Observe
"There is always in February some one day, at least, when one smells the yet distant, but surely coming, summer."
– Gertrude Jekyll
This year we have had more than one February day that hinted at the coming warmth. Spring-like weather this early in the year can cause worry – for warming climates, premature blooms, and late freezes. But in the end, whether we bundle up against the cold or catch the scent of spring in the mild air, this season is as good as any for observing and appreciating the natural world around us.
February has been a month full of observances. Celebrations like Black History Month and International Day for Women and Girls in Science help us show appreciation for the under-appreciated, and our calendars are marked for Groundhog Day, President's Day, Valentine's Day, and more. All of these observances have been opportunities for us to fill our senses with love – for nature and for each other.
Read below to see highlights from our month of love as well as what we have coming up soon.
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There is limited space for our March 29th public lecture in Middleburg. Reserve your seat soon!
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2020 Researchers in Residence
We are proud to announce our 2020 Researchers in Residence! The five awardees, coming from universities, libraries, and research centers around the U.S. and abroad, will spend up to two weeks at Oak Spring this year, using the resources available in the Oak Spring Garden Library to advance their diverse array of projects. Read more >
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2020 Artists in Residence
We are also thrilled to announce fourteen individuals who will participate in our 2020 Artists in Residence program – our largest cohort yet! These artists work in a multitude of visual and literary arts, from painting to poetry, photography to filmmaking.
Read our announcement post to learn more about these artists – half who will be with us in summer and half whom we will welcome this fall.
Read more >
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Reading the Landscape Short Course
We are pleased to announce open applications for our upcoming short course, "Reading the Landscape," a field course in landscape interpretation by Michael Gaige. The course will take place at Oak Spring and run from October 25-30, 2020.
To learn more about the course, eligibility, and application, visit our short course page here >
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History's Greatest Black Environmentalists: History is filled with black leaders working in fields related to environmental research and activism. To honor Black History Month, we wanted to highlight six of these individuals and the ways they have made great strides in protecting and understanding our world. Read more >
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Women and Girls in Science: There is a lot to be said of the role that women and girls have played and continue to play in the development of science. At Oak Spring, we especially recognize this in the history of botanical art and plant science, and compiled a brief list of highlights on our blog for International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Read more >
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Invasive Species Awareness:
In a globalized era where invasive plants can seem all but inevitable, it's important to know best practices to keep native ecosystems thriving. Read our blog for National Invasive Species Awareness Week >
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Sexy Plants: Ah, Valentine's Day, come and gone. A time for lovers of people and plants. For this winter holiday, we decided to warm things up a bit by taking a look at The World's Sexiest Plants ;)
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