Potomac Bay Estates

At a meeting early this year, the PBE Board of Directors approved a test Native Plant and Pollinator Garden plot near the entrance to our neighborhood on Newman’s Neck Road.

The plot selected by Sue McKee, the Native Plant Garden Project Manager, is approximately 44 ft X 12 ft and is located on the left of Newman’s Neck Road as you enter the neighborhood, before the intersection with Potomac Drive.

The plants selected for the space features low-, medium- and tall height native plants that attract birds, butterflies and other pollinators.  Sue and her team purchased most plants from the well-known Colesville Nursery in Mechanicsville.

Here are photos of the Native Plant and Pollinator Garden

The photo above shows the garden plot after tilling by Jim Robinson (who cuts the big common area), plant purchase, planting and weeding cloth installed with mulch to retain moisture and keep maintenance to a minimum during the crucial first year of plant and site development.

The next photo (below) shows Sue McKee, Dave Williams, and Corbin the Wonder Dog working on the garden.

THANK YOU to Sue and her Native Garden Team for the great start and completion of Phase I.

Phase II will include continuing gardener duties such as watering and weeding, which will be supported through the growing season by the six person gardening team of volunteers.

The horse trough (shown in the photo above) is filled with water that is used to water the plants.

Everyone is invited to come by, visit the garden, water a few plants and admire our newest community beautification project.

Here is a link to the page about our Native Plant and Pollinator Garden . . . this page will feature updates and more photos as the garden develops.

And here is a link to a page with photos, names and descriptions of the 15 plants in our neighborhood garden.

We will hold our annual Memorial Day picnic:

• Sunday, May 26
• 3:00 – 5:00 PM
• At the picnic area on the west end of Potomac Drive

The Association will provide:

• Meat
• Soda, water
• Condiments
• Ice in coolers

Please bring enough to share:

• Salad, or,
• Side dish, or,
• Dessert, or
• One, two or all three of the above

Also — please bring:

• Chairs for your family
• Your own beer or wine

Look closely at this photo — see the tiny fawn in the center of the photo?

This photo was taken on Wednesday, May 8, around 11:00 AM along Newman’s Neck Road about 1/4 mile before the entrance to our neighborhood.  The fawn was observed the day before in the same spot, grazing and later lying in this spot.  Late Wednesday afternoon, a few hours after this photo was made, the fawn was gone and has not been seen since.

White-tailed deer fawns are born April through July, with the majority of fawns born in June. Most does will have one fawn the first year they give birth, then, twins or triplets are typically seen thereafter. Until they are strong enough to keep up with their mothers, deer fawns are left alone while their mothers go off to feed.

This fawn likely was left there by his/her mother while the mother doe went off to feed or find water.

We are posting this information here to remind everyone to please do not touch any fawn you may find in the neighborhood or anywhere else.

Until they are strong enough to keep up with their mothers, deer fawns are left alone while their mothers go off to feed. Mother deer will stay away from the fawns to avoid leading predators to their young. Does return at dawn and dusk to feed and/or move their young.

Fawns are typically left in an area with tall grass or bushes, but sometimes they are left in more open areas, including backyards. Older deer fawn may wander short distances.

Well-meaning humans often assume that because a fawn is alone it must be an orphan, leading to numerous fawn “kidnappings” each year.

A fawn has the BEST chance of survival when cared for by its mother. Typically, the best option is to leave the fawn alone!  Also, remember to keep your dog or children away from any fawn you may find — or any other baby animal for that matter.

Here is a website with more information about what to do if you encounter a fawn.  Notice that if the fawn is injured, you should contact a wildlife rescue agency.  In our county, call the Northumberland County Sheriff — 804-580-5221 — and ask for animal control.

There are no licensed wildlife rescue agencies in our county; the nearest are in Gloucester, about 45 to 60 minutes away.

Stephanie Booker	Gloucester	(804) 815-2042	Fawns, Small Mammals
Carolyn Vavala	Saluda	(804) 694-6722	Fawns, High Risk Rabies, Opossum

You also can contact Wild Bunch Wildlife Rehablitation in Warsaw — 804-313-2240.  They deal mainly with birds and small animals; sometimes they are able to help with injured fawns.

Many thanks to the folks who volunteered for repair and clean-up work last Saturday, April 27.

• Jon Wergin and Morris the Wonder Dog

• Bruce Hulse

• Joe McShea

• Tony Polizzi

• Don and Kathy Peebles

• Jimmy Burns

• Dave Williams

• Frank Goyette

• Joe Schlatter

We did a lot of work to ensure the safety of the dock in Presley Creek.  All the bolts holding the stringers to the pilings had rusted badly, some even disintegrated.  This created a dangerous situation in which sections of the dock were in danger of collapsing.  Every bolt was replaced, and, some of the support stringers were replaced.  We also cleaned out a lot of debris around the fire department dry hydrant.

