Good morning, DMV! It’s Tuesday, April 14.
Spring has been perfect these past few days. Yesterday afternoon as I sat on my front doorstep to listen to birds, each puff of wind blew pink helicopter seeds from the red maple next to my house. I watched them spin lazily through the clear blue sky and cover my stoop and sidewalk. I searched up the seeds and learned they’re also called samaras and whirlybirds.
The azaleas on either side of my stoop are bursting in blooms. I listened contentedly to the plump bumblebees buzzing about the flowers. I am happy the pollinators are out and can’t wait for the crickets to join in the warmer months.
My parents, husband, daughter and I went out for dinner. On our way, my daughter spotted a caterpillar dangling mid-air from its nearly invisible silk thread. It seemed to be several feet from the nearest branch high up. We stopped to observe its top set of little legs collect a growing ball of silk as it shimmied up its thread. It was mesmerizing.
My family — three generations together — had our first dinner outdoors this season. It was comfortably warm. For the first time in a long time, I felt whole.
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📰 News around the DMV
House Democrats deepen investigation into federal retirement delays (Federal News Network)
What to do in D.C. on any day of the week (The 51st)
🌠 Things to do
It’s International Dark Sky Week, which celebrates darkness and the night sky.
You can learn more at the National Museum of Natural History exhibit, Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky, which closes at the end of this year. The museum also has an interactive article and podcast about light pollution and reclaiming the night sky.
Designated dark sky parks near D.C. include these three in Virginia: Turner Farm in Great Falls, Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, Rappahannock County Park in Washington (a town in Virginia also known as Little Washington).
I asked local chapters of DarkSky International about how they’re celebrating this week. The Maryland chapter has a list of events, though some require signups and may be full. Here are a few.
A night sky viewing at Observatory Park at Turner Farm in Great Falls, Virginia, Saturday, 8-10 p.m. Registration required. (I wasn’t able to see if the event is full, so best to check.)
Star Party for International Dark Sky Week on the Promenade in Havre de Grace, Maryland, Saturday, 8:30–11:30 p.m.
📷 Your joy
Two readers — who have the same first name (more or less) and both took their photos on April 7 — sent in their pics of redbuds in bloom. These trees are still a shock of pink at the moment, but their leaves are coming out so they’ll soon turn green.
(Pat Remick)
D.C. resident Pat Remick, 73: “The redbud trees are guarding the Embassy of Morocco again — one of my favorite views of spring! The contrast of the beautiful trees with the embassy’s lovely architecture makes for a delightful seasonal scene (and mood boost).”
(Patty Morison)
Patty Morison, who is “retirement age,” took this photo in her yard in Arlington, Virginia. She sent it in with a brief note: “The redbud trees are glorious right now.”
Are you celebrating dark sky week? Share here your recent photos of the night sky as seen from across the DMV.
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