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City Cast DC

Let us help you find Mother Nature in this concrete jungle.

It’s leaf peeping season! While Shenandoah might be the gold standard, there are plenty of Metro-accessible spots to see the colors, all without a car.

This picturesque town is a short train ride from D.C. and is surrounded by a national park. It not only has great fall colors, but the historic town center has ghost tours, B&B’s, and great bites. Hike up the short path to 

 Take Amtrak! The trip takes an hour and costs about $15. The Harper’s Ferry station is  an easy five-minute walk from restaurants and hikes.

Alexandria has some of the biggest trees in the country. Fort Ward Park alone has six “state champions”, a.k.a. the biggest tree of their species in Virginia. Plus, the eateries along the water and reliably over-the-top Halloween decorations make for a perfect fall excursion.

Take the yellow line to King Street station and walk towards the water. Alternatively, take the water taxi from the Wharf to Alexandria.

In the fall, this seven-mile trail is like passing through a red and golden tunnel. You can spend a day walking or biking along the Potomac, then stop in Georgetown for a nice lunch.

Take the circulator into Georgetown to start at the trail’s south end, or take the red line to Bethesda and walk five minutes to the north end.

This park is home to tidal freshwater wetlands, wildflower meadows, and tidal swamp forests. While it might not be the classic red maples, it still makes for a stunning outdoor adventure.

The H Street Streetcar or the X1, X2, and X3 buses will all drop you off about half a mile from the entrance. Stadium-Armory Station and Minnesota Ave Station are both 25-minute walks away.

Need some more ideas? Find more spots on yesterday’s podcast.

Let’s go leaf peeping!

How to Leaf Peep Without a Car

Urban Almanac

In December, all three pandas at the National Zoo are flying back to China. But before they do, the zoo is hosting one last farewell party — 

The family-friendly event is nine days long and will include live music, panda-themed food, crafts, and a “panda film fest” with movies like "Kung Fu Panda" and "The Miracle Panda.” Make sure not to miss the pandas’ ice cake breakfast this Saturday at 9 a.m.!

Pandas first arrived at the National Zoo in 1972 as a diplomatic gesture during the Nixon era. They’ve since become D.C.’s biggest celebrities. Unfortunately, the original pandas passed away with no living cubs.

In 2000, the zoo’s current pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian were brought to D.C., but this time, they were on loan. They had four cubs, all of which were returned to China, except for little Xiao Qi Ji. As per the original loan agreement, the pandas must now return to China for their luxurious retirement at the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

The zoo has said that it’s been “working with our Chinese partners to develop a new giant panda program,” so there’s hope. In the meantime, we can still bask in the cuteness of the zoo’s newest babies, including 

In December, all three pandas at the National Zoo are flying back to China. But before they do, the zoo is hosting one last farewell party — Panda Palooza – starting this weekend.

Why the Pandas Are Leaving DC

You wouldn’t know D.C. is in the middle of a drought given all the flooding lately. So, how can both things be true? And what should we be doing about it?

The city has had some torrential downpour recently, but we’re still 5 inches behind the normal amount of rainfall for this time of year. Also, these short bursts of rain mostly end up immediately washing out into the ocean, so they don’t help maintain river levels or hydrate local plants.

 with the lack of rain and recent record-breaking heat. Some crop yields are down by 40% and livestock are feeding on hay rather than fresh pasture. Last month, the Potomac was so low that the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin initiated drought monitoring.

In short, climate change. Jacob Fenston says we can expect these unusual weather patterns to happen more and more. “A lot of times when we think about climate change in this region, we think it's going to be wetter, there's going to be more flooding, there's going to be sea level rise. But there's also going to be an increased risk of drought.”

Right now, no. The forecast suggests that the drought will clear up this fall. However, if it continues, Fenston says the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments could declare a drought watch. This would mean asking people to voluntarily conserve water, like not washing your car, not watering your lawn, etc. The committee will assess on Sept. 19 whether this is necessary.

