We hope you continue to be healthy in body and spirit as we continue our social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Remembering the Anniversary of the Titanic Sinking
The RMS Titanic hit an iceberg and sank overnight on April 14-15, 1912. Our park is a daily tribute to this tragedy, and we encourage our Friends to join us in pausing to commemorate the anniversary. This year in particular, we want to recognize the loss of the heroes and the vulnerable onboard as well as those who played a role in the rescue. We rejoice remembering those who survived and mourn all souls lost.
The National Park Service has cancelled all gathering permits through at least May 15. Please keep in mind that DC remains under a stay at home order. We have postponed our Titanic Day of Service and will reschedule once these restrictions are lifted. In this spirit, we ask everyone to avoid any congregations at the Memorial this year as such gatherings do not constitute essential activities. Keeping ourselves and others safe is the best way to commemorate the anniversary this year.
City Nature Month
City Nature Month continues throughout April. The focus is on observing nature in your own backyard.
If you missed the iNaturalist 101 webinar, you can view the recording at any time. iNaturalist 101 covers the basics of using the iNaturalist app and provide more details about City Nature Month.
If you are a teacher, or have suddenly become a home-schooler, then the next webinar is for you! Thursday, April 16, 5-6pm: Exploring Nature with Kids Using iNaturalist and Seek: Virtual Learning Tools is a train-the-trainer session for teachers, parents and troop leaders. Details for how to join this webinar will be posted soon on the City Nature Month Events page.
Future webinars in the planning stages include:
- Week of April 20th: How to Take Fantastic Photos for iNaturalist with Katja Schulz and Ana Ka’ahanui
- Week of April 27th: Identifying Observations
City Nature Month in Titanic Memorial Park
In early April, I've been documenting the weeds that bloom in spring in the lawn areas and even in cracks in the sidewalk. While many of these species, like deadnettles and chickweeds, are not native to the Mid-Atlantic region, they are not considered invasive. They do provide groundcover in poor soils as well as food for pollinators.
This week I've started documenting the Invaders - invasive plants that make their way into the Park. Invasives can spread from wind-blown seed, or be carried by birds and squirrels, and can really wreak havoc on natural areas. Documenting the invasives is a first step in controlling their spread.
Explore all observations in Titanic Memorial Park, and use iNaturalist to add your own. What plants are you finding in the Park?
Corinne Irwin, Chair