by Kathy Sykes Some good news – the DC ban on gas-powered leaf blowers goes into effect on January 1st, 2022. Until September 30th, 2022, DC is offering rebates for electric leaf blowers purchased: $75 for commercial-sized blowers and $50 for residential ones. However, my hope is that after reading this article you will choose […]
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Opinion: Upcoming Soapstone sewer work will use a method that’s toxic to humans and the environment. There is another way.
by Marjorie L. Share DC Water is about to undertake a major project in our backyard in the name of environmental protection, but its methods will impose unnecessary risks upon our community. These risks can be avoided, and a solution exists. About 6,100 linear feet of century-old sewer infrastructure runs through Soapstone Valley, a national […]
Rock Creek Park deer management under way through March
The National Park Service begins a new Rock Creek Park “deer management” season at sundown, and its efforts to curb the park’s whitetail deer population will continue through March 2022. The hunters are U.S. Department of Agriculture biologists, which the Park Service says are also highly trained firearms experts. They are equipped with infrared heat […]
This highly effective and attractive green infrastructure system is free for DC homeowners
by Marlene Berlin Homeowners and apartment property managers can make all kinds of green infrastructure improvements, such as installing rain gardens, rain barrels and permeable paving. But one of the best and long-lasting green infrastructure investments we can make is to plant trees. Tree canopies reduce stormwater erosion by reducing the force of the falling […]
In the Garden: Nature gives us a free yard care gift every fall
by Kathy Sykes Fall provides a great opportunity to suppress weeds and provide essential nutrients for next year’s yard and garden. But there is no need to spend money on mulch and fertilizer. Mother Nature is about to provide both. Fallen leaves are a free resource with many benefits. They create an organic layer, providing […]
See what Knollwood is doing to capture and clean stormwater runoff
Over the years, we’ve seen the damage excess stormwater can do to our parks and streams, and to infrastructure including trails, roads and our Metro system, so whenever we hear about new and local mitigation efforts… let’s just say our ears perk up. Knollwood, the independent and assisted living community for seniors who have served […]
Connecticut Avenue’s pollinator gardens, planted by volunteers, have been buzzing with activity. More bee and butterfly-friendly plantings are happening this month.
by Kathy Sykes When the days are getting shorter and the temperatures are cooling down, it is bulb-planting season! October is the time to plant bulbs that will emerge in the spring to brighten and color our neighborhood with red tulips, yellow daffodils, and purple crocuses and allium. And this month, Van Ness Main Street […]
We can’t count on summer rainstorms to water our trees for us
Our trees are stressed, and need our help. There has been no significant rain over the last 30-odd days. “Significant rain” means a steady rainfall amounting to 1.5 inches within a week. Downpours do not count. Two inches of rain fell in 30 minutes in some parts of DC recently, but in those instances, the […]
DC is using decades-old rain predictions to plan local infrastructure projects, though more recent data is available
by Marlene Berlin Starting this winter, DC Water is set to undertake the rehabilitation of the century-old Soapstone Valley sewer system. The goal is to keep the sewer pipes whole and harden them against erosion and other severe weather impacts for decades to come. The design of infrastructure projects such as these is determined in […]
Our outdoor plants are parched in this heat, but we are free of drought
by Marlene Berlin Trees are looking parched, with curled up leaves. Plants are wilting. But we are not in a drought, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). COG’s July 15th report on the region’s water supply declared it so. The report acknowledges below normal precipitation in the preceding 30 days, and that […]