Nan McCarry

Nan is a long-time Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy supporter, having been a member since 2012. Over the years she has volunteered countless hours with us by organizing and teaching the Landscape for Life series and in helping people choose native plants for their landscape through being a Wildlife Sanctuary Program (formerly Audubon at Home) Ambassador and a knowledgeable plant person at our Native Plant Sales. Nan also participates in our Stream Monitoring Program by helping with benthic macroinvertebrate and Salt Watch surveys, and helps with some projects at JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary.

Broomsedge in the snow.

Nan has many favorite things in nature, including plants and amphibians, but says “since you caught me in winter, I’m going to say snow, and especially native grasses like Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus) in the snow.” Nan recalls that ever since she was a child she has loved the snow. She finds it calming and says that “these days I feel reassured when we still get snow; it feels as though everything is going to be okay.”

Nan realizes that most people do not share her love for snow and often complain about it. She admits, “I don’t like it when it’s 20 degrees and wind chill either! — but weather is part of life, and I think of all the positive benefits of cold and snow: Snow allows precipitation to sink slowly into the ground, replenishing groundwater. It reflects back the sun’s rays so it’s important in decreasing overall warming. It’s natural for it to be cold for a while — it’s what our ecosystem is adapted to.”

We are glad all your winter wishes are coming true this year, Nan, and thank you for all you do to protect, preserve, and restore wildlife and wild places in Loudoun!

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