Register today for online, interactive talks featuring leading nature experts!
Registrants for upcoming Naturalist Hour programs will receive a confirmation email with Zoom log-in information.
Program timing doesn't work for you? No problem!
A link to the recorded program will be sent to all registrants by the end of the month during which the program occurs.
MAY 2021
Monday, May 17 at 7 p.m.
Western Tien Shan:
Home of Tulips and Apples
Steven Lonker
Former researcher at Harvard University, Australian National University
and Carnegie Institution for Science
Join Steven Lonker, former researcher at Harvard University, Australian National University and Carnegie Institution for Science, as he takes us to Western Tien Shan, home to exceptionally rich biodiversity, and overflowing with endemic and globally rare species. With spectacular mountains, deep gorges, steppes and deserts, the Western Tien Shan is the place where many edible plants and cultivars evolved including: almonds, apples, apricots, grapes, irises, pears, pistachios, plums, tulips, and walnuts. Its global importance as a future gene resource for producing disease- and pest-resistance in our food crops, is recognized through its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Thursday, May 13 at 7 p.m.
Ergot & Huitlacoche: Two Mushrooms
That Shaped Human History
Tom McCoy
Programs Chair, Mycological Association of Washington D.C.
Tom McCoy, Programs Chair of the Mycological Association of Washington D.C., will introduce us to mushrooms that are villains and heroes to human civilization. Ergot and huitlacoche, both parasites of cereal grains, have had incredible impacts on human history due to their close proximity to a choice edible food. Ergot is likely the deadliest fungus of all time, while huitlacoche helped to build one of the ancient world's great empires.
Wednesday, May 19 at 7 p.m.
The Lore and Natural History
of Wildflowers
Alonso Abugattas
Founder, The Capital Naturalist
Enjoy a virtual walk with one of the most famous naturalists in our region. Alonso Abugattas, the Capital Naturalist, will take us on a virtual wildflower walk, and teach us about the folklore and natural history of many of our later blooming wildflowers. Summer is almost here, but there will still be plenty of blooms to see. Enjoy leveling up on their natural history, folklore, and ethnobotanical uses.
Tuesday, May 25 at 7 p.m.
Common Invasive Plant Species
and How to Control Them
Bradley Simpson
Restoration Manager, Audubon Naturalist Society
Defend our local ecosystems! Our Restoration Manager, Bradley Simpson, will teach us the most common invasive plants to look for in the DMV and how they came here. Garlic mustard, English Ivy, Lesser celandine, Japanese honeysuckle are some of the species that you'll learn to recognize during his talk. Learn how to recognize and control these invasive species in ecosystems around you.
Wednesday, May 26 at 7 p.m.
From Bioluminescence to Invasions:
The Fascinating World of Phytoplankton
Brenda María Soler-Figueroa
Marine Ecologist, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
In this presentation, Brenda Soler-Figueroa will provide an introduction to the roles of phytoplankton in aquatic ecosystems. Enjoy learning about the the bioluminescent systems in Puerto Rico, the small creatures that produce it, and Soler's research in the United States about phytoplankton, aquatic invasive species, and current ballast water regulations.
JUNE 2021
Tuesday, June 1 at 7 p.m.
40 Birds that Everyone in the
DMV Should Know
Mark Garland
Naturalist and ANS Bartch Award Winner
Bartsch Award winner and ANS Naturalist Mark Garland will introduce us to the 40 species of birds found in the DMV that you should know. Whether you already recognize these friends from your adventures, or are just beginning to observe the birds around you, this is an opportunity to get some inside information and fascinating facts about every one of these species!
Wednesday, June 2 at 7 p.m.
Hunting for Treasures
in the Summer Night Sky
Dr. Carrie Fitzgerald
Professor of Physics, Montgomery College
Let's admire the summer sky, packed with beautiful gems in every direction. Dr. Carrie Fitzgerald, Physics and Astronomy professor, will lead our voyage through the constellations, bright stars, planets, and deep sky objects you can observe this time of year, as well as some of the history and mythology of the sky. Learn about an open source planetarium software package that you can use to see what's in the sky at any time of day, date, or location. Now is the perfect time to get outside and discover the hidden treasures of the summer sky!