Hi River Roaders, Fall officially started today (September 22) at 9:31 AM. August was really hot and wet, but this week has been glorious. Many of our native plants put on their most spectacular show in the fall, and this week we’ll look at plants currently blooming on RRUUC grounds. Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) is the … read more

Thea here, taking over the blog for the week to sum up my Girl Scout Gold Award project which I called “Native Plants for Restoration, Meditation, and Education. ” The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting and is comparable to, if not more rigorous than, the Boy Scout Eagle Award. It requires … read more

Hi River Roaders, This week I’d like to share some recent images that I just found interesting. One of our trails is lined with art works created by our children. Last week I found a fresh walnut by the art. They are typically eaten by squirrels within a day of falling. Common evening primrose (Oenothera … read more

As we start a new Congregational year, I expect we will each need to find pathways to growing together in community, spirit, and service. Some may be familiar. Some may be new. Some take the long way. Some may sustain. Some may be unfamiliar. Some may be lined with flowers. Some allow you to time … read more

Hi River Roaders, This last week has seen both heavy rain as well as brilliant sun. This combination has intensified the flowers, fruits, and fungi on our grounds. If you look carefully, you can see the full spectrum of color on our grounds. RED. This has been a great year for our Cardinal flowers (Lobelia … read more

Hi River Roaders, The Dog Days of August are the hottest, most humid days of summer, when Sirius, the Dog Star, is bright in the night sky. It’s a great time to sit in the shade and experience summer with all your senses. My favorite place to sit is the large stone behind the Memorial … read more

Earlier this spring Deb Peck and I were working on the grounds and I showed her a photo of an unknown butterfly that I had taken earlier in the day. She quickly identified it as a Mourning Cloak. I asked Deb to “take over” this week’s blog and provide descriptions of the butterflies that I … read more

Hi River Roaders, The journey to becoming an appreciator and protector of our natural world is often enabled by experiences where one discovers the “wonders of nature”. This week, I’m sharing some wonders I’ve discovered on RRUUC grounds this past week. Enjoy, and come visit our grounds! Last year Thea and her mom planted a … read more

Hi River Roaders, This week, I’m taking over this blog for my dad. For those who don’t know me, I am Andrew Saliunas, a rising Junior at Saint Mary’s College in MD.  While I am by no means a fungi expert, I find them fascinating and wanted to share with you all some of the … read more