The tributary stream near our house had a strong load of light brown sediment coming out of the culvert. We haven't had any precipitation to wash surface water off, so I suspect this is coming from a construction project in downtown Silver Spring. I used an App I recently got, called WaterReporter, to take a photo and submit a report. I didn't realize the photo wouldn't be saved to my phone, but I have received a response from the Potomac Waterkeepers that they've forwarded the report to the County and are following up. This is a very worthwhile application of technology.
After picking up some bottles and cans, I dropped them off at the top of the bank to pick up on my way home, and headed up the creek toward the wildflower meadow. The sun was out, shining off the ice and flowing water in the creek.
I took some pictures of the ice patterns.
As I approached the wildflower meadow, I stopped to watch a flock of several dozen Canadian geese circling above the golf course. I expect they'd been disturbed by some hardy golfers - there were more than 40 cars in the parking lot. They flew overhead, honking - powerful and streamlined flyers. I spotted three deer on the hillside between the golf course and the beltway. They seemed focused on a dog that was being walked over by the creek, and that was making quite a bit of noise rustling in the leaves. They were alert, and pranced off, tails up.
I took a photo of some milkweed pods in the meadow. I collected a couple of pods from this area last fall. I scattered seeds from one out in the back and side yard, hoping that some would come up in the spring. I kept the other one to start inside. Just this morning, I had prepared the seeds to put in the refrigerator to cold stratify for about a month, before I plant them in some little pots.
Sunrise today is at 7:27 am, sunset at 4:58 pm. Interesting that since the first, the sunrise time hasn't changed, while the sunset time has moved from 4:56 to 4:58.
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