Ed. — Archived from the Sunday, Dec. 1, print edition.
VIRGINIA BEACH — The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is preparing to observe its 10th anniversary in the Brock Environmental Center, which opened in early 2015. Now, on the cusp of their milestone, is a good time to take stock of what has happened here in the past decade and what this center represents to the community.
Located at Pleasure House Point, the building is located on a 118-acre site that includes native plant gardens, open areas and walking trails that wind through woods. Local organizations, including Lynnhaven River Now, hold special events here, while 150 Virginia Beach high school students who are enrolled in the Environmental Studies Program attend school here daily. Many other Hampton Roads schoolchildren visit the center on field trips. Private citizens or groups can rent the building for meetings or special events.
The surrounding acreage, which includes walking trails, is open to the public, and now might be a good time to visit because the weather is crisp and there are still some leaves showing off their dresses of red and gold.
The site includes native plant gardens to attract pollinators, as well as marshy areas, upland gardens and wooded areas. There are pines and live oaks, but the grasses are particularly eye-catching.
These grasses provide a transition between the upland gardens and the water and marshes, and they add texture and color to the landscape. They provide a habitat for wildlife and help prevent erosion and run-off. They also have a great deal of aesthetic appeal and serve as an educational tool to homeowners interested in incorporating native grasses into their landscaping.
The old saying “sedges have edges, rushes are round, grasses are hollow like a hole in the ground” pops into my mind whenever I think of grasses. They’re noted for their hollow stems, which have nodes along them that are often sheathed in very narrow leaves.
I admit that, in the past, when I thought of grasses, the word “boring” popped into my mind, but I’ve become more exposed to the native grasses in landscaping, and I realize how beautiful they can be. The pink muhly grass, which is planted at the center, particularly caught my eye.
I visited the center on a recent brilliant, blustery day. The muhly grasses were swaying and tossing in the winds, showing off their pink tips. Chris Gorri, general manager of the Brock Environmental Center, said that he particularly notices it in the early mornings when the dew is sparkling on the pink tips.
Pink muhly grass, or muhlenbergia capillaris, is native to the eastern and central United States. It’s an attractive plant all year, but it’s at its peak in late fall, so it appears particularly vibrant against the brown backdrop.
Muhly grass grows especially well in clay soils, but it seems to be adaptable and grows in many different terrains, including woodlands and savannas. It does, however, prefer plenty of sun and good drainage.
It’s low maintenance and generally resistant to insects and diseases, and it seems to make a nice buffer between residential yards and woods or open space. You do need to give it a little room, though, because it can grow up to three feet tall.
Muhly grass, like the other landscaping plants, complements the Environmental Center, which was designed to blend into the natural environment. Gorri describes it as a “living building” and adds that the aim is to provide little to no impact — or even a positive impact — on the environment.
The building is powered by solar panels and wind turbines, and rain and greywater gardens help to filter waste, while treated rainwater is used for drinking water. Perhaps most interesting is that the building’s rooms and hallways flow in a manner reminiscent of the natural environment, devoid of right angles and straight lines.
Staff members are hoping to celebrate the upcoming anniversary by hosting special events that will include the public, Gorri said. In the meantime, you can visit from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or stroll around the grounds anytime during daylight hours.
You may get some ideas for your own landscaping.
After all, grass really doesn’t have to be boring, does it?
The author is a contributor to The Independent News. Her journalism has also appeared in The Virginian-Pilot.
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