“The Botanical History of Northern Loudoun County”
Presented by Curtis Adams
Sunday, November 12, at 2:00 p.m.
St. James United Church of Christ
10 East Broad Way, Lovettsville
On Sunday, November 12, the Lovettsville Historical Society will present local landscape designer Curtis Adams, who will talk about the botanical history of Loudoun County from before European colonization to the present day.
Adams, a native plant enthusiast, will focus on the importance of native plants to the functioning of the ecosystem, how native plant populations have changed overtime, and their relationships with humans. We will also look at important species for the indigenous peoples in the Northern Piedmont of Virginia.
As colonization continued more old-world species were introduced. These new species and land management practices played a role in reshaping the plant communities. This influx of species created new ecosystems consisting of a mix of both native and exotic plants. We will look at some of the native species that are easily found around us today, both the beautiful and the overlooked. In addition, we will look at some of the invasive species that are threatening native plant populations in Virginia.
After about 20 years working in the field of organic chemistry, Curtis decided it was time to start a second career. He has always had an interest in things botanical, especially species that are native to a particular locale. He became a conservation volunteer at the New England Wildflower Society (now Native Plant Trust), Landscape Gardener, and Plant Curatorial Assistant at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge MA.
Curtis decided that the best way to follow this interest, and to educate others about the wonderful plants that grow in their own region, was to train to become a landscape designer. He completed the Landscape Design certificate program at Harvard’s Landscape Institute in 2009, and has since launched his own business, Adams Garden. In 2012, he moved to Knoxville, MD, where he continues to evaluate native plants, and to work on removing invasive plants from the property.
Curtis runs a blog, “Native Plants with Adams Garden,” at https://adamsgardennativeplants.blogspot.com/
Curtis Adams’ presentation will be held at St. James United Church of Christ, 10 East Broad Way, in Lovettsville. The program will be followed, as is customary, by questions and discussion.
The program will not be live-streamed, but a video recording of the event will be posted on the Lovettsville Historical Society website.
Admission is free, but donations and are welcome to defray expenses of the program and to support the activities of the Lovettsville Historical Society.
For more information, email events@lovettsvillehistoricalsociety.org.