Garden Care: Marie's Garden

Families looking for a meaningful outdoor activity will find it at Marie's Garden, a pollinator habitat nestled within Blevins Gap Nature Preserve. The Garden Gnomes volunteer group welcomes helpers of all ages to tend this special space through seasonal tasks like weeding, watering, mulching, and planting. It's an opportunity to work alongside other families while supporting the butterflies, bees, and other pollinators that depend on this carefully cultivated habitat. The preserve's scenic overlooks provide a beautiful backdrop as you work, making this feel less like a chore and more like a morning well spent in nature. The workday begins at 9 a.m. on October 29, 2026, at the Blevins Gap Trailhead on Cecil Ashburn Drive. No gardening experience is necessary—the group provides guidance, tools, and extra work gloves and water for those who need them. Each participant, including children, needs separate registration since everyone must sign a waiver (parents can register on behalf of their kids). Come prepared with sturdy, closed-toe shoes, your own water and snacks, and work gloves if you have them. This is genuinely all-ages friendly, though younger children will need supervision and may tire before the work is done. Families with kids who enjoy being outdoors and don't mind getting a bit dirty will find this especially rewarding. The group will notify registered participants by email if weather or trail conditions force a cancellation, so you won't make an unnecessary trip.