Giving Thanks, or, What Has Your Ecosystem Done For You Lately?
on Nov 20, 2009 in Environmental Challenges I've been reading the book Natural Capitalism by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and Hunter Lovins. (Given the name, it seemed only appropriate.) Much of the book is about how manufacturing processes and building practices can become much, much more effic...

LOOK FOR: Wild Turkeys
on Nov 19, 2009 in November Birds It's almost Thanksgiving, and everybody's thinking of turkey. But long before Thanksgiving existed, turkeys were here in North America. Turkeys are among the largest birds in our area, with a wingspan over 4 feet and weighing up to 24 pounds. The st...

Turkey Run Park
on Nov 17, 2009 in Fairfax County Hike I hate to admit it, but for several years, my main familiarity with Turkey Run was as a spot to turn around when I missed a turn-off on the GW Parkway. It's a shame, because it's a great park, with 700 acres and almost 3 miles of shoreline along the...

Natural Happenings: Looking Up
on Nov 16, 2009 in Events Did you know the Air and Space Museum has a new 16-inch, 3,000-pound Boller and Chivens telescope on loan from Harvard College Observatory? It will be open to the public on Tuesday night from 5:30 to 7:30. Afterward, stay for the lecture about the Hu...

Where is Your Favorite Natural Spot to Take Guests?
on Nov 13, 2009 in Questions for readers We've got family coming for Thanksgiving. They love to hike (they raised us well). And, since they've been visiting us in the DC area for many years, we've taken them to all our favorite hiking spots. So we thought we'd throw the question out there t...

LOOK FOR: White Throated Sparrows, Back for the Winter
on Nov 12, 2009 in November Birds A few weeks ago, we started seeing white throated sparrows in our yard again. These little birds breed in Canada during the summer, then head south to spend the winter anywhere from Pennsylvania south to Florida, and west to Missouri and Texas. Whit...

A Week of Links: Busy at Work and Play Edition
on Nov 11, 2009 in Links We've both been really busy this week...so a few less links than usual, unless you want to read about the work Elizabeth's been doing for the Kaiser Family Foundation (along with several other projects that don't have results yet). But you're here fo...

Rainy Day Nature: The Conservatory of the US Botanic Garden
on Nov 10, 2009 in DC Rainy day nature When I worked on the Mall, the Conservatory of the US Botanic Garden was a key part of my winter survival strategy. If you need a fix of green growing things, or of warm, steamy air, this is your place. At any given time, there are about 4,000 plant...

Natural Happenings: Hanging out in the Dark, and Becoming Enlightened
on Nov 9, 2009 in Events Saturday night is the monthly telescope party at Sky Meadows State Park. The skies there are darker than in the city, so you'll see a lot more if it's a clear night. It's also a great place for a walk, before it gets dark. Someone will give a short...

A Poem for Fall
on Nov 6, 2009 in Poems In Blackwater Woods Look, the trees are turning their own bodies into pillars of light, are giving off the rich fragrance of cinnamon and fulfillment, the long tapers of cattails are bursting and floating away over the blue shoulders of the ponds...