Capital Nature

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Experience the magic and wonder of the Bluebell Trail in its full glory! Take a relaxing stroll on Bull Run Regional Park's most famous trail while being enveloped by a sea of blue. Learn about spring ephemeral plants such as the Virginia Bluebell and why these fleeting flowers bloom for such a short time. Ages 8+

(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Join FODM for a bird walk every Sunday at 8 a.m. The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is a freshwater, tidal marsh on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in Fairfax County. It is a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, U.S. National Park Service.

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) A world of wonder takes flight as Montgomery Parks’ popular Butterfly Experience returns to Brookside Gardens. Visitors will be surrounded by hundreds of brilliant butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia as they flutter among vibrant, lush tropical blooms. This intimate experience offers rare, up-close encounters while trained staff and volunteers highlight the stages of metamorphosis, the ...

(VA) (Friends of Huntley Meadows) The Monday Morning Bird Walk is sponsored by the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park and takes place every Monday at 8 a.m. Following the walk, members of the group gather at the nearby Denny’s for breakfast and to compile the morning’s bird list. All are welcome.  

(DC) (National Park Service) We invite you to join National Park Service volunteer and expert birder Molly Hermann for an engaging bird walk at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This event is open to all, including those new to birding. We encourage participants to bring water, sunscreen, and binoculars if available. A limited number of binoculars are available for loan with a photo ID. ...

(DC) (Hillwood) Explore Hillwood’s magnificent spring displays featuring tens of thousands of cheerful bulbs. Learn about the design process that led to this year’s unique display and first-hand stories of practical gardening lessons. Tickets are distributed at the Ellen MacNeille Charles Visitor Center upon opening each day. This forty-five-minute tour is limited to twenty and meets in the visitor center ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Studies show that babies as young as a few weeks old thrive with daily outside time. Join us for a guided nature walk on the trails of Cabin John Park. Get to know other local parents and caregivers while enjoying the fresh and spending quality time with baby. Trails are not stroller accessible so baby must be ...

(DC) (Rock Creek Conservancy) Join Stream Team Leaders Kathy Sykes and Andrea Contreras for an engaging presentation on the Lower Rock Creek watershed and why its health matters to our community. This talk will explore what a watershed is, how everyday activities impact local streams, and the key indicators of a healthy watershed—from salt and bacteria levels to biodiversity and ...

(DC) (Smithsonian Associates) Enjoy a morning walk on a natural oasis in the Potomac River with Melanie Choukas-Bradley, the author of Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island. The nearly 2-mile path follows Theodore Roosevelt Island’s shore and moves deep into the swamp and tidal inlet along the boardwalk where willows, bald cypresses, and cattails frame views of Washington, D.C. Choukas-Bradley ...

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) The ruby-throats are on their way north! Learn more about these hummers as we track their progress into our area. We’ll learn how to attract them into your yard, and make a feeder to take home. Ages 3 to 5.

(DC) (Hillwood) Explore Hillwood’s magnificent spring displays featuring tens of thousands of cheerful bulbs. Learn about the design process that led to this year’s unique display and first-hand stories of practical gardening lessons. Tickets are distributed at the Ellen MacNeille Charles Visitor Center upon opening each day. This forty-five-minute tour is limited to twenty and meets in the visitor center ...

(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Garden historian and author Abra Lee joins native Washingtonian floral artist and author Teresa Speight, whose celebrated book “Black Flora: Inspiring Profiles of Floriculture's New Vanguard” features as one of Abra's favorite books. Together Abra and Teresa will explore the connective power of orchids and florals through both storytelling and lived creative practice.

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Slither on over to Bull Run Regional Park for an amphibian adventure! Early March is an incredibly active time of year for local amphibians as they look–and sing–for a mate. The flooded forests at Bull Run, known as vernal pools, are highly prized by these animals because they lack aquatic predators and are therefore safe nurseries for ...

(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Join us for an exclusive after-hours evening of jazz, drinks, and blooms celebrating the opening night of the U.S. Botanic Garden's new exhibit "America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration." Admission includes all activities and one drink ticket to get the party started. Additional drinks and bites are available for purchase. All proceeds from this event support ...

(DC) (Ward 8 Woods) Join Ward 8 Woods every second Saturday of the month to restore Shepherd Parkway by removing trash and invasive vines that are smothering the trees. Since 2011, over 2,000 volunteers have removed over 200 tons of trash from the woods and cut invasive vines from over 500 trees, but much work remains to be done. Give back ...

(DC) (National Cherry Blossom Festival) One of DC’s largest spectator events, the energy-filled National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade® presented by Events DC runs for 10 blocks along iconic Constitution Avenue. Giant colorful helium balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from across the country, celebrity entertainers, and performers burst down the Parade route in a grand spectacle of music and showmanship seen only once a ...

(MD) (Anacostia Watershed Society) Join M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, Anacostia Watershed Society, & Mount Rainier Public Library to celebrate a belated National Seed Swap Day. Exchange seeds with your neighbors and meet local organizations as you prepare for spring and diversify your garden!

(VA) (Four Mile Run Conservancy) Join the Alexandria Film Festival and Four Mile Run Conservancy for the world premiere of "Becoming Wild, a meditation on beauty in the natural world," a documentary by award-winning, local filmmaker Jane Pittman. In an Alexandria neighborhood transformed by gentrification and loss of green space, a backyard becomes a sanctuary and a teacher – alive ...