A flower farm that became a sanctuary
Firefly began in 2016, when the first Dutch peonies went into the ground on a small farm in Bluemont. For years it was a flower farm: weekly bouquets, an honour-system stand, flowers for weddings and celebrations.
Every summer, the fields lit up. Over time we came to see that the fireflies were the farm's real treasure, and that they needed protecting. The Institute grew from that.
Today the land has two parts. The rear acreage is a firefly sanctuary, kept wild, dark, and quiet. The front acre, with its Victorian greenhouse and farm store, is where people gather, learn, and visit, and it shelters the sanctuary behind it.
Keeping the sanctuary right for fireflies
Dark nights
Fireflies find each other by their light. We keep outdoor lighting low and off in the sanctuary.
No harmful chemicals
The land is tended without pesticides or harsh treatments, which harm fireflies and the creatures they feed on.
Leaves left in place
Leaf litter and damp ground are where young fireflies live, so we let them stay.
Native plants
Native grasses and wildflowers give fireflies shelter by day and perches by night.
Most of a firefly's life is spent unseen, as a larva in the soil and leaf litter, often for a year or more. The few glowing weeks of summer are only the end of the story, which is why protecting the ground matters as much as protecting the night.
The seasons ahead
- Autumn 2026
Research partnerships
We are reaching out to universities in the region to study the firefly habitat on our land, learn which species live here, and find the best ways to help them thrive.
- Winter 2026
Firefly awareness program
Educational materials for children, teens, and adults, written for each age, on how fireflies live and what every family can do at home to help.
- Spring 2027
Native plant sale
A spring sale on the front acre of native plants that support fireflies and pollinators, so neighbours can grow habitat in their own gardens.
- Summer 2027
First season of study
With research partners on site during firefly season, we begin recording what lives here and how the habitat changes from year to year.
A protected place to study
Fireflies are declining in many places, and long-term study on protected land is hard to find. We would like to offer ours.
- A firefly habitat kept dark, quiet, and free of harmful chemicals
- Access through the full season, year after year, for long-term study
- Hosts who live on the land and can share years of observation
- An education program ready to share your findings with families and schools
If you lead a lab, a course, or a student project in entomology, ecology, or conservation, we would be glad to talk.
Get in touch
Researchers, educators, neighbours, and anyone who loves a summer evening are welcome to write. Our newsletter, Firefly Tales, will share news from the land through the seasons.
Bluemont, Loudoun County, Virginia