In July we’re heading to a club favorite, Green Spring Gardens. In the gardens on the main level the flowers should be in bloom and plentiful, and on the lower level there should be beautiful lotuses in bloom at the pond. It may be a little early for the hummingbirds which appear every summer, but there are other birds to photograph in the gardens as well as butterflies, bees and dragonflies on the flowers. And there are always people enjoying the gardens who make for good subjects.
Where:
Green Spring Gardens
4603 Green Spring Rd.
Alexandria, VA
Please note that while the grounds are open from dawn to dusk, the gate to the parking lot should be down and the parking lot closed when we arrive. There are two options for parking: (1) in the parking spaces on Witch Hazel Road (accessed from Braddock Rd.) leading to the parking lot, before you get to the closed gate; and (2) on Green Spring Road (accessed from Little River Turnpike) across from the Salvation Army. Parking is permitted there where noted from 7 a.m. on.
Green Spring Gardens website: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring/hours
When:
Saturday, July 8, 2023 from 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
(Rain date: Sunday, July 9, 2023 from 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.)
Equipment:
- For the flora, lenses in the 24-70 range and macro lenses will work well. If you have a Lensbaby you may want to bring that for a dreamy effect
- Tripods are helpful and permitted but not necessary
- For bird photography, bring the longest lens you have
Notes:
We will meet at the gazebo on the main level, i.e. the level with the parking lot, at 7:30 a.m.
Sunrise on July 8 will be at 5:49 a.m. If you want to start shooting before the meetup time you can return to the gazebo at 7:30 a.m. or look for us in the park. If you arrive late and there is no one at the gazebo, you should be able to find us: it’s a small park.
The visitor center, which has restrooms, will open at 9 a.m.
We hope you can join us!
Rena Schild and Steven Glintz
Field Trip Coordinators 2022-2023
(Photographs by Steven Glintz)