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06/08/2026

This time of year you can find the green, immature fruits of Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) forming on its branches. If you’re a fan of this native tree, you’re not alone. George Washington liked Sassafras so much that he had it planted along the serpentine walk at his Mount Vernon estate.

Sassafras is native to the eastern United States where it grows in forest margins, open woodlands, and fields. By mid-summer, the oval fruits turn dark blue and the long stalk and cup will be red. A wide range of songbirds, such as eastern bluebirds and red-eyed vireos, consume the fruits.

06/06/2026

Amazing trees - this one in Ohio

State Champion Overcup Oak in Cincinnati, Ohio! The overcup oak (Quercus lyrata) is a highly flood-tolerant, medium-sized shade tree native to the central and southeastern United States. It gets its name from its distinctive, spongy acorns, which are almost entirely covered by a deep, warty cap and can float on water. Photo credit goes out to Marc DeWerth

05/10/2026

Thoughts?

🚨The US Forest Service is covering thousands of acres in Roundup.

They are officially prioritizing timber production over ecological health.

While nature naturally rebounds after wildfires with vibrant shrubs and diverse wildlife, a yearlong investigation has uncovered a disturbing trend: the U.S. Forest Service and private logging companies are systematically spraying thousands of acres with glyphosate.

Better known as Roundup, this potent herbicide is being used to wipe out native vegetation that competes with commercially valuable timber like Douglas firs and sugar pines. The result is a series of eerily silent "dead zones" where insects, birds, and flowers have vanished, replaced by uniform rows of industrial saplings. Despite being labeled a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization, glyphosate application in California forests has quintupled over the last two decades, reaching a record 266,000 pounds in 2023.

The environmental and health implications are sparking intense local pushback from mountain communities who fear for their water sources and native species, including endangered salmon and rare foxes. Internal records suggest that chemical manufacturers may have orchestrated ghostwritten studies to downplay risks, even as federal policies now classify the herbicide as critical to national security. Critics argue that treating national forests like industrial tree farms ignores the broader ecological mission of public lands and the health of the people who live and recreate there. As wind-driven dust devils carry chemical-laden topsoil across hiking trails and residential areas, the conflict between industrial efficiency and environmental safety has reached a boiling point.

source: Halverson, N. (2026). We Are Bombarding America’s Forests With Roundup. Mother Jones.

04/30/2026

Protect roadside workers please. They deserve to return home every day

In just 4 days, SHA has tragically lost two of our team members to senseless and avoidable work zone crashes. These individuals were fiercely dedicated to improving Maryland's roadways.

The continued disregard for roadway workers is unacceptable, and everyone must do better. Your actions have real and life-changing impacts on families, friends, and our colleagues.

Motorists MUST slow down, move over and pay attention - especially in our work zones. Each and every one of our workers deserves to do their jobs and return home safely.

04/25/2026

Volunteers day!

04/18/2026

What?.

Scientists recently uncovered one of the world's largest known aggregations of wild bees beneath East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, New York.

Researchers from Cornell University estimated that approximately 5.5 million ground-nesting bees, primarily the solitary species Andrena regularis, or regular mining bee, emerged from the soil in spring 2023.

This massive population occupied about 6,500 square meters, equivalent to more than 200 typical honeybee hives packed into a small 1.5-acre plot—far denser than usual for such insects.

The discovery began accidentally when a lab technician collected several bees while walking through the cemetery and realized the scale of activity.

These bees are solitary rather than social like honeybees; each female digs her own underground nest to lay eggs, yet they form dense communal nesting sites.

The cemetery's undisturbed, well-drained soil has supported this thriving colony for decades, with records of Andrena regularis dating back to at least 1935, making it likely one of the oldest documented aggregations.

This underground "bee city" highlights the ecological value of cemeteries as refuges for pollinators. These bees play a vital role in spring pollination of wildflowers and crops, contributing significantly to biodiversity and food production.

Experts emphasize the need to protect such natural nesting habitats from development, as paving them over could instantly eliminate millions of essential pollinators. The finding underscores how hidden urban green spaces sustain remarkable wildlife.

04/07/2026

Did you plant your garden a bit too early?

⚠️🧊 FREEZE WATCH
⏰ Tuesday Night to 9 AM Wednesday Morning
🌡️ Temps in these areas will drop between 25℉ and 31℉
🌱 Plants and sensitive vegetation can die
💦 Hoses that remain connected can have water inside freeze and burst them.

‼️ This is why PLANTING AFTER MOTHERS DAY is the local recommendation.

This may not be the last freeze... even with the warm air that will return later this week.

04/04/2026

Easter when I was a kid always included Easter baskets.

04/04/2026

Ferguson