LOCAL AUDUBON SOCIETY TO HOLD WILDFLOWER/EARTH DAY FESTIVAL

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society (PVAS) will hold its annual spring
Wildflower Festival on Saturday, April 21 at its Yankauer Nature Preserve north
of Shepherdstown.

The festival, which is being held to coincide with Earth Day and the arrival of
spring, will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., rain or shine.

It will include guided wildflower walks through the preserve on the hour.
Children's activities and refreshments will be available throughout the day.
Visitors are also welcome to explore the trails and enjoy the wildflowers on
their own without a guide.

In keeping with the Earth Day theme, there will also be informational booths
sponsored by local environmental organizations.
Just prior to the festival, at 10:00 a.m., there will be a special "advanced"
wildflower walk for anyone interested in more serious study of local
wildflowers. This walk will be led by Maryland Native Plant Society expert Joe
Metzger.

Admission to all these events will be free and everyone is welcome.
Mid- to late April is traditionally the peak of the early spring wildflowers at
the preserve. Some of the wildflowers on display should include bloodroot,
spring beauties, Dutchman's breeches, and rue anemone.
The 104-acre Yankauer preserve is located north of Shepherdstown on Whiting's
Neck Road. PVAS co-owns and co-manages it in partnership with The Nature
Conservancy.

The preserve has two miles of walking trails, river views, and an education
pavilion. It is open to the public from dawn to dusk daily.
The trails at Yankauer are primitive, so those who wish to walk them are
encouraged to wear sturdy walking shoes. Please leave pets at home.
The preserve is named for Dr. Alfred Yankauer and his wife Marian, who donated
the land in 1967. Dr. Yankauer passed away in June 2004.
To get to the preserve from Shepherdstown, take route 480 north towards
Sharpsburg. Just past the Shepherd football field, turn left on Shepherd Grade
Road. Drive 1.7 miles and turn left on Scrabble Road. Stay on Scrabble Road for
4 miles (the road turns left at 1.9 miles) through Scrabble, and then turn
right on Whiting's Neck Road. The Preserve is 1/2 mile on the right.

This route is clearly marked with brown "Wildlife Viewing Area" signs that
begin at Shepherd Grade Road and lead motorists directly to the preserve.
For more information contact PVAS at 304-676-3397 or pvasmail@aol.com or go to
http://www.potomacaudubon.org.

PVAS is a member of the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle and the Combined
Federal Campaign.