Replacing the bolts will ensure the dock is safe for many years.

Thank you, volunteers.

As of 11:00 PM, Friday night, April 19, severe weather watches and warnings for our neighborhood have been terminated.

We did not experience any damaging weather, though a heavy thunderstorm with high winds and heavy rain passed through our neighborhood between about 8:30 PM and 9:10 PM Friday night.  According to our neighborhood weather station, during that half-hour, almost 2/3 of an inch or rain fell (0.64 inches) while wind gusts reached only 12-14 MPH.

Tornado warnings were issued for the period 8:15 to 9:00 PM, but no tornadoes occurred.

The National Weather Service in Wakefield VA has issued a tornado WATCH and flash flood WATCH for our area.

TORNADO WATCH in effect until midnight, Friday night, April 19.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH in effect until 3:00 PM, Saturday, April 20.

A WATCH means conditions are favorable for the development of severe weather — such as a tornado.

A WARNING means that a severe weather event — such as a tornado — has developed, has been spotted on the ground, or, has been spotted on radar.

Monitor local radio stations, Richmond TV stations, or your weather radio if you have one.

A tornado touched down around 11:00 AM, Friday, April 19, near Smith Mountain Lake, in Franklin County, about 175 miles SW of us.  The storm front that spawned this tornado is moving in our direction, expected to arrive in our area late Friday afternoon.

Here is a link to weather radar that covers our area.

The National Weather Service office in Wakefield VA has released a severe weather alert that only slightly affects our neighborhood on Friday, April 19 into the early hours of Saturday, April 20.

We recommend taking the following precautions:

• Make certain your boat is secured
• Tie down or remove furniture, grills, or anything on your deck or in your lawn that can be blown around.
• Close and lock windows and doors.
• Be prepared to lose electrical power.

The Accuweather forecast  for our neighborhood calls for possible severe thunderstorms and high wind gusts Friday and Friday night.

Here is the full NWS statement:

Good morning. The following is briefing #2 for the Potential Severe Weather and Heavy Rainfall  for April 19 2019 as of 830am 4/18/2019. See the attached images for details. The next briefing will be by 4 pm April 18 2019 or sooner if conditions change. There are currently no major changes to this forecast update from yesterday. Note the more detailed timing below. 

Threats: There is an enhanced risk for severe weather for much of south and southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina on Friday. Surrounding the enhanced risk is a slight risk for severe weather for the rest of the states of Virginia and North Carolina, and the Maryland Eastern Shore. As low pressure moves up the Appalachians, conditions will become increasingly favorable for severe thunderstorm development across the entire region especially Friday afternoon into Friday night. This includes the potential for damaging winds, large hail and a few tornadoes.  In addition, there is a slight risk for excessive rainfall on Friday across much of the region. This means that flash flooding is possible due to heavy rainfall from thunderstorms. Lastly, marine interests should be prepared for possible southerly gale force gusts in excess of 35-40 kt later Friday afternoon into Friday night, especially across the lower Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Coastal Waters. See attached graphics for more details.

Location: All of central and southeast Virginia, the Virginia and Maryland eastern shore and northeast North Carolina. This includes the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Waters. Nearly the entire area is under a slight risk for excessive rainfall. 

Timing: There will be an initial round of  scattered thunderstorms across the entire region starting late Friday morning and continuing into Friday afternoon. There is a potential for these storms to be strong to severe with wind gusts to 60 mph and large hail. Then, a more organized area of thunderstorms will move through the region late Friday afternoon into Friday night. This area of storms will bring the risk of wind gusts greater than 60 mph, large hail, and even a few tornadoes. 

Overview and Impacts:

·  The environment currently looks favorable for a few tornadoes late Friday afternoon into Friday night, especially across southeast Virginia and Northeast North Carolina. People should consider their tornado action plans and what they would do if a tornado warning is issued for your area. 

·  Severe storms could result in areas of 60-80 mph wind gusts Friday into Friday night. This may lead to downed trees and power outages. Large hail is also possible. 

·  Rain will be heavy at times, allowing for the potential for flash flooding. If you live in a flood prone area, have an action plan ready in case flood or flash flood warnings are issued.

·  Marine interests should be prepared for gale force wind conditions later Friday afternoon into Friday Night as the low approaches.

·  Details will become better refined as the event comes closer. However, everyone should think about their severe weather safety plans now so they can quickly act if severe weather approaches your location Friday.

Here are the maps accompanying the announcement.  NOTE THAT WE ARE IN THE MARGINAL to SLIGHT RISK AREA.