by Marlene Berlin Summer, officially, is still a couple of months away. Summer temperatures, on the other hand, will be here soon. Hot and dry are not a good combination […]
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 […]
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 […]
Got young trees? They need to be watered even when temperatures are cooling
by Marlene Berlin We often remind you during the hot summer months that new trees need water – gallons of it. Young trees, whether they’ve been recently planted or have […]
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 […]
This fall, leave the leaves on the lawn and flower beds. It’s better for wildlife – and our wallets.
by Kathy Sykes It’s that time of year when we think we need to rake leaves and “clean up” the garden. But think again. Contrary to popular belief, one of […]
The invasion of the ‘tree snatchers’
by Adam Sieminski Winter creeper (Euonymus fortunei) is a tenacious, perennial, and evergreen plant that grows as a sprawling groundcover or climbing vine. Those qualities make it attractive to many local […]
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 […]
Preparing your garden for spring, the pollinator-friendly way
by Kathy Sykes In previous Forest Hills Connection articles, I’ve urged you to leave the fall leaves for wildlife spending their winters here and soil care, and retire those leaf blowers […]