Introduction to Pollinator Gardens:

What, Why and How

Join us at 7 PM on April 22 for a FREE online program, “Introduction to Pollinator Gardens.” Our speaker, Stephanie Johnson, the owner of Green Steeze, an eco-friendly conservation landscaping firm. She has been a critical part of the success of the  Fairfax Master Naturalists’ Pollinator Garden Chapter Project at Mason Neck State Park. Steph will discuss what it takes to grow and manage a pollinator garden; how this style of gardening is perceived by the pollinator, the gardener, and the public; and answer your questions about supporting plants and pollinators at home. 

Register for the program at https://friendsofmasonneckstateparkinc.wildapricot.org/event-6077291

Co-sponsors:

         

Picture the Magic 2024 Photography Contest -- Best Photos

Ranging from landscapes and sunsets to macro photography of insects and fungi, the best entries in our annual photo contest show the beauty of our park. Spend a few minutes looking through the photos and you'll agree that Mason Neck State Park is truly a special place.    

Grand Prize:  Sunset Heron by Pete Thiringer

You can see all 69 of the best photos at 2024 Picture the Magic Best Photos.pdf

Friends of Mason Neck State Park Annual Meeting 

The Friends of Mason Neck State Park their annual meeting on Sunday, February 2. President Hillary Clawson summarized the Friends' activities for 2024 and provided a glimpse of our plans for the future.  

All the Board’s current directors were re-elected. Gail Mlinarchik stepped down as Secretary and John Rand took that position. Also, Jacqueline Kennedy was elected to the Board. You can review their brief biographies here.

Photography Class with Randy Streufert

Nature photography can be immensely rewarding, as well as resulting in beautiful photos. 

Photo by Randy Streufert

The Friends’ Board Member Randy Streufert, who has won numerous awards for his nature photographs, will teach a class on nature photography basics at 10 AM on Saturday, April 12.  He’ll start with a classroom presentation and weather permitting, will follow it with a short walk along Bay View Trail for hands-on instruction and advice on photography in Mason Neck State Park. The class will be limited to 15 registrants to ensure that everyone gets personalized attention. The cost of the class is only $20. You can register for the class here.

All-terrain Wheelchair

The Park has a Trackmaster All-Terrain battery-powered wheelchair available for guests with limited mobility. The chair can be used on most of the park's trails, and is available without charge. Call the Park at 703-339-2385 for more information.

Join the Fight Against Disposable Plastic

The Friends of Mason Neck State Park are doing their part to slow the production and disposal of plastics.  Plastic bottles take as long as 450 years to decompose in the environment.  Before they do, they break down into "micro-plastic" bits that are eaten by animals and can end up in our own bodies.  On land, plastic adversely affects soil fertility, and can choke our streams and rivers.

The Friends of Mason Neck State Park have stopped offering disposable water bottles to Park volunteers and at Friends events.  Instead, they are offering free multi-use bottles that recipients can take home with them.  Hopefully, people will use these bottles instead of buying more disposable ones.  

Mason Neck State Park also is committed to reducing the use of disposable plastic bottles and has installed water bottle filling stations at the Visitor Center and the picnic area.           

Do your part too:  find ways to limit your use of disposable plastics, including those grocery store bags that have a typical useful life of 15 minutes -- the time to get from store to home -- and take 1000 years to decompose in a landfill.