Attached is the draft agenda for our next meeting on October 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM – and calendar of coming events. Please email any suggested additions or changes for the agenda or calendar to me.
At this month’s meeting we will be discussing how the events since our last meeting have been going, upcoming fall events, how to accomplish our remaining goals for 2025, and how we can step up our efforts to increase public awareness of FOLO and our mission. We will also be having a walk around the Ocean Park neighborhood near Brock Center to observe the live oaks (postponed from September meeting due to poor weather). Come join us and get involved with us on these and other efforts! We welcome your ideas and input and hope you will join us in person or virtually.
If you haven’t done so already, please join us as a new member or renew your membership for 2025! Remember dues and donations are tax deductible – a receipt will be provided. Details on how to make payment are at our website: https://friendsofliveoaks.org/join-us/
ESP = Environmental Studies Program on PHP (Pleasure House Point) map located here. Enter door at ESP school.
At this month’s meeting we will be discussing details on our upcoming events in October, ongoing work on achieving our major goals for 2025, and how we can help increase public awareness of FOLO and our mission.
We will also be having a walk around the Ocean Park neighborhood near Brock Center to observe the live oaks (weather permitting). Come join us and get involved with us on these and other efforts! We welcome your ideas and input and hope you will join us in person or virtually.
If you haven’t done so already, please join us as a new member or renew your membership for 2025! Remember dues and donations are tax deductible – a receipt will be provided. Details on how to make payment are at our website: https://friendsofliveoaks.org/join-us/
ESP = Environmental Studies Program on PHP (Pleasure House Point) map located here. Enter door at ESP school.
There will not be a regular meeting for Friends of Live Oaks for May. Instead, our next meeting will be on Wednesday, May 28 beginning at 3 PM and consists of a field trip to visit several iconic live oak locations in Norfolk – Bay Oaks Park in East Beach and the Monkey Bottom Area in Ocean View. We will end the meeting by driving by the Norfolk Naval Base to catch a view of the Willoughby Oak – an iconic landmark.
We will begin our field trip by assembling at Bay Oaks Park located at 2413 East Ocean View Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23518. This City Park has preserved a unique area of live oak trees that was threatened with development until a dedicated group of residents worked to have the area protected as a public park.
After we finish our visit there we will travel on to the Monkey Bottom Area in Ocean View. Parking is available at the adjoining Ocean View Elementary School located at 350 West Government Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23503.
Recommended attire for the field trip: a hat, sunglasses, water bottle, insect repellent, and long pants and closed toed walking shoes and socks.
Since our last meeting Friends of Live Oaks has hosted a successful tree adoption event, and has received a donation of over 100 live oak saplings from FOLO member Mark Warren. Mark hand grows these saplings after perfecting a method of growing seedlings from acorns at his beautiful property located on Kings Creek, a tributary to the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River. A special shout out to both Mark and to Drew Austin, also known affectionately as our TREEage (like triage) Director – a FOLO volunteer who has taken over main responsibility for maintaining our live oak nursery at the Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension Center located on Diamond Springs Road in Virginia Beach.
Please send us your photos including a description, location and why a live oak tree or group of trees is special to you so we can share on our website and Facebook page – you can forward these to me. If you haven’t done so already, please join us as a new member or renew your membership for 2025!Remember dues and donations are tax deductible – a receipt will be provided. Details on how to make payment are at our website: https://friendsofliveoaks.org/join-us/
Shore Drive Phase 3 preparation
PLEASE NOTE
On June 16th we will resume our regular meeting schedule and will meet in person at our usual location – the Virginia Beach Environmental Studies Program Academy Macon and Joan Brock Center Classroom (at the easternmost end of the Brock Environmental Center Virginia Beach, VA 23455). We also have the option to participate in the June meeting by Zoom. Details and an agenda will be provided in advance of the meeting.
• Shore Drive Phase III Tree Impacts, Mitigation & Landscaping Plan Letter update
• House Bills 2238, 2630 and 2638 Review and Actions update
• VDOF Live Oak Nursery update
• Laskin Road Phase II Landscaping Plan update
• Reschedule Live Oak Grove site visit & May FOLO MTG
• Social Media Update
• Pleasure House Point Wetlands Bank Mitigation Site update
• Live Oak Wood Salvaging Pleasure House Point & Mystic Cove update
• April 13 Spring Fling Results
5. New Business:
• Review 2024 Events Calendar (see reverse side for scheduled events)
• Proposed Events: Ocean View Civic League Presentation; (spring 2025 date TBD); Workshop with Lynnhaven River NOW (2025 date TBD)
• 2025 Goals Review and Adoption
• Membership Drive
• Kroger Community Rewards Program
• Give Local 757
• Finalize May 3 Tree Adoption Event Details
6. Ocean Park Site Visit
7. Future Business:
• AREC Maritime Forest Demo Garden
• Virginia Beach Live Oaks Photo Collection
• DEQ Tree Planting BMP Draft Regulations
8. Existing / Future Partnerships: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Virginia Native Plant Society, Lynnhaven River NOW, Virginia Department of Forestry, McDonald Garden Center, Virginia Beach Garden Club, Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Beach City Public Schools Environmental Studies Program, Virginia Beach Landscape Management, Virginia Master Naturalists Tidewater Chapter, First Landing State Park, Virginia Cooperative Extension Virginia Beach Master Gardeners, Southern Branch Nursery?, Ladyfern?, Westminster-Canterbury?, VA Coastal Zone Management Program Native Plant Marketing?
9. Summarize; Review Meeting Actions; Review Assignments and Items for Next Meeting
10. Adjourn
Next Meeting Date/Time/Location: May Date TBD, Meet at Bay Oaks Park, 2413 East Ocean View Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23518
Incredible tree data created by Environmental Studies Program(ESP).
