kettlewell

Opossum Particulars

No rodent, this pascal packs a paunch. Although it doesn’t have the cachet of the kangaroo or the cuddliness of the koala, the Virginia opossum is the only native North American member of that strange order of non-placental mammals, Marsupialia. Like other marsupials, the opossum has a pouch in which it nurtures […]

by Henry L. Waller

Smile and Say “Sheepshead”

This fish story has teeth. (Illustration by Michael Frith) Ever tried to crack open a clam with your bare teeth? Yeah, me neither. But if you did, you’d probably want a mouthful of industrial-strength teeth that could make quick work of a shell and crush a crustacean or two, for good measure. In […]

by caroline kettlewell

One Lucky Lobster

It’s now living large in Newport News. When a speckled lobster turned up in a Manassas Red Lobster, a well-trained employee noticed the three-pounder’s distinctive markings and put in a call to the seafood chain’s Orlando corporate headquarters. Turns out “Freckles” was a calico lobster, so rare that the chances of catching […]

by Staff

Something Prickly This Way Comes

For porcupines, the best offense is a deadly defense. (Illustration by Delphine Lee) When you’re a skunk, you know your story will always lead with the stink. When you’re a snapping turtle, it’s going to be the snap. And when you’re a porcupine? Well obviously, it’s all about the quill. Armed with some […]

by caroline kettlewell

A Passel of Parks

New outdoor spaces across the Commonwealth help Virginia recharge. Design Pics Inc / Alamy Stock Ph Alamy Stock Photo EAWN2B EAWN2B Image of a downy woodpecker pecking at a tree. Paradise Creek Nature Park is an oasis on the industrial Portsmouth waterfront. Summer visitors walk through trails lined with wildflowers, kayak, take […]

by Staff

Pages: 12

Events

July 23, 2025

“Earth to Table” Invitational Exhibition

Workhouse Arts Center

July 23, 2025

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Virginia Repertory Theatre

July 23, 2025

Remember Siegfried & Roy? Comedy Musical SHANGRI-LA-LA July 22-24

Arlington Drafthouse Theater

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Around the world, as both a beverage and a pastime, tea is steeped in history and ritual. From the casual to the ceremonial, tea is a throughline for many cultures, and now, it’s enjoying a renewed interest from beverage pros who are drawn to tea’s unique flavor characteristics, health benefits, and cultural connections. Recently, two […]

by Stephanie Ganz

Why Virginia Is Becoming a Major Tech Hub

Everyone knows tech geniuses are around every corner in Silicon Valley or Seattle. But don’t underestimate Virginia. The Commonwealth is becoming an increasingly major player in the tech industry, appearing on top techy lists worldwide. Hyperscale Hub From projected fusion plants to 3D-printed houses, it’s never a slow news day in the Old Dominion’s tech […]

by Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

STAUNTON – Festival of Concerts June 26–Aug. 2: The stunning strums and resounding chords of classical music echo through Staunton’s mountain landscape as Heifetz International Music Institute students from around the world take the stage, with new concerts every day. HeifetzInstitute.org GLOUCESTER – Food Truck Frenzy July 13: Virginia’s most mouthwatering food trucks descend on […]

by Hope Cartwright

wildlife

Biologist helped revolutionize Blue Ridge Parkway’s wildlife management practices

Current Issue

Events

“Earth to Table” Invitational Exhibition

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Remember Siegfried & Roy? Comedy Musical SHANGRI-LA-LA July 22-24

Most Popular

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Why Virginia Is Becoming a Major Tech Hub

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

wildlife

Biologist helped revolutionize Blue Ridge Parkway’s wildlife management practices

Current Issue

Events

“Earth to Table” Invitational Exhibition

Waitress at Virginia Repertory Theatre

Remember Siegfried & Roy? Comedy Musical SHANGRI-LA-LA July 22-24

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Most Popular

New Innovative Virginia Tea Rooms to Try

Why Virginia Is Becoming a Major Tech Hub

Virginia’s Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events 2025

Get our most popularweekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today

Get our most popular
weekly newsletter: VL Today