Photo: Plant NOVA Natives Article by Cindy Speas, Chair, Fairfax County Tree Commission In summer many folks travel to the Shenandoah Valley and beyond for recreational opportunities. Driving in any direction from Northern Virginia in the growing season, there is a tree that can be seen everywhere along the highways and byways. The dramatic clusters of […]
Andrew Eberly (L) holds a turtle while FMN David Gorsline (R) carries the radio receiver and transmitter, photo by The Clifton Institute Article by FMN Janet Quinn, photos as marked In mid-May I joined a group of citizen scientists gathered at The Clifton Institute (Clifton) in Warrenton, Virginia, equipped with a radio receiver and antenna. […]
Illustration 1: With Permission from www.LiveMeteors.com. A meteor trail is capable of reflecting radio waves from transmitters located on the ground so that they can be detected by amateur radio antennas. Article by FMN Stephen Tzikas We have all seen “shooting stars” or meteors. They are rocky fragments that collide with the Earth and […]
Feature photo: A long-term underground coal fire produces a surface manifestation (steam) in Centralia, PA (June 2001), adjacent to the St. Ignatius cemetery. This is located about 3 miles from the ball lightning observation site. Article, photo and illustration by FMN Stephen Tzikas One of the rarest events in nature a Master Naturalist might encounter […]
Feature photo: Virginia Energy campus, offering impressive architectural style and good birding opportunities. My iPhone Merlin Bird ID found Pine Warblers, Northern Flickers, and Purple Finches among other more common birds. Article and photos by FMN Stephen Tzikas The 2023 Virginia Geological Research Symposium had resumed with an in-person conference on April 21, after a […]
Feature photo: Fish Fossil, Green River Formation, Western United States. Article and photos by FMN Stephen Tzikas Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear’d, Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone So goes the second stanza of John […]
Review by FMN Debbie McDonald Among the wonders of spring, watching the soaring, graceful courtship of red-tail hawks high above the trees has no doubt, brought awe and joy to many of us. Observing love blossom between birds and animals along with the trees and flowers is a ritual and gift that never grows old. […]
Article and photo (Sara Holtz) by Plant NOVA Natives It’s no myth that trees hold a special place in our collective psyche. Trees play a prominent role in myths, often symbolizing life and rebirth. Unfortunately, some of the stories about them are just plain wrong. 1. Trees need big piles of mulch. Or perhaps we […]
Article by FMN Marilyn Schroeder Dan Schwartz, Soil Science and FMN Instructor extraordinaire, knew what he was talking about when he recommended Teaming with Microbes. With a conversational style and lots of pictures, Teaming is the perfect naturalist guide to soil structure and the organisms living in it. I couldn’t wait to read each succeeding chapter – Bacteria, […]
Feature photo: The Darrin Fresh Water Institute display. See https://dfwi.rpi.edu/ for more information. Article and photos by FMN Stephen Tzikas On October 7, 2022, I had the opportunity to attend the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Research Showcase in Troy, NY at the Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D. Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS). It was […]