Alexandria Beautification Commission

09/07/2026

This Labor Day, we recognize the people whose work helps keep Alexandria beautiful.

Thank you to our City employees, gardeners, grounds crews, tree stewards, community volunteers, and residents who care for the shared spaces we all enjoy.

09/06/2026

📚 Today is Read a Book Day!

A beautiful public space invites us to slow down, get comfortable, and stay awhile. Alexandria’s parks, gardens, libraries, shaded benches, and waterfront spaces offer wonderful settings for enjoying a few quiet chapters.

Today, choose a good book and find a beautiful place to read. You may discover a new favorite corner of the city along the way.

Where is your favorite outdoor reading spot in Alexandria?

09/06/2026

🌺 Happy National Hummingbird Day!

These tiny visitors bring movement, color, and a little bit of magic to our gardens. We can help welcome hummingbirds by growing nectar-rich flowers, including native plants, providing clean water, and avoiding pesticides.

Even a small garden bed or a few flowering containers can become a valuable place for hummingbirds and other pollinators to rest and refuel.

Have you spotted a hummingbird in Alexandria this year? Tell us where in the comments!

📷 Pollinator garden photo courtesy of Punita Anand

09/04/2026

✨ Beauty Spotting in Alexandria

Beauty is not always found in grand gardens or major projects. Sometimes it is a colorful window box, a shaded bench, an inviting storefront, a piece of public art, or a front yard cared for with love.

This week, take a slower look at the places you pass every day. What beautiful detail catches your attention?

Share your discovery in the comments or tag us in a photo so we can celebrate the people and places helping make Alexandria more welcoming, one thoughtful detail at a time.

09/04/2026

RESTORING NATURE: There are many environmental issues posed by our love affair with lawns in the United States: heavy use of limited water resources, pollution of waterways through the overuse of fertilizers, and negative impacts to wildlife from herbicide and pesticide applications. In addition, the care of our lawns takes a heavy toll on our time and money as homeowners try to meet the unattainable goal of the perfect, unblemished expanse of green. The average household spends $1,200 and 70 hours annually on lawn care, although many individuals consider mowing to be an onerous chore.
(Photo of lawn mower on grass, Prasannanossam3, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
lawn

09/03/2026

Think you know Alexandria’s plants? 🌿🔎

The City’s ALX Herbarium Hunt is a fun way to explore our parks, learn more about the plants growing around us, and build a deeper appreciation for Alexandria’s natural spaces. Beginning September 1, follow the clues, identify mystery plants, and share your finds for a chance to win prizes.

For the Alexandria Beautification Commission, education and environmental stewardship are an important part of creating a beautiful and sustainable city. We love seeing opportunities that encourage residents to get outside, look a little closer, and learn about the landscapes that make Alexandria special.

🌱 Follow Alexandria RPCA and join the hunt with .

🌿 Can You Find Me? 🔎

There’s a mystery plant growing in a City of Alexandria park. Can you find it and figure out what it is?

🔎 Search the parks
📸 Snap a photo
🌿 Post & tag
⌛ Solve Mystery #1 by September 7

Correctly identify our mystery plant, and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win New York Botanical Garden Wildflower Identification Flashcards!

Stumped? 🌿 Search AVCH-0002514 in the Herbarium Digital Archive for a clue: alexandriava.gov/parks/herbarium-digital-archive

Explore Alexandria’s natural resources and parks: alexandriava.gov/parks/natural-resources

Happy plant sleuthing! 🌱

09/03/2026

🌿 Your Early September Garden Checklist

As summer begins transitioning into fall, a few simple tasks can help keep Alexandria gardens healthy and beautiful:

✅ Water young trees and newly planted shrubs deeply, especially during dry weather.

✅ Remove invasive plants before they produce and spread more seeds.

✅ Leave some fading flower heads standing to provide seeds for birds and shelter for beneficial insects.

✅ Refresh containers by removing struggling plants and adding flowers or foliage for fall color.

✅ Walk around your property and choose one small area to clean, w**d, or improve.

✅ Begin planning fall planting projects. Cooler weather is an excellent time to add many trees, shrubs, and perennials.

You do not have to tackle everything at once. Choose one manageable task and give your outdoor space a little care this week. 💚

Save this checklist for the weekend!

09/02/2026

Beautification does not always require a major project.

Adding a planter, removing litter, refreshing a neglected garden bed, or creating a welcoming place to sit can make a visible difference.

What is one small improvement you could make this month

09/02/2026

Get tips and instructions on how to organize native tree plantings in your community.

09/01/2026

Hello, September!

As summer begins to soften into fall, Alexandria’s landscapes are entering a season of changing colors, late blooms, and important garden care.

What signs of the new season are you noticing?