Charcoal Trail Greenstone Outcrop at Catoctin Mountain Park Article, photos & illustration by FMN Stephen Tzikas A few months ago, I prepared a roadside chemical engineering field trip to the Catoctin Iron Furnace in Maryland, for the local chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. One of the features on that excursion was a […]
Photo: Ovenbird by ABC Tuesday, May 20, 2025 4 – 5 pm Free webinar Register here. Did you know that North America is home to 53 species of warblers? While many are easily recognized by their name, other species like redstarts and waterthrushes might surprise you. These vibrant songbirds are not just beautiful to observe; […]
Feature photo by author; Mather Gorge.This gorge runs downriver from Great Falls. Steep walls funnel the Potomac River down to a narrow width. The relatively straight shape may be due to the Potomac following a fault line (fracture) and caused by progressive erosion as the falls dug backwards. Article by FMN Stephen Tzikas Geology is […]
Photo: The Potomac Canal at Great Falls Park, NPS by A. Toure Article and photos by FMN Stephen Tzikas, except as noted There are a lot of “roadside engineering” ruins found along roads and trails. I like to visit them when I travel to nearby states. Typically these engineering ruins include iron furnaces, canals, and […]
Image: Fairfax County Saturday, March 8, 2025 9 am Ornery Public House, 3950 University Dr., #106 Fairfax VA Register here. Join Sara Girello with Fairfax County Government’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) for the first in-person Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Green Breakfast since 2019! Come learn more about climate action […]
Article by Plant NOVA Natives; Image: https://jamesriverconsortium.org If your property contains a stream, pond, or any sort of wetland, whether its flow is permanent or intermittent in nature, this article is especially for you! Anyone can directly enhance water quality, and in turn benefit the health of the animal, plant, and human communities that depend […]
Feature photo: Stream Bubbles along the Turquoise (Glade) Trail stream in Reston. Bubbles and soap films are made of a thin layer of water, sandwiched between two layers of soap molecules. Article and photos by FMN Stephen Tzikas During your outdoor activities, you may have seen soap suds in a trail stream. While there is […]
During construction projects in Northern Virginia that include deforestation, the sites are required to have perimeter erosion control measures, often black plastic silt fence, often reinforced with chain link. Most of the displaced wildlife can escape by climbing, jumping, or flying out, but what about the turtles? Eastern box turtles often get barricaded in where […]
Photo: SERC Tuesday, February 18, 2025 7 pm Register here. In 1987, the Smithsonian launched a futuristic experiment that would transform how we think about climate change. Inside small experimental chambers, a few scientists doubled the amount of carbon dioxide to see how wetland plants would cope. Today, that project is the world’s longest-running experiment […]
Photo and article by Plant NOVA Natives Community associations are familiar local institutions. They serve residents by enacting and enforcing community rules, managing any common areas, and enhancing the neighborhood’s quality of life. In addition, in recent years, a number of community associations in Northern Virginia have chosen to expand stewardship of their lands to […]