Alex Sanders, as program manager of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, spends a lot of time in parks and on local trails. And he is so tuned into frog calls, […]
Backyard Nature: A turkey making house calls
by Marlene Berlin Sometimes we have unexpected wildlife encounters – without leaving the house. We received this dispatch from neighbor Dzenita Mehic Saracevic: It was just an ordinary Friday. I […]
A moment of peace and joy at the playground, and a neatnik crow
by Marlene Berlin It was a bright and sunny Saturday morning. I was walking by Forest Hills Playground on Chesapeake. And I heard the mingling of many joyful voices. Kids […]
Backyard Nature: A showstopping autumn
by Marlene Berlin Fall has wowed us this year, with colors that stand out both in their brilliance and their longevity. The yellows, oranges and reds emerged with a vengeance […]
Backyard Nature: Autumn is in bloom. Is that strange?
by Marlene Berlin The changing fall leaves aren’t the only ways nature is adding more color to the fall months. On November 7th, I spotted these irises. I was amazed […]
Backyard Nature: What causes trees to change their colors and shed their leaves in the fall
by Marlene Berlin Almost as soon as trees start to wear their fall colors, they begin to slough them off. Around the neighborhood and on Rock Creek Park trails, flashes […]
Backyard Nature: How our wild neighbors are preparing for winter
by Marjorie Rachlin As the days get shorter and colder, squirrels, chipmunks and bees are laying in stores to feed themselves. Some birds are heading south. Many plants and animals […]
Backyard Nature: What a difference some rain makes!
by Marlene Berlin Until a few days ago, the reengineered and daylighted Linnean and Broad Branch streams were a sorry sight. As the days went by with little to no […]
Backyard Nature: In August, the birds mute their songs, and new sounds fill the air
by Marlene Berlin As July turns into August, the sounds of nature change, too. It is too late now to hear the songs of most birds. Even the wood thrush, […]
Backyard Nature: Fascinating Fungi
“This is a good time of the year for mushrooms – and for people who love to look for them.” Marjorie Rachlin, our late neighbor, nature writer and nature lover, […]