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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Backyard Nature: In the fall, strange plants called “beech drops” drop in
by Marlene Berlin In the fall, as acorns rain down on our heads and mushrooms abound, another rather strange plant pops up: the beech drop. This year, they are ubiquitous. […]
Backyard Nature: The wild and wonderful world of mushrooms
by Marjorie Rachlin This is a good time of the year for mushrooms – and for people who love to look for them. Mushrooms come in an astonishing variety, and […]
Backyard Nature: Mother Nature brightens the days
Words by Marjorie Rachlin Photos by Marjorie Rachlin, Eric Kravitz and Kathy Kravitz A lot of homebound people have turned to Mother Nature during this strange spring. The number of […]
Backyard Nature: Enjoy the early spring wildflowers before they disappear
by Marjorie Rachlin I love early spring. I savor the filmy delicate look of the trees as they begin to leaf out. I watch for the many different shades of […]
Backyard Nature: The beauty of trees in winter
by Marjorie Rachlin Winter is a great time to take a good look at our trees. With no leaves it’s easy see their “bones” – shapes, structure, bark, seedpods. Here […]
Backyard Nature: Weed or wildflower?
by Marjorie Rachlin Wildflower or weed? It can be in the eye of the beholder. Take a look at some of the interesting summer wildflowers you can see on roadsides […]
Opinion: We risk losing the forest in Forest Hills
by Kate Yonkers Last summer and early fall gave us a taste of the heavy, enduring rain which will become more commonplace as the climate warms. We have lost many […]