My friends, my friends—half the week is officially behind us, and the rest is yet to come. We’re still in the thick of things with HVAC and electrical, but feeling really encouraged by several messages I’ve received from y’all over the past couple of weeks. Some of our readers are going through very similar issues, while others have been there, done that, and came out on the other side.
You know what doesn’t require air conditioning? A lovely fall day at a local apple orchard. And if you guessed that’s what today’s lead story is going to be, then you’re absolutely right. I hope you’re enjoying the transition between seasons because I’m so glad you’re here.
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Pick your own apples at Gross Orchard or go for a hayride. (Gross Orchard)
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By Aila Boyd
Here’s what you need to know: Peak apple harvest season in Virginia occurs between September and October, making a visit to an orchard the perfect fall activity for the whole family.
Our top picks:
- Saying that Great Country Farms in Bluemont is a great place to go for fall treats and a good time is an understatement. The expansive 400-acre Blue Ridge Mountain farm offers pick-your-own apple and pumpkin experiences.
- Head to Showalter’s Orchard & Greenhouse in Timberville, which has been a family operation since 1965, for a pick-your-own apples experience. With over 30 varieties, the picking season closes in early November with the pink lady variety.
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Offering picturesque views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, Gross Orchard is an excellent spot for picking your own apples. Located near Peaks of Otter in Bedford, the site is ideal for fruit trees because there is less frost and the soil offers plenty of nutrients.
Looking for more apple picking opportunities? We’ve got a great list of Virginia orchards at the link below.
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Beware the Bunny Man—a historic haunting with roots right here in Virginia.
Stories dating back to the 1970s claim that a man in a bunny costume committed a series of heinous crimes in the Colchester Overpass area.
Over time, the tales became more elaborate—and nearly supernatural—which ultimately resulted in an overpass nickname: “Bunny Man Bridge.”
Five decades later, the urban legend still draws in the curious. The bridge is located near 6462 Colchester Road in Clifton.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., left, poses during a ceremonial swearing-in with Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., in the Rayburn Room at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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By Jonny Lupsha
On May 18, Florida-based NextEra Energy announced its agreement to buy Dominion Energy, a move designed to accommodate increasing electricity demand thanks to the presence of 600 data centers in Virginia and burgeoning use of artificial intelligence. NextEra offered to buy Dominion for $67 billion.
If allowed to proceed, the merger will create the largest regulated electricity utility in the country, serving more than 10 million customers along the East Coast from Virginia to Florida.
Dogwood has covered the merger and the questions it raises since Dominion petitioned Virginia’s State Corporation Commission (SCC) for approval to proceed in mid-July.
US Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Westmoreland) owns as much as $15,000 in NextEra shares. He is the only prominent Virginia politician with stock investments in the company.
Wittman voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025, which made large-scale power investment much more attractive for utilities companies. It did this by offering “100% bonus depreciation,” meaning data center owners and utilities could immediately write certain investments off their taxes. These tax incentives improve companies’ cash flow, while reduced construction costs encourage building more data centers.
As the number of data centers increases, electricity demand climbs, resulting in more electricity generation, transmission, and distribution—and further related investments.
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Have you shared this newsletter with a neighbor?
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition includes stories from Aila Boyd and Jonny Lupsha. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.
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