by Marlene Berlin American toads have a distinctive sound, one I listen for beginning in March. Their song is barely imperceptible early in the season, and it took longer to make it out this year. I first heard them the morning of April 1, while on the Rock Creek Valley Trail north of Military Road. […]
Backyard Nature: This pollinator-friendly plant is still blooming
by Marlene Berlin Along the Soapstone Trail by the Linnean outfall are blooming plants that have been visited all summer by happily buzzing bees as well as butterflies and birds. It is a native plant called the partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata). The partridge pea is a legume species, native to most of the eastern United […]
Backyard Nature: A hotspot for the amphibian set is missing some voices
by Marlene Berlin If you ever wish to commune with bullfrogs (and who doesn’t?), one of the best local spots is Lily Pad Pond at Tregaron Conservancy between Cleveland Park and Woodley Park. Or so I thought. The pond was hopping when I first sought it out in July 2018. And one day in early […]
Backyard Nature: At least the fungi are having fun
The weather is hot. It has been so very damp. And it’s no one’s idea of a good time, unless you are part of the mushroom family. Mushrooms are sprouting and thriving in our wet and oven-like weather, and can been seen in large numbers and varieties along the Rock Creek Park trails. In July […]
Backyard Nature: Weed or wildflower? Birds, bees and butterflies know the answer
by Marjorie Rachlin Wildflower or weed? That can be in the eye of the beholder, but “weed” is gradually disappearing from the lexicon as we recognize that many wild plants are native to the area, and play a critical part in the ecosystem. In many cases, humans have also found ways to cultivate and use […]
Plant this, not that: A guide to plants that attract and sustain wildlife as well as beautify your garden
by Kathy Sykes Each Earth Day, we reflect on what we can do for Mother Earth, and meet the challenges that come from the changing climate and landscapes. Fortunately, there is a simple action we can take to respond: plant native plants. A plant is considered native if it occurred naturally in a particular region, […]
Backyard Nature: The native wildflowers of early spring
by Marlene Berlin When you see Rock Creek Park Weed Warriors leading volunteers in Rock Creek Park and its tributary parks, give them a tip of the hat and your thanks. They are removing invasive plants, and giving the native species that provide sustenance for local wildlife a chance to spread and thrive. The plants […]
Backyard Nature: Seeing ghosts in Rock Creek Park
by Marlene Berlin The last few times I have walked up the steep slope in Rock Creek Park on a trail from Gates Road, I have come across this odd ephemeral flowering white plant called Monotropa uniflora. Monotropa is a Greek word that means “one turn,” and in the case of this plant, it refers […]
Backyard Nature: A golden prize for bumblebees and butterflies
by Marlene Berlin Bees, flies, and an occasional butterfly come to partake of my goldenrod in the backyard. I planted it at the suggestion of the late Marge Rachlin, my friend, my neighbor, and my garden consultant. I turned to her for advice when my backyard, shaded since we moved here in 1989, had lots […]
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 […]