Category: Nature

Connect with Your Inner Lorax: Become a Tree Steward

Connect with Your Inner Lorax: Become a Tree Steward

If you live in northern Virignia, here’s a fabulous opportunity to get the knowledge you need to be an impactful advocate  for the trees … The TreeStewards of Arlington and Alexandria are volunteers dedicated to improving the health of our urban trees through educational programs, tree planting and care, demonstrations and tree maintenance throughout the community. New […]

Photo by Jolie Semedo-Strauss @ Copyright 2012

Let Your Fall Leaves Lie

It starts in late August. That’s when I usually spot the first few dry, brown leaves cascading to the ground. They are an early cue of the changes afoot that eventually will cause some birds to depart for warmer climates, insects and animals to seek shelter for hibernation, and many trees to shed their leaves. […]

EVENT: Native Plant Seed Collection & Propagation

EVENT: Native Plant Seed Collection & Propagation

From our friends at the Virginia Native Plant Society Potowmack Chapter … Native Plant Seed Collection & Propagation: Techniques to Break Dormancy Thursday, September 20 at 7:30 pm Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, VA Seed dormancy is nature’s mechanism to keep seed viable until conditions become favorable for germination, seedling growth and survival. Seeds won’t germinate […]

Volunteer Stream Monitor Training

Volunteer Stream Monitor Training

If you are in the DC metro area, here is a great opportunity to connect with nature through this citizen science program in Arlington County this Saturday. Volunteer Stream Monitor Training Saturday, September 15th. 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Location: Arlington. The exact location will be provided with your confirmation e-mail. Are you interested in […]

Monarch Butterfly Watch and Tagging

Monarch Butterfly Watch and Tagging

The number of butterflies visiting my neighbor’s butterfly bush, which extends into our front yard, has been increasing steadily over the past couple of weeks. Especially the number of monarchs, which is particularly exciting. Somewhere along the way, I learned about the great migration of the monarchs, but I didn’t have a full appreciation of […]

Connecting with Nature: Walking in the Rain

Connecting with Nature: Walking in the Rain

With pots on the stove and dinner underway, I realized that we were out of barbecue sauce for our pulled pork. With a grocery store just a couple of blocks away, my typical response would have been to hop in the car, especially since it was raining. It would take just a few (dry) minutes […]

From Mini-Farm Preschool to Traditional Kindergarten

From Mini-Farm Preschool to Traditional Kindergarten

A version of this story originally appeared in my Green and Simple column on the Old Town Alexandria Patch. Last week the youngest in our clan graduated from preschool, and I find myself feeling conflicted about the transition ahead. Our son has been at this school for his entire preschool life and has been pretty content for the […]

Make an Earth Day Pledge Today!

Make an Earth Day Pledge Today!

Earth Day is just a few days away. What commitment will you make to have a more positive planetary impact? (My commitment for this year is to reduce food waste  — more on that soon!) Need some ideas? We’ve got you covered with the following suggestions: Learn More Read a book. The Green Book: The […]

Where to Find Wildlife in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Where to Find Wildlife in the Mid-Atlantic Region

A week or so ago, the Kojo Nnamdi Show aired a program about wildlife in the DC Metro area that featured Martin Ogle, Chief Naturalist at Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington, VA (one of our favorites!) and John Rappole, author of “Wildlife of the Mid-Atlantic: A Complete Reference,” and others titles. I turned on […]

Invasive Plants: English Ivy Replacements

Invasive Plants: English Ivy Replacements

Last month I wrote, “Invasive Species and Why They are a Threat,” and about, “Invasive Species Awareness Week Activities for Kids at the U.S. Botanic Garden.” One of the most prominent invasive plant species in the DC Metro area is English Ivy. It can be seen everywhere: in neighborhoods, intentionally planted as ground cover (now […]

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