By Rosemary Jann In April, take the opportunity to join people worldwide to assist scientific research and be counted as part of SciStarter.org’s “One Million Acts of Science” campaign. SciStarter is a global organization committed to encouraging people to learn about, participate in, and support scientific research on real-world problems. Citizen science, also known asContinueContinue reading “Join Us in April for Citizen Science Month”
Category Archives: Service Projects
2025 Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Nature Volunteering Events
Although the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service coincides with Inauguration Day in 2025, there are many volunteer events to help heal our environment during the weekend of Jan 18-20, 2025. Below are nearby opportunities to remove non-native invasive plants and help restore natural ecosystems, while enjoying time outdoors with community members in ourContinueContinue reading “2025 Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Nature Volunteering Events”
Saving Birds by Reducing Window Strikes
By Colleen O’Hara Birds are beautiful and fun to watch. Did you know they are also beneficial? A lot of bird species spread plant seeds and pollinate plants. They are also predator and prey, and good indicators of how well an ecosystem is doing. The overall bird population in North America is in decline, basedContinueContinue reading “Saving Birds by Reducing Window Strikes”
Leaving a “Legacy on this Planet”: A Collaborative Tree-planting Event and Demonstration
by Devin Reese (text and photos) Saturday, September 28th was an unusual day in Alexandria’s Mt. Jefferson Park. A four-part collaboration (between the City’s Urban Forestry department, Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria, Alexandria Beautification Commission, and Arlington Regional Master Naturalists) inspired more than two dozen people to lend a hand in planting trees. ByContinueContinue reading “Leaving a “Legacy on this Planet”: A Collaborative Tree-planting Event and Demonstration”
2024 Update on the ARMN Ozone Bioindicator Garden: A Wonderful Climate Tool Right in Our Backyard
By Barbara Hoffheins Overview The ARMN Ozone Bioindicator Garden continues for a fourth year at Walter Reed Community Center (WRCC). ARMN has been working with Arlington County, NASA, and the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Science Education in building and maintaining the bioindicator garden as part of a nationwide project to monitor the impact ofContinueContinue reading “2024 Update on the ARMN Ozone Bioindicator Garden: A Wonderful Climate Tool Right in Our Backyard”
The Mulberry Conundrum
by Devin Reese Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) at Dyke Marsh feeding on white mulberries. Photo by Barbara Saffir. Mulberry Season Fruits from the white mulberry (Morus alba). Photo by Geo Lightspeed7, Wikimedia, CC-BY-SA-4.0. It’s that time of year when mulberries are fruiting all around Northern Virginia. Sidewalks are dotted with squashed, blackberry-like fruits; andContinueContinue reading “The Mulberry Conundrum”
Reestablishing Itea virginica at Little Hunting Creek
By Matt Bright Founded in 1997, the Earth Sangha operates a volunteer-based ecological restoration program for the greater Washington, DC, region. The program is designed to conserve and restore the native plant communities that are essential to the region’s ecological health. At the heart of the program is our Wild Plant Nursery, the region’s mostContinueContinue reading “Reestablishing Itea virginica at Little Hunting Creek”
Spring into Action: Admiring and Protecting Our Spring Ephemerals
By Ajani Simmons Unveiling the World of Spring Ephemerals Spring ephemerals—ever heard of them? Don’t worry if you haven’t; I was in the same boat until recently. Picture this: you’re on a nature walk in Ft. Bennett Park, guided by Mary McCutcheon, a local nature guru, ARMN master naturalist, and park steward with a knackContinueContinue reading “Spring into Action: Admiring and Protecting Our Spring Ephemerals”
2024 Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Nature Volunteering Events
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Public Domain (Wikimedia Commons). Volunteer to help heal our environment on Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service Weekend, Jan 13-15, 2024. There are many nearby opportunities to remove non-native invasive plants and help restore natural ecosystems, while enjoying time outdoors with community members in our area’s beautiful parksContinueContinue reading “2024 Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Nature Volunteering Events”
Seasons of Care for Arlington Central Library Gardens
Text and photos by Devin Reese, unless otherwise noted. Arlington Central Library Native Plant Garden. Photo by Todd Minners. If you take a walk around the Arlington Central Library, you can’t miss the gardens. Even on a fall day when deciduous plants have let go their leaves and annuals have died, the mosaic of treesContinueContinue reading “Seasons of Care for Arlington Central Library Gardens”