This week's highlight: Matt is leading a hike at Lake Artemesia on Saturday at 9 AM for the Maryland Native Plant Society. Meet in the parking lot on Berwyn Road (map). It will be a leisurely 2-hour walk around the lake with lots of stops to point out sun-loving native plants, including water lotus and all four native species of sumac. We'd love to see you there. Free.Also: The Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Lotus and Waterlily Festival is also on Saturday, from 10 to 3. The festival is scheduled for what should be the peak of the blooms in Kenilworth's amazing collection of water lilies and lotuses. The day includes special tours of the gardens and greenhouses, workshops, and exhibits by local organizations. Show up early for an 8 AM bird walk led by the DC Audubon Society (walk registration info here). And see our previous post for directions from Metro. Free.
And there's more...
Sierra Club
Sat: Edwards Ferry cleanup on C&O Canal
Sat-Sun: Backpack Shenandoah NP (18 mi over 2 days)
Sun: National Arboretum (4-8 mi)
Sun: Whiteoak Canyon (8 mi+ swimming hole; leaves from Vienna Metro)
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Many cabin and trail crew work trips.
Tue: AT from Front Royal to Ashby Gap (20 mi, vigorous)
Center Hiking Club
Sat: Cunningham Falls (8 mi, Twinbrook Metro)
Sun: White Rock Cliff, George Washington NF (11 mi, Vienna Metro)
Capital Hiking Club
Sat: Gettysburg National Battlefield (5-10 mi; bus)
Northern Virginia Hiking Club
Sat:AT - Hogback Mountain (11 mi)
Sun: Trout Pond Recreation Area (8 mi)
Wanderbirds
Sun: Shenandoah NP (8-12.5 mi; bus)
Washington Women Outdoors
Sat: AT/Harpers Ferry (9 mi; register by Wednesday)
Audubon Naturalist Society
Thurs & Sat:Ferns and fern alies: evening class and Saturday field trip to Turkey Run
Sun: Butterflies and wildflowers of Harper's Ferry
Mycological Association of Washington
Sat: possible foray to Lake Fairfax Park (check website)
United States Botanical Garden
Thurs eve: Trees of the regional garden
The Nature Conservancy
Sat: Invasives removal at Turkey Run
Potomac Conservancy
Sat: Canoe clean up on Potomac; Orienteering workshop (register by 7/16)
Sun: Tree ID walk on C&O Canal; River talk on history, nature, and geology
Rock Creek Park
Sat: Boundary Bridge hike (3.5 mi; ages 8+)
FOR KIDS
Rock Creek Park
Wed: Art in the Park exploring wildlife (ages 5+)
Thurs: Nature journal (ages 5+)
Fri: Creature Feature (all ages)
Sat: Native American Hunting (ages 8+)
Sat: Boundary Bridge hike (3.5 mi; ages 8+)
Sun: Ranger-led horseback tour (ages 12+)
Museum of Natural History
Tue: Dig It! The Secrets of Soil activities
Wed: Ask an Expert in the Ocean Hall
Potomac Conservancy
Sat: Orienteering workshop (ages 8+; register by 7/16)
