Press Coverage
Blue Ridge PRISM in the News
July 2026 - FXBG Advance - Tree of Heaven and Hell: Alarm Bells for Ailanthus
July 2026 - The Daily Progress - Invasive is not a label applied to plants without cause
June 2026 - The Tennessean - Statewide Survey Finds Invasive Plants Still Sold Widely in Virginia Retail Garden Centers
May 2026 - Rappahannock News - Residents learn how to manage invasive plants
April 2026 - Blue Ridge Leader & Loudoun Today - Spanberger Signs Landmark Bills to Combat Invasive Plants in Virginia
April 2026 - Loudoun Times-Mirror - Scrape for the Grape shows the power of community by eliminating invasive species
April 2026 - WVIR 29News - Four bills targeting spread of invasive plants signed into Virginia law
April 2026 - WRIC ABC 8 - The grassroots efforts fueling invasive plant management across Richmond
April 2026 - New River Valley News - New bills address invasive plants
April 2026 - WJLA ABC 7 - Gov. Spanberger signs 4 laws to combat invasive plant species in Virginia
April 2026 - Press Release - Governor Signs Landmark Invasive Plant Legislation
April 2026 - Daily News Record - Experts lead walking tours through Carrier Arboretum
March 2026 – WVIR 29News – Virginia lawmakers pass three bills to fight invasive plants
March 2026 – Environment Virginia – Victory! Virginia takes action to tackle invasive plants
March 2026 – WNRN – Hear Together: Blue Ridge PRISM
February 2026 – WVIR 29News – Invasive plants cost Virginia billions, Charlottesville group works to address problem
February 2026 – Charlottesville Right Now – Cville Invasive Plant Partnership observes National Invasive Species Awareness Week
February 2026 – WTVR CBS 6 – Invasive plants are spreading across Virginia. Here's what experts say you can do about it.
February 2026 – National Today – Virginia Invasive Species Awareness Week 2026 Mobilizes Statewide Action
February 2026 – City of Charlottesville – National Invasive Species Awareness Week Proclamation February 23-27, 2026
January 2026 – Environment Virginia – Bill highlights: Stopping the spread of invasive plants
January 2026 – Virginia Conservation Network – Bill of the Day: Managing Invasive Species
2025
December 2025 – CBS19 News – Bama Works announces end-of-year grants
October 2025 – Press Release – Blue Ridge PRISM Receives Conservation Award from the Garden Club of America
September 2025 – WHSV 3 – Columbia Gas launches new environmental grants, awards Virginia nonprofits
August2025 - Loudoun Now - Loudoun County Ramps Up Invasive Species Removal Efforts
August 2025 – Radio WVTF – How Virginians can join the fight against invasive, non-native plants
July 2025 – CBS19 News – Botanical Garden of Piedmont hosts 'Invasive Workday'
June 2025 – Central Nova News – Loudoun approves program targeting invasive plant species
May 2025 – A Way to Garden – Adventures of a ‘bad naturalist,’ with Paula Whyman
April 2025 – Fluvanna Review – Fluvanna Master Gardener Seminar takes on invasive plants
March 2025 – The Cool Down – Lawmakers propose new measure that could impact thousands of gardeners: 'No retail establishment shall sell'
March 2025 – WWBT 12 On Your Side – The three reasons you should chop down your Bradford Pear trees
March 2025 – Fluvanna Review – Some new neighbors aren’t very welcome
March 2025 – Virginia Mercury – Revamped invasive species bills head to governor for second time
March 2025 – Virginia Scope – Invasive species bills aim to close retail gap, educate consumers
March 2025 – Virginia Master Naturalists Headwaters Chapter – Site Visit to Natural Chimneys with Jacob Edel of Blue Ridge Prism
February 2025 – Loudoun Times – Loudoun events create awareness about invasive species
February 2025 – CBS 19News Charlottesville – It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week
February 2025 – Charlottesville.gov – City of Charlottesville and Partners Celebrate Invasive Species Awareness Week
February 2025 – The Crozet Gazette – Take Action to Help Fight Invasive Plant Species
February 2025 – WMRA Public Radio – The 19th Annual Frances Litten Botanical Lecture
February 2025 – Virginia Tech News – For Extension Master Gardeners, community power is key to controlling invasive species
2024
October 2024 – Quorum Magazine – Pushing Back on Invasive Species
September 2024 – Loudoun Times-Mirror – Despite efforts, spotted lanternflies keep multiplying
September 2024 – Virginia Home Grown(VPM PBS) – Invasive Plants
September 2024 – VPM PBS – Virginia Invasive Plant Species List
September 2024 – Essex County Conservation Alliance (ECCA) 2024 Report – Stop the Spread of Invasive Plant Species
August 2024 – The Crozet Gazette – The Spotted Lanternfly Is Here. What Should We Do?
