by Marlene Berlin When sidewalks and trails are slick with ice and snow, ice cleats or mini crampons are a lifesaver. I put mine to good use last Sunday, walking into the Soapstone Valley. I started at Audubon Terrace and found it very well plowed, with chunks of “snowcrete” piled at the end. I entered […]
Snow day photos: Digging out, playground sledding, and helpful neighbors
by Marlene Berlin After snowstorms, I’m always eager to get out there to see how our streets, sidewalks, and businesses are faring. But this time, I had to cool my jets a little. The weekend storm could have been a triple threat: heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Luckily for us, the freezing rain did […]
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 […]
Photos: What’s blooming in the neighborhood
by Marlene Berlin Spring’s early bloomers have arrived. The first to show were the snowdrops. Snowdrops usually fade by the time the crocuses, hellebores and daffodils bloom. But not this year. Winter aconite, in the buttercup family, hugs the ground. Then there is winter jasmine, a cascading bush with yellow flowers often confused with forsythia. […]
Photos: Art in the ice
I find solace in the beauty around me, especially along Soapstone Creek. Even the recent freeze, stretching for days, could not stop my quest for inner and outer peace. The reward for the trek in ice temperatures: Frozen formations and natural works of art that could take one’s breath away. – Marlene Berlin
Photos: A snowy and sunny walk in the woods
by Marlene Berlin Last Sunday, after days of cold, the temperature reached a high of over 40. I decided it was warm and sunny enough to venture into Rock Creek Park and the Soapstone Valley. The snowy scenes that greeted me did not disappoint. To take this trek, I highly recommend ice cleats. They fit […]
Photos: A colorful walk in the woods
by Marlene Berlin Let me take you on my Sunday walk in Rock Creek Park and in the Soapstone Valley. Exquisite fall colors were everywhere. Underfoot… In the trees… Reflected in the creeks… Along Broad Branch Road… (4) And along the Soapstone Trail.
Tropical Storm Debby brought some drought relief, and delighted Rock Creek kayakers
by Marlene Berlin The remnants of Hurricane Debby brought flash floods and damaging winds late Thursday into Friday morning of last week. The storm also dumped a significant amount of rain on a region that needed it. The Capital Weather Gang says the most common rainfall totals in the Beltway area were between 1.5 and […]
It was hot. It was dry. And all I wanted was a rain bath.
by Marlene Berlin Have you heard of the Japanese art of forest bathing? Hillwood has been guiding visitors on these meditative walks in nature. What I longed for was a rain bath. We were several days into July. Heat had settled in, and the forecasts foretold of even higher temperatures to come. As I lugged […]
You’re Invited: David Cohen’s wildlife photos on exhibit
For many years, Forest Hills neighbor David Cohen has contributed photo essays about birds and other wildlife to Forest Hills Connection. In recent years, posters featuring his photos have helped people identify wild creatures they might see in Linnean Park and other parts of Rock Creek Park. In August, we’re invited to visit the Patuxent […]