Friends of Wolf Trap - FOWT

10/04/2026

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” (Rumi)

Photo: A climbing mandevilla at the top of Meadow Overlook.

10/04/2026

10/01/2026

This past weekend, as I was making rounds in the pond area, I spotted what looked like a brass button or an acorn on the ground. When I picked it up to see what it was, lo and behold, it was a baby turtle. I guess I need stronger glasses. At this stage, I am not sure what type of turtle it was, but I’d guess a box turtle as it was some 100 yards away from the pond. I also took a photo of its ‘undercarriage’ in case someone can make a better ID.

When I came back an hour later, the turtle was off the path and barely visible among leaves some three yards from the original spot (which gives it an average speed of 0.0017 mph).

Early Fall is when baby turtles typically hatch, so watch the trail as you hike through the park, because that small pebble in front of your shoe may be a baby turtle :-)

09/28/2026

End of Season

The Wolf Trap Ball (this past Friday) concluded the summer concert season at the Filene Center, so let’s look back at some notable shows of this year. And since music does not lend itself easily to photography, I’ll use ornamental chalk vignettes that were adorning the blackboard by the main entrance. A nutritionist might call them ‘artichalks’. They were created by the talented young artist Chalkoholic and commented on by the patrons awaiting the performance.

09/27/2026

🎃Keep the Halloween weekend fun going with an outdoor adventure at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
JOIN US FOR the
🦋🍄Wolf Trap Explorers Quest 🎃🦊
Sunday, November 1 from 1-3pm.
FREE family fun. Citizen Science including NASA Ambassadors, Fairfax County Wonder Wagon. Virginia Bluebirds, and many more partner organizations. See full list and
RSVP here . https://www.facebook.com/events/1763933928215169

Supporting the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

09/26/2026

I’ll conclude the Green Heron week with a video version of Thursday’s post: preening and grooming.

09/25/2026

Green Preen.

This is a follow up on Monday’s post.

A green heron preening and grooming itself in the pond.

09/21/2026

While blue herons visits the park relatively often, encounters with their cousin, green heron, are pretty rare. So I was happy when I ran into one in the pond earlier this month.

Nature updates:

1. Fall is a great time to spot a praying mantis. The best location is the strip of vegetation you see on your left when you go from Ushers Cabin to Meadow Gate. I saw one there this weekend and, based on previous years, you may still spot it there for a few more weeks (esp. on sunny days).

2. The autumn crocuses lining the end segment of the highway wall started blooming. You’ll see them if you walk from the EV charging station downhill (also see today’s IG story).