Get into the nitty-gritty of D.C.’s unusual weather patterns and how D.C. is managing it 

DC’s Is Facing a Drought

Despite D.C.’s lack of statehood, we still lay claim to several “state” species, some of which make more sense than others.

D.C.’s oldest state symbol, the rose was adopted in 1925. It was very popular at the time but is no longer grown commercially as it is weaker than newer breeds. It is famous for its fragrant crimson blooms.

This one’s a puzzle. Cherries aren’t prolific in D.C. and the cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin don’t produce edible fruit, so what’s the deal? The 

 claims cherries are symbolically associated with our namesake George Washington, but seems weak to me.

This small, blind crustacean is an endangered species that ONLY exists in certain areas of Rock Creek Park. It is hard to spot because it’s clear, shy, and makes its home in the groundwater and wet leaves by the creek bed. She’s my favorite.

Shockingly not the cherry tree. This oak species is best known for its bright red autumn colors. It can be found all around D.C., including at the White House, the Capitol, along New Hampshire Avenue NW, and Rock Creek Park.

Despite only spending five months a year in the D.C. region, this small bird makes its presence known through its distinct flute-like call. It can be found in any wooded area of the city.

Get To Know DC’s ‘State’ Species

After a lengthy search, a girthy chestnut oak in Battery Kemble Park was named the 

. The tree’s multi-stem trunk boasts a circumference of 24 feet, 3 inches and has been around since before the Civil War.

The tree was crowned king as part of a month-long competition hosted by 

. The organization has inventoried over 20,000 trees since its founding, but couldn’t possibly survey them all. This summer, they enlisted the public in a citizen science project to determine D.C.’s biggest tree.

Residents fanned out across the city with measuring tapes to conduct this noble research. Once the widest trees were determined, Casey Trees used a hypsometer/rangefinder to estimate the height and spread of the winners and ranked them on a point system. The great chestnut oak came out on top, followed closely by a Willow Oak at the National Arboretum.

It is no surprise that the chestnut oak took home the crown. Ten years ago, the same tree was dubbed a “champion tree” by the American Forests Association, which means that at 105 feet, it was (and still is) the largest tree of its species in the U.S.

 submissions earlier this month, but they admit that this contest is in no way conclusive and that there are probably larger specimens in the District. So keep your eyes peeled.

This chestnut oak in Battery Kemble Park was named the District’s biggest tree. The tree’s multi-stem trunk boasts a circumference of 24 feet, 3 inches and has been around since before the Civil War.

This Is DC’s Biggest Tree

What if the National Mall looked less like a giant soccer field and more like the picture above? Opinion writer and gardener Alexander Nazaryan recently 

 for the National Mall: replacing it with a wildflower meadow stretching from the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol.

Nazaryan says it would “not only beautify what is surely our dullest national park, but also signal to millions of visitors that the lawn culture it symbolizes is no longer feasible in a 21st century.”

The Lincoln Memorial area would be left for large gatherings and events, while the 18 acres east of the Washington Monument would be a mix of lilies, poppies, and bluebonnets.

Nazaryan argues that traditional lawns are an ecological disaster, taking up precious water and leaching chemicals into the soul. Wildflowers have the opposite effect, attracting pollinators, cool temperatures on the National Mall, and reserving water.

However, some readers went to Reddit, saying this vision of the National Mall is a little too idealistic, and more importantly, impractical.

“That section of the Mall has a lot of cut-across traffic. The chances of a wildflower meadow surviving are slim.”

“The National Mall gets crowded. It’s a gathering place for large events. It’s okay to oppose residential lawns, but I support the lawns at the mall.”

 wildflowers on the National Mall could work? What do you envision for the space?

Should the National Mall lawn be wildflowers? Opinion writer and gardener Alexander Nazaryan recently shared his vision for the National Mall: replacing it with a wildflower meadow stretching from the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol.

Why We Should Turn the National Mall Wild 

Only true DMV naturalists will get 100% on this local wildlife quiz. How many can you get right? Answers at the end.

