Native of Northern Virginia (Fairfax County). I grew up with a love for the outdoors, fortunate to have parents that took me places to observe nature weather intentional or not. I think my first wild animal love was box turtles, which turned into a constant search to find the next one. I grew up when Fairfax County had a lot of rural areas and my parents would take me for a drive after a summer rain to find turtles on the road. It wasn't against the law then, they were everywhere. I learned a great deal and had them breeding, laying eggs and hatching in my very large natural outdoor enclosures. I loved going to creeks and bringing back buckets of frogs. Chasing lightning bugs and catch and releasing toads. Then came 38 years of working for a living, providing feed and water stations for birds and a visit to a park every chance I got. Then retirement - now I am a Virginia Master Naturalist with the Fairfax County Chapter and spend every moment I can outdoors. My husband has joined in my passion and we have made our yard a certified habitat for birds and wildlife and added a pond to our landscape to encourage and enjoy more wildlife. Together we volunteer to monitor Bluebird boxes with the Virginia Bluebird Society. This week we will be adding a "Monarch Waystation" with common and swamp milkweed and flowers. Life is good !