Entries by Janet Quinn

A Very Berry Universe

Feature photo: Wild strawberries along the Turquoise Trail in Reston, Virginia. Methyl and ethyl butanoate and methyl and ethyl hexanoate make up the bulk of the esters produced by fresh strawberries. In addition to these esters, other volatile compounds are present in specific cultivars that gave them characteristic flavors. Article and photos by FMN Stephen […]

Be Nice to Your Trees

Article and photo by Plant NOVA Trees On a recent day, driving out of the sun into a wooded community resulted in a temperature drop from 91 to 86 degrees. We all try to stay in the shade in hot weather, competing for the parking spaces under trees. What we may not realize is that […]

The Annual Virginia Geological Research Symposium

Feature photo:  At the 2019 Virginia Geological Field Conference, our excursion group investigated the landslide damage of Hurricane Camille in Nelson County. After 50 years this mountainside is still stripped to its bedrock from the floods and landslides caused by the hurricane. Article and photo by FMN Stephen Tzikas The annual Virginia Geological Research Symposium […]

Natural Filters in the Anacostia River: The Recovery of an Urban Waterway, webinar August 16th

Photo: Eric T. Gunther, Anacostia River near Kingman Island Tuesday, August 16, 2022 7-8 pm Register here. For more than three decades, the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) has been working on recovering the Anacostia River’s ecosystems, especially its natural filters. After decades of restoration, education, and advocacy AWS is seeing a great recovery of the […]

Free Trees for Communities

Article and photo by Plant NOVA Natives As community associations around Northern Virginia ramp up their native tree planting efforts, they are looking around to find ways to make it affordable. Burke Centre resident Craig Willett has solved that problem for his neighbors: all they have to do is fill out a simple form to […]

FMN CE Hike: Herp Hunt on June 26th

Article and photos by FMN Barbara Saffir except as noted Orange turtles, slinky snakes, and shy salamanders were the highlight and delight of FMN’s first-ever continuing education “Herp Hunt” hike on June 26, 2022. Thirteen enthusiastic FMNers (including some board members) attended the three-hour hike at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, including FMN event coordinator, Barbara […]

“Restoring the Little Things that Run the World,” webinar with Doug Tallamy, September 25th

Sunday, September 25, 2022 3 – 5pm Virtual Fees: $10 + fees Register here. Doug Tallamy is an entomologist, ecologist and conservationist, a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, and a successful author. Tallamy will deliver a talk for us titled, “Restoring the Little Things that Run […]

Hope for Humpbacks, webinar July 19th

Photo:  Pacific Whale Foundation Tuesday, July 19, 2022 7 pm Register here. Biologist Stephanie Stack from the Pacific Whale Foundation will share tales from her 10 years of research on humpback whales. Humpback whales are a conservation success story, having largely recovered from the threat of commercial whaling, but they still need our help. Stephanie […]