Catbird / Wood Thrush / Peacock / We don’t have one

B. What creature can only be found in Rock Creek Park?

Chimney Swifts / Major Tuddy /  Hay's Spring Amphipod / Rock Creek Lark

C. How many species of mammals live in D.C.?

D. What infamous animal became a D.C. celebrity after he escaped from the zoo in 2013?

Bert the bear / Lizzy the iguana / Holly the peacock / Rusty the red panda

2nd rattiest in the nation  / 4th rattiest in the nation / 10th rattiest in the world / We’re not ratty!

F. How many deer live in D.C. (per square mile)?

A: Wood Thrush. Commonly seen in D.C., the Wood Thrush became our official bird in 1967.

E: DC's the 4th rattiest city in the U.S., but there’s 

Test Your DC Wildlife Knowledge

The Anacostia River is home to eight different species of mussels that are hard at work cleaning up the riverbed. They are constantly sucking up and expelling water as they feed and can filter between 10 and 20 gallons of water a day. They clean the water by eating algae, microplastics, and bacteria (including E. coli!).

As if that wasn’t enough, these little mollusks help settle sediment on the river bed, clearing the water for more aquatic vegetation to grow. This in turn provides homes for all sorts of creatures and crustaceans.

Sadly, we haven’t given nearly as much back to our shelly friends. The Anacostia used to be packed with mussels, but pollution and heavy metals in the water have caused five of these species to become endangered.

 have been tracking and restoring the local mussel populations at mussel hotspots like Buzzards Point, Kenilworth Garden ponds, and the Kingman marsh.

They use floating baskets to safely cultivate more than 33,000 mussels in the river since 2019. Collectively, they filter 132 Olympic-sized swimming pools annually!

Don’t get any ideas. Unlike their saltwater cousins, freshwater mussels are not delicious. 

 dirt and are as hard are the sole of your shoe.

The Anacostia River is home to eight different species of mussels that are hard at work cleaning up the riverbed. They are constantly sucking up and expelling water as they feed and can filter between 10 and 20 gallons of water a day.

How Mussels Are Saving Anacostia River

A killer worm that resembles a piece of cooked linguine is invading D.C. Nicknamed the hammerhead worm for its strange mushroom-like head, it can grow up to two feet long, can separate itself, and is highly poisonous.

The Bipalium worm is an invasive species and natural predator that hunts earthworms, snails, and slugs which can upset the forests' ecosystems. It secretes tetrodotoxin, a debilitating neurotoxin (also found in puffer fish) that can cause paralysis and even death.

Luckily for humans, the worm only causes skin irritation, but it can be deadly for pets. It can also break into multiple pieces, each functioning as its own worm that can regenerate into more sticky worms.

Bipalium worms were first spotted in the DMV 15 years ago, but recently sightings have increased. 

 are finding five to seven hammerhead worms in their yard per day.

Ecologists say don’t handle and definitely don’t eat the worms (not my first reaction, but just to be safe). Unfortunately, they can be hard to get rid of. The best thing to do is immobilize them with salt, use gloves to put them in a plastic bag, freeze them, and then trash them.

This is one of many invasive species that has been spotted in D.C in the last year like snakeheads, stink bugs, and spotted lantern flies to name a few. If you come across one, report it to your local county authorities or Department of Agriculture.

Poisonous Worms Are Taking Over Washington, DC

Giant Poisonous Worms Are Taking Over DC

Montgomery County’s legendary white oak tree – the Linden Oak – was cut down on Tuesday morning in front of an audience of mournful residents.

The tree was the largest white oak in Montgomery County (83 feet high by 246 inches around) and was so significant that it altered the path of Metro's Red Line construction in the ‘70s.

The Linden Oak died last year at over 300 years old. It was said to be a seedling 25 years before George Washington was even born. Sadly, the trunk was rotting and needed to be cut down to avoid being a safety hazard.

All that’s left is a 20-foot stump of one of the country's most historic trees. However, local wood carver Colin Vale will use the wood from the tree to make a bench for Montgomery County parks to pay homage to the tree’s legacy.