Feature photo: Fairfax County Park Authority Article and other photos by FMN Stephen Tzikas Just off Route 7 in Great Falls, Virginia, is a rare working grist mill from the early 19th century. The Colvin Run Mill campus is part of the Fairfax County Park Authority, and is an opportunity to see nature and engineering […]
Photo: Plant NOVA Natives Article by Eileen Ellsworth Imagine the world as it once was. Verdant forests, buzzing meadows, and numerous other natural areas were immense, whole, and pulsing with life. Over time, human activity emerged and carved the natural world into disconnected, even isolated parts. Ecologists refer to this process as habitat fragmentation. You […]
Photo: NVCT Wednesday, July 16, 2025 12 PM – 1 PM Zoom link provided upon registration Snakes often get a bad rap, but we share this land with them and they have important roles in their respective environments. In this webinar, learn how to properly identify, handle and avoid unpleasant interactions with native snakes of […]
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 […]