got beavers?

we do! i have seen beavers in rock creek park along the main branch before, but not in this spot: it's new! several small trees have been felled along our walking trail and some large tree roots have been striped of their bark, but i havent seen the actual beaver yet. looking forward to it... 

deer in the hood

this is what i saw while walking the dog today

sunday in the park

i went for a lovely walk in rock creek park with the mister and oto today. the green canopy is so high, made up of many very tall trees including tulip poplar  and sycamores. the ground was covered in a thick, cush-y emerald plant: marsh marigold.
marsh marigold, or Podophyllum peltatum, will be covered in yellow blooms in a few weeks, even in shady areas. it is a native flora in maryland, and also sold at nurseries and online as a quick, fast growing ground cover for difficult garden spots. it seems a little aggressive. best in bogging-type areas. i also saw mayapples in bloom.

porcelain vine takes washington dc

porcelain vine is a horrible invasive plant in the eastern united states that smothers native plants and is sold in nurseries for its decorative qualities. sure, the berries start as an awesome turquoise and eventually turn to a more awesome purple, but this plant pulls down trees, people! in the dc area, it was actually recommended as a decorative verticle plantscape to cover sound barrier walls around the beltway: stupid paid advisor! birds love the beautiful berries and spread them throughout the area: now they threaten to take over rock creek park. only the weed warriors care.

mile-a-minute weed

wow...this stuff is taking over! Polygonum perfoliatum was first recorded in oregon in 1890 and then in beltsville, maryland in 1937: both "mile-a-minute" weed populations were eradicated. it popped up between the 1930's and 1946 at a rhododendron nursery in york, pennsylvania and was kept and studied by the nurseryman. this invasive non-native plant species is now found radiating 300 miles from the york nursery. i took this shot in rock creek park today. vine-y!