July 2024 – VPM – Pollinators need our support
May 2024 – InsideNoVA – Free Fishing Day Returns to the Rappahannock County Park
May 2024 – VPM – State budget provides $4.9M to tackle invasive species
May 2024 – VPM–What’s being done to manage tree of heaven?
April 2024 – CBS 19 News – Itchy eyes and yellow-dusted car? Peak tree pollen season is here
April 2024 – C-VILLE Weekly – Post Columnist Talks Nature at the Jefferson School
March 2024 – Culpeper Star-Exponent – Annual Bluebell Walk in April Along Cedar Run in Fauquier
March 2024 – The Winchester Star – Expert provides advice on dealing with invasive plant, tree species
February 2024 – Greene Journal – Area Landowners Report Success with Stiltgrass Control
January 2024 – VPM – Dels. Bulova, Seibold file bills to fight invasive species like lanternflies, kudzu
January 2024 – Virginia Mercury – State group says Virginia should budget more for invasive species management
2023
October 2023 – The Winchester Star – Clarke County fourth graders explore environment, wildlife at annual Conservation Day
September 2023 – Virginia Mercury – Invasive plants have spread all over Virginia. Some groups say that needs to stop.
August 2023 – C-VILLE Weekly – The forest for the trees, Rod Walker and Blue Ridge PRISM lead the battle against invasive plants
July 2023 – Prince William Living – Invasive Plant Concern
March 2023 – Blue Ridge Outdoors –Outdoor Updates: New License Plate Benefits Blue Ridge Parkway + Invasive Species Awareness
2022
November 2022 – The Washington Post – Opinions| I’m losing the battle against the brush. I am not alone.
September 2022 – WSHV 3 – Elkton man looks to address kudzu infestation along Route 33
August 2022 – CBS 19 News – Spotted Lanternfly Season is Here
August 2022 - Blue Ridge PRISM – Blue Ridge PRISM Meets $20,000 Challenge Grant
August 2022 – FFXNOW – Fairfax County volunteer’s petition urging Home Depot to stop sales of invasive plants takes root
March 2022 – Radio IQ|WVTF – Group targets invasive Bradford pear trees
March 2022 – 106.1 the Corner – Community Corner Interview with Rowena Zimmerman
2021
Nov 2021 – C-ville Weekly – Bug off: The invasive spotted lanternfly threatens central Virginia
Oct 2021 – Rappahannock News – Kudzu, an invasive plant, runs rampant in Rappahannock
Sept 2021 – Greene County Record – Nothing sweet about the bittersweet vine
Sept 2021 – Virginia Tech – Invasive Species: Is There Hope in Virginia?
Aug 2021 - Blue Ridge PRISM – Blue Ridge PRISM Meets $20,000 VEE Challenge Grant
May 2021 – NBC 29 – Group Working to Educate People About Invasive Plant Species
Apr 2021 – NewsRadio WINA – Into the Garden with Leslie on NewsRadio WINA
2020
Oct 2020 – Greene County Record – Tree-of-heaven is anything but heavenly in your yard
Apr 2020 – Virginia Home Grown on VPM – How to Remove Invasive Plants
Apr 2020 – Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine – Invasion of the Invasives
2019
Oct 2019 – Radio IQ | WVTF – Forest Friends Battle Invasive Plants
July 2019 – James River Buffer Program – True or False -All Green Plants are Good?
Mar 2019 – Greene County Record – One couple works to return their forest to native-only species
2018
Mar 2018 – Radio IQ | WVTF – Weed Warriors Train New Troops
Oct 2018 – NBC 29 – Experts Offer Insight on Invasive Plants in the Charlottesville Area
2017
Jan 2017 – Blue Ridge School – Mountain Ecology Class
May 2017 – Radio IQ | WVTF – Killer Vines Attack Virginia Trees – Residents Fight Back
July 2017 – Greene County Record – PRISM seeking volunteers, money to fight invasive plants along Blue Ridge
July 2017 – The Piedmont Virginian – Blue Ridge PRISM: Fighting to Save Virginia’s Flora from Unwanted Invaders
Nov 2017 – Shenandoah National Park Trust – Blue Ridge PRISM receives Garden Club of Virginia’s 2017 Elizabeth Cabell Dugdale Award
Dec 2017 – The Daily Progress – Governor Hears About the Fight Against Invasive Plants
Feb 2016 – Arlington Regional Master Naturalists – Call to Action Against Virginia Invasives
Oct 2016 – Virginia Master Naturalist – Invasive Species Removal Funding Available in 10 Counties
Sept 2015 – Bay Journal – Landowner’s fight against invasive plants turns into a regional effort