Hi River Roaders, This is the one year anniversary of this blog, created to help members and friends stay connected to our spiritual home during the pandemic. We’re starting to see some limited socially-distanced activity return to our grounds, with an Easter Egg hunt last Saturday, regular Grounds Committee work sessions every Tuesday and Thursday … read more
Hi River Roaders, There is a magical time of spring here in the Mid-Atlantic that I call “Bluebell Time”. If you live close to a floodplain like the area around the C&O Canal, you should be able to see Virginia bluebells (Mertensia Virginica) in bloom for the next couple of weeks. We are lucky to … read more
Hi River Roaders, This week we’ll ask some questions driven by what’s going on with our grounds this week. Don’t worry, some questions never have answers— “to question, is the answer.” The entrance by the office. What is new? What is missing? Daffodils in the memorial garden. What is the story behind the statue? Bluebells … read more
Spring equinox occurs on Saturday, March 20, at 5:37 AM. As Reverend Amanda described last Sunday, the equinox is when the length of day and night is nearly equal in all parts of the world. It feels that spring this year is behind recent years. One way of gauging spring in our area is the … read more
Hi River Roaders, After a cold February, we finally have a warm up. It’s good to have some normal winter weather! Let’s take a look at some of the flowers that popped up this past week. A lone white crocus in the bridge garden. A pair of yellow crocus in the roots of the Beech … read more
Hi River Roaders, It’s been a year. A whole long, lonely, lengthy year since we had our last “in person” Sunday service on March 5, 2020. The March 12 eWeekly said that we were suspending in person services until April 1st… In discussions with Sheri, we thought it would be good to help folks stay … read more
Hi River Roaders, Even with the snow and ice, we are inexorably making the transition to spring. This week we’ll share a variety of images, some frozen, some thoughtful, and some laying out opportunities for spring cleaning on our grounds. Our first spring flower outside the Fiatfalva Room! The Memorial Stone covered in ice. I … read more
Hi River Roaders, One of the great things about taking a walk is that you can have multiple levels of focus- the entire horizon, the next hill, a grove of trees, a single shrub, or a single flower or stone. February is a good time of year to slow down and look for beauty at … read more
There is rain, sleet, and snow in the forecast this week. Let’s go to a warmer time and place. An Asian variety of crab apple in our rear woodland. These should be blooming again in a month or so. Black-eyed susans in the Memorial Garden. Crepe myrtle in August. A bee favorite. A variety of … read more
Hi River Roaders, It was quieter than normal at RRUUC earlier this week, allowing me to soak in the sights, sounds, and impacts from the falling sleet and snow. Sign on Whittier. Looking into the sun. Reflections on the spring in our Native Plant Garden. Our bell tower. The warmth of our springs. Winter Jasmine … read more
