Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program

Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program Learn more about the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program and our upcoming educational events: https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/

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The June 2026 Virginia Forest Landowner e-Update is now available! Link in comments.
06/01/2026

The June 2026 Virginia Forest Landowner e-Update is now available! Link in comments.

I've been walking the dogs to the river every day. And every day I find many beautiful and interesting things in the woo...
05/28/2026

I've been walking the dogs to the river every day. And every day I find many beautiful and interesting things in the woods. I plan to share at least one of those items each week here on the page.

Today I am sharing some small oaks.

On the left is a chestnut oak (in the white oak group - note no spines on the tips of the lobes) and on the right a black oak (in the red oak group - see the spines on the tips of the lobes?).

These appear to both be from acorns that have germinated and not stump sprouts as there was no evidence of a stump near either one.

Registration is open for our Southeast Virginia Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat September 11-12. The Retreat provides n...
05/27/2026

Registration is open for our Southeast Virginia Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat September 11-12.

The Retreat provides numerous resources (including all the books you see below), contacts with natural resource professionals, and information on managing your woods and the wildlife that live in them. Link to details in comments.

I've been walking the dogs to the river every day. And every day I find many beautiful and interesting things in the woo...
05/26/2026

I've been walking the dogs to the river every day. And every day I find many beautiful and interesting things in the woods. I plan to share at least one of those items each week here on the page.

Today I am sharing these itty-bitty white oak (Quercus alba) leaves I found a few weeks ago after a small storm. Oaks are grouped into two broad groups: the white oaks and the red oaks. Each group contains a number of different species. The white oak group includes white oak, bur oak, chinkapin, and post oak.

Oaks in the white oak group have leaves with rounded lobes (the sticky-outie part) and no bristles on the tips of the lobes. White oak acorns take 1 year to reach maturity (acorns from red oaks take 2 years to mature).

It's said that the time to hunt for morel mushrooms is when the white oak leaves are the size of a mouse ear.

05/22/2026

Edited!

Due to dry conditions over the last few months, we were unable to get footage featuring mushrooms (seems like that will be much easier with the current rains). So no new video today. But don't despair! We have almost 200 videos on our YouTube Channel. And this cool rainy day is perfect for catching up.

Let me suggest a much older video about growing shiitake mushrooms: https://youtu.be/HVe6hy1rsB8?si=0DVfpjDtmJxQfArX

This Friday Fifteen Minutes in the Forest returns with a brand-new video! Join 's Adam Downing to learn about the fungi in your woods.

Friday May 21 at 12:15 on our YouTube Channel. Link in comments.

Venture Outdoors round 3 is on in Bedford VA! Helping landowners make informed decisions on their forestland......thank ...
05/21/2026

Venture Outdoors round 3 is on in Bedford VA! Helping landowners make informed decisions on their forestland......thank you to our partners Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

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