Native Trees of McLean
Many of us want to plant native trees for their beauty and the benefits they offer for humans, wildlife, and the ecosystem. But how do we...
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- Nov 7, 2023
- 4 min
Streambank Restoration
This is a streambank erosion story with a happy ending, at least so far. Many years ago, the stream that runs through the bottom of my...
- Mar 20, 2023
- 3 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: Spring Equinox 2023
It is the beginning...the very beginning of spring. Today, night and day are equal, and days will get progressively longer until June's...
- Dec 21, 2022
- 3 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: Winter Solstice 2022
Today is winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year, and the time when the sun is at its lowest elevation in the...
- Sep 22, 2022
- 2 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: Fall Equinox 2022
The Fall Equinox is upon us, bringing with it shorter days, longer nights, and cooler air. It's one of two times in a year when day and...
- Jun 27, 2022
- 3 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: Summer Solstice 2022
June brings the longest days, the hot sun, and the true arrival of summer. In the Pimmit Run Stream Valley, June expresses itself with an...
- May 18, 2022
- 5 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: The Newness of May (2022 Revisited)
May is an amazing month in the forest. Over the course of a few weeks, the forest floor becomes completely transformed by new growth....
- Apr 16, 2022
- 5 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: The Natural Plant Communities - Revisited
(The original version of this blog, posted in late winter 2021, has been updated with some historical background due to increased...
- Dec 24, 2021
- 2 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: The Silence of Winter
Its been almost a full year since this nature journey along Pimmit Run Stream Valley Trail began, and now the cycle of life is about to...
- Nov 22, 2021
- 3 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: The Colors of Fall
Following almost a year of looking down at the forest floor, in November, the place to look is up. Leaves are now the stars of the stream...
- Oct 21, 2021
- 4 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: Turning Leaves
It's mid-October. Not quite peak foliage season yet, but cooler weather has arrived and the leaves have begun to turn. There is not a lot...
- Sep 20, 2021
- 5 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: Falling into Fall
It's mid-September, and, while still pretty hot, we are in the midst of an unmistakable change in the seasons. There are fewer...
- Aug 12, 2021
- 4 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: Late Summer
August brings subtle signs of the approaching fall, along with noteworthy gems that brighten up the forest. Signs of fall include spider...
- Jul 21, 2021
- 4 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: Midsummer Part II
Mid-July brings many jewels and curiosities to the forest floor. including Selfheal and Ghost Pipe, to name a few. And with so many...
- Jul 3, 2021
- 4 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: Midsummer, Part I
It is now early July, forbs are flowering, and the forest floor is full. There is more going on than can be captured in a single summer...
- Jun 18, 2021
- 3 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: The Invaders
Here it is June and we have seen so many wondrous natural sights in the stream valley so far this year. But there is a dark side that...
- Jun 9, 2021
- 4 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: June Bugs
The title of this blog entry pays homage to Cicada Brood X (Magicicada spp.), the amazing bugs with a 17 year lifespan that brought them...
- May 18, 2021
- 5 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: The Newness of May
May is an amazing month in the forest. Over the course of a few weeks, the forest floor becomes completely transformed by new growth....
- Apr 27, 2021
- 3 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: Burst of Green
On an unseasonably cold morning in late April, I ventured into the stream valley and was overwhelmed by an incredible burst of green...
- Apr 13, 2021
- 3 min
A Year in the Life of Pimmit Run: Early Bloomers
Spring is now taking off so fast that I need to document the early bloomers before they are a distant memory. Per lexico.com, an early...
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