Now that winter is coming, most of trees on the property are looking bare. Although the color of the changing leaves in the fall is beautiful, losing leaves serves an important purpose for the local trees and ecosystem. Trees that lose their leaves in winter—called deciduous trees—do so mostly to conserve resources and protect themselves from harsh conditions. As temperatures drop and daylight decreases, trees receive environmental signals that it’s time to prepare to go dormant. Maintaining leaves requires energy and water, both of which become scarce in winter. By shedding leaves, trees reduce water loss through transpiration and avoid the energy cost of keeping leaves alive when photosynthesis would be inefficient in low light. Leaf drop also helps trees prevent physical damage. Winter brings snow, ice, and strong winds that can accumulate on broad leaves and potentially break branches. When leaves fall to the forest floor, they slowly decompose, enriching the soil with organic matter and essential nutrients. This process improves soil structure, increases its ability to retain moisture, and supports a diverse community of microorganisms, insects, and fungi. Leaf litter also helps prevent erosion by protecting the ground from heavy rainfall and stabilizing the soil. This efficient recycling, combined with the protective benefits of shedding leaves, helps deciduous trees survive winter and regrow healthy leaves in spring. If you want to propose a conservation project, please email Cathy Rastovski
Save Our Streams: Virginia Save Our Streams is a program of the Izaak Walton League of America. Founded in 1922, the Izaak Walton League is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected conservation organizations. Virginians have the right to know whether our streams are safe for swimming, fishing, playing, and drinking. Virginia Save Our Streams monitors the water quality of Virginia’s streams and educates the public about the importance of clean water.
The chapter seeks volunteers to help start a stream-monitoring program for five areas around the property. If interested contact Eric Brown or Catherine Rastovski on how you can help.

Follow these links for some lists of beautiful Northern Virginia native plants: * https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/soil-water-conservation/sites/soil-water-conservation/files/assets/documents/plantthisnotthat.pdf * https://www.plantnovanatives.org/_files/ugd/9c55f5_1d2d3e0424f0420dacbfc78a48acfb41.pdf
References: 1. Invasive Species: What You Can Do, The Nature Conservancy, June 28,2023 2. Invasive Plant Alternatives, Official website of Fairfax Country Government 3. Why Virginia natives are the best choice, Plant Virginia Natives