Text by Becky Hamm; images by Kent Anderson (aka “surfman”) in his iNaturalist entries, except as noted. Ah, summer: Warm breezes, colorful flowers, and lots of pollinating butterflies, bees, and … beetles? Oh yes, and flies and wasps too. While they might be overshadowed by pollinating insects that are cuter and more colorful, these lessContinue reading “Wasps and Beetles and Flies (Oh My!): They’re Pollinators and Much More”
Author Archives: ARMNed
ARMN and the Alexandria Library System Enjoy a Tidy Collaboration at Four Mile Run Park
Text and photos by Susan Berry, except as noted. On Saturday June 3, 2023, ARMN co-hosted a successful tour and clean-up of Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria. This was the second time in 2023 that ARMN partnered with the Alexandria Library system to host a nature-based event. And we’re confident there will be opportunitiesContinue reading “ARMN and the Alexandria Library System Enjoy a Tidy Collaboration at Four Mile Run Park”
Stream Monitoring Volunteers Track the Health of Arlington’s Streams
Text by Shay Pratt; photos by Colleen O’Hara How can you tell if a stream is healthy? One of the best ways is to look at the tiny organisms that live in it. The flies, larvae, and worms found there can tell the story of a stream’s overall health, if you know how to readContinue reading “Stream Monitoring Volunteers Track the Health of Arlington’s Streams”
Teaching Children About Nature Through the Magic of a Loupe
Text and photos by Eric Weyer Nature is a never-ending source of wonder, offering an abundance of intricate details, some so tiny they can barely be seen with the naked eye. That makes “loupes” (or hand lenses) one of the most important tools in any naturalist’s arsenal. During a recent training exercise for ARMN volunteersContinue reading “Teaching Children About Nature Through the Magic of a Loupe”
The Call of the Wild—Knowing When an Animal Needs Our Help
By Colleen O’Hara This is the time of year when baby animals make their entrance into the world, and often times, into our hearts. Who can resist a fluffy baby bunny? Or a sweet, speckled fawn? Very often we see baby animals on their own in the wild and wonder: Does it need help? ShouldContinue reading “The Call of the Wild—Knowing When an Animal Needs Our Help “
Join the 2023 City Nature Challenge, April 28-May 1!
by Caroline Haynes Mark your calendars for April 28 through May 1 to participate in the 2023 City Nature Challenge (CNC). Join your friends, family, and neighbors in this fun annual nature event. What is the City Nature Challenge? The CNC encourages interest in discovering urban nature by having individuals observe, record, and identify theContinue reading “Join the 2023 City Nature Challenge, April 28-May 1!”
Phenology: Timing Nature’s Clock
by Rosemary Jann Spring came unusually early to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic this year, including here in Arlington. Many of us have been delighted to see trees, shrubs, and plants emerging early all over our area because of our unseasonably warm winter. For scientists who study phenology, these seasonal variations hold a more specific significance.Continue reading “Phenology: Timing Nature’s Clock “
ARMN Winter Book Share: Food for the Body, Mind, and Spirit!
Text by Lori Bowes; photos by Rodney Olsen Once or twice a year for the past decade, ARMN members and friends who enjoy nature writings meet at a local restaurant for a Book Share event. In February, we met in the Ballston Quarter food court where everyone could select their own lunch. Most people optedContinue reading “ARMN Winter Book Share: Food for the Body, Mind, and Spirit!”
Fighting a “New” Non-Native Invasive in Town: Reports from the Front Line on Removing Italian Arum
Text by Kit Britton; photos by Jim Bly, unless otherwise noted. The February 26 Italian arum eradication event at the grounds of Culpepper Garden senior living community was the kickoff of a stewardship activity to last one year. A plant that was likely spread to the site as an escaped houseplant, in the root ballContinue reading “Fighting a “New” Non-Native Invasive in Town: Reports from the Front Line on Removing Italian Arum”
Restoring Nature by Whittling Away at Woodlawn Park’s Invasive Plants
Text and photos by Devin Reese, except as noted. I joined a group of volunteers recently who were getting ready to attack exotic invasive plants on the banks of Lubber Run stream. The site—Woodlawn Park—is a small park tucked into a residential neighborhood in Arlington. Perhaps its diminutive size explains how well its invasive plantsContinue reading “Restoring Nature by Whittling Away at Woodlawn Park’s Invasive Plants”