Old Rag master naturalists trainees meet at Jim Ballard's cabin. Photo taken by Mary Graham

Jim Ballard at center. Photo taken by Mary Graham

Mike Santucci, Virginia Department of Forestry, discusses the property. Photo taken by Mary Graham

Ballard and Santucci show a map of the tract. Photo taken by Mary Graham

Photo taken by Mary Graham

Photo taken by Mary Graham

The trek begins through part of Ballard's 100 acres. Photo taken by Mary Graham

Chapter members walked the hilly trails. Early in the walk, Ballard described a severe thunderstorm that stalled on a mountainside dropping a huge amount of rain overnight. The downpour caused a landslide that toppled many trees. Photo taken by Mary Graham

Santucci describes one method for killing ailanthus trees. These invasive, non-native trees need strong controls. This tree was slashed at two-inch intervals all the way around the trunk. Herbicide was poured into the slash and taken into the vascular system of the tree. Photo taken by Mary Graham

It is thought that this tree probably marked a boundary. Photo taken by Mary Graham

The class breaks into small groups to do some tree identification. Then-Chapter President Cathy Mayes holds tree ID keys. Photo taken by Mary Graham

Tree id. Photo taken by Mary Graham

Learning about efforts to reintroduce chestnut trees. Photo taken by Mary Graham

Loading up to head back where we began. Photo taken by Mary Graham

Photo taken by Mary Graham

Jack Price and Pam Owen identifying trees. Photo taken by Mary Graham

Photo taken by Mary Graham