The 2026 milling season at Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park typically begins in April. But this month, the grinding stones remain idled while devices critical to the mill’s operation are in the shop. Two water recirculating pumps were installed during the major restoration project that allowed the historic mill to reopen to the public […]
Backyard Nature: Steer clear – but don’t fear – the black rat snake
Last week, we suggested that Rock Creek and Soapstone hikers keep their eyes peeled for native emphemeral wildflowers. From a reader, we get a timely suggestion to be on the lookout for another seasonal arrival: snakes. From Anne Myers: “I was in Soapstone Park [one recent] afternoon and came across a black snake (teenager) in […]
April in the Neighborhood: Primary election candidate forums; ‘Yoga on Connecticut’; 3 flavors of jazz
Watch a DC politics miniseries. Over three nights in April, candidates for DC mayor, DC delegate and at-large Council member will appear on stage at St. Johns College High School’s Frana Auditorium (2607 Military Road NW). The candidate forums will also be streamed on Zoom (links below). Each forum will start at 7 p.m.: April […]
Photos: Signs of spring begin to bloom
by Marlene Berlin Wednesday, with temperatures reaching up to 51, was a great day for a spring-seeking hike. I was keeping my eyes peeled for the green shoots and blossoms that typically appear in February, but sometimes appear as early as January. First, however, I could not resist taking a good look at the beauty […]
Reminder: It’s illegal (and bad for plants and animals) to dump pumpkins and Christmas trees in parks and forests
by Kathy Sykes Area park managers and stewards have been telling us for years that parks and forests are not suitable places to dump pumpkins and Christmas trees. View this post on Instagram A 2022 post shared by Rock Creek Conservancy (@loverockcreek) The people who do this are likely well-intentioned, and may have heard that […]
Photos: Rock Creek Park after the season’s first snowfall
by Marlene Berlin Last Friday, the first measurable snowfall of the season dusted the region with around an inch of snow. And what a welcome sight it was. I set out that morning, eager to enjoy the beauty of the falling snow in Rock Creek Park. My route took me down Davenport Street and across […]
Do something good for Rock Creek Park (and for yourself) at upcoming invasive plant removal events
by Kathy Sykes Fall is a great time to enjoy Rock Creek Park – and to save it. The park recently celebrated its 150th birthday, and its birthday wish was for volunteers to come join in the fun of removing harmful invasive plants and vines. These plants can take down trees and crowd out native […]
Backyard Nature: A hiker’s pain is the squirrels’ gain as slippery acorns drop in large numbers
by Marlene Berlin Autumn in Rock Creek Park is a paradox. You want to lift your gaze to behold the unfolding beauty of autumn. But if you don’t watch your step, you could slip on an abundance of acorns. Have you hiked on a trail virtually carpeted in acorns? It is like trying to walk […]
The government shutdown and the national park next door
In case you did not know, many Rock Creek Park facilities are closed, and services such as trash pickup are suspended for the shutdown’s duration. That means the Rock Creek Nature Center and Peirce Mill are not welcoming visitors, and Friends of Peirce Mill does not yet know whether its Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair will be […]
Late September in the Neighborhood: Rock in Rock Creek Park, sing ‘Wicked’ at Levine, and more
A mini update to our monthly events roundup because there’s a lot of cool stuff happening this week. Carnegie Earth and Planets Lab’s Neighborhood Lecture Series We have neighbors who like to invite people over for lemonade, cookies, and conversation about the cosmos. The Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory (5241 Broad Branch Road NW) is […]