by Marlene Berlin Marjorie Rachlin died on Sunday, August 22nd. She was 99 years old. Forest Hills Connection readers may know her best from her “Backyard Nature” articles. To her friends and neighbors, she was known throughout the years as a labor educator, community activist, and avid gardener and birder. She was also one of […]
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Marjorie Rachlin’s Backyard Nature: Garden colors don’t entirely fade in September
by Marjorie Rachlin Most gardens wind down down in September weather but there’s still colorful bloom in Forest Hills yards. We’ve got everything from “weed” plants native to the Americas to banana “trees” that came here long ago from Asia. Natives in the back In my back garden, I grow a number of hardy native […]
Marjorie Rachlin: A ‘Great Resource’
Readers of Forest Hills Connection know Marjorie Rachlin as our ace nature writer. She also enjoys hanging out at the Chevy Chase Library. On Saturdays you will often see her volunteering for the Friends the Chevy Chase Library at their used bookstore upstairs. Barbara Parker profiled Marge for the Friends newsletter, and gave us permission […]
Backyard Nature: Insects produce the backyard symphony of August
by Marjorie Rachlin It’s 8 a.m., and I’m sitting on the back porch, looking out at the garden. No birds, no bees yet. It’s August and nature is slowing down. Suddenly a persistent buzz comes from the oak trees. In August and September, the sound filling the air is not bird song. This is when […]
Backyard Nature: The creatures that put on a magical light show
by Marjorie Rachlin Your backyard or local park is the stage for a magical light show each summer night. It’s firefly time. And I’ve been sitting on my back porch after sunset, watching the lights go on and off. As it gets darker, the yellow flashes appear up in the trees, over the garden, and […]
Backyard Nature: What to look for when venturing into parks and backyards in April
by Marjorie Rachlin April is a month of changes. Plants and animals begin to wake up. We become optimistic. And as we move into late spring and the temperature swings level out, we see and hear more as more plants burst forth with pollen and seeds, insects pollinate and spread seeds, and animals mate and […]
Now’s the time to join the hunt for Orion the Hunter in the night sky
by Marjorie Rachlin There’s a spectacular constellation in easy view this time of year – Orion, the hunter. Look due south (toward the downtown area) and you will see him, striding over the trees. Above photo by Matthew Spinelli; below, by Anirban Nandi. Both are from Wikimedia Commons. Orion was a minor Greek god and […]
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Backyard Nature: How do tiny chickadees survive the frigid cold? A boost in their brain power
We often see chickadees at our feeders in the cold of winter, taking sunflower seeds and flying off with them. They somehow make it through the frigid temperatures. But how? This interesting article by Mike Wilpers, a member of Friends of Sligo Creek, explains their strategies – including a phenomenal memory that helps chickadees find […]
Some enjoy dining in. Others grab takeout. And some visitors end up as the main course. It’s just another day at the bird feeder.
by Marjorie Rachlin Seeds, suet, action! There’s been a hungry clientele at my bird feeder, particularly since it got cold. During the winter, I can expect to see about 14 different species chowing down, and possibly a rare new one. To a bird, a feeder is a restaurant with a menu and varied seating arrangements. […]
Backyard Nature: Fall bouquets
by Marjorie Rachlin This bouquet of foxtail grass sits on my dining room table. I enjoy the grace of its arching stems and the green spear-like leaves setting them off. It brings back memories of my trips to England. When I vacationed there, I made it a point to visit small towns and seek out […]