Happy photo Friday, DMV! It’s Sept. 25.
Today’s photos are from Glenn Tobin, 64, a resident of North Arlington, who for more than a decade has volunteered in partnership with the National Park Service and other volunteers to help clear invasive plants along the Potomac River.
He sent me this photo he took Sept. 14 of an area where the landscape has recovered.
A view of greenery along the Potomac River on Sept. 14. (Photos by Glenn Tobin)
“Volunteers and the NPS have been diligently removing invasives from the Potomac waterfront in Arlington for years. The Potomac Heritage trail near Windy Run is a great place to see what happens when invasive burden is removed from the wonderfully biodiverse area,” he said.
“I was walking there [Sept. 14] when I suddenly realized there were yellow flowers everywhere around me. Many species, all with yellow blooms, created a magical moment. Here was one hillside, previously dominated by thick kudzu, now with a million jewelweed all vying for attention … [in the photo,] you can see small kudzu plants trying to get their grip back. It’s almost like those good and evil stories where one can never let their guard down.
For the sake of comparison, I asked him to send photos of areas where invasives were a problem.
October 2019: A large tree completely covered in invasives, as are background trees.
October 2021: A hillside where the invasives had killed all the trees and shrubs. The big trees in the background are severely compromised.
September 2022: The lumps in this photo are small trees or shrubs on a hillside that has been covered by invasives.
“I've been clearing invasive plants along the Potomac River for close to a decade (in partnership with the NPS and other volunteers), and we've made amazing progress,” he said. “For about a mile and a half along the river (Virginia side), we've broken the stranglehold of the invasives and the local biodiversity has really exploded. It is amazing.”
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📰 News around the DMV
Today’s Capital Weather forecast: Mostly sunny skies close out the workweek as temperatures rise, but gusty winds will occasionally make it feel cooler than it is.
D.C. is still reeling from DOGE cuts (City Cast DC)
Photos and videos: Nor’easter sends water surging into coastal areas (Capital Weather)
🎭 Things to do
15 things to do in D.C. this weekend (The 51st)
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