pop up office TSA-Pre

anonymous hallway
The Transportation Security Administration is hoping to enroll air travelers in the TSA-Pre program
Universal Enroll office
The closest enrollment center to Charlottesville is a medical office building in Richmond. The TSA is definitely saving money on the minimalist bricks and mortar approach. No frills.
TSA Pre RIC enrollment center
It is slightly Kafkaesque, but if you pre-enroll on the internet, arrange an appointment, fill out forms correctly, it goes smoothly.

RVA

Z dam
When I was a child the James River and its tributaries between Bosher’s dam and Williams Island was my playground.
Hugenot Bridge
I walked east along the south bank of the James River last week. The City of Richmond has done a commendable job providing trails and access. The river is now enjoyed by many.
stinging nettle
In the 60’s there were few trails. We’d bush whack through stands of this (Laportea canadensis?) taller than we were.

Anura

tree tube frog
Tree tubes offer protection from the herbivores, insects and an extended growing season for saplings. I do wonder what the environment has to offer for a frog? How did he/she gain access?

two parent household Branta canadensis

geese and goslings

During the second year of their lives, Canada geese find a mate. They are monogamous, and most couples stay together all of their lives. If one dies, the other may find a new mate. The female lays from two to nine eggs with an average of five, and both parents protect the nest while the eggs incubate, but the female spends more time at the nest than the male.–Wikipedia

These geese have gone native, they no longer migrate.

nature bandaid

the tree of choice
Developers love the crape myrtle. Easy to plant, easy to maintain. Makes me sad. Why the circular sidewalk to nowhere? Why not plant a noble tree? A long lived native species that would create a quarter acre of shade, lower temperatures in the neighborhood, capture rainwater, feed and shelter local fauna. I think nature bandaid is Jim Kunstler’s term.
Places I don’t want to sit.

Sciurus carolinensis

squirrel in tupperware
I planted seventy sunflowers, covered the seeds with cayenne pepper, ginger and garlic.
I had a 6 sunflower control group inside a squirrel proof enclosure.
100% of the sunflowers in the enclosure germinated.
In the wild, six out of seventy have survived to date.

Mont

CLS and daughter
Ok, now that Mother’s day is over. Let’s hear it for dads!