©J.S. Peterson. USDA NRCS NPDC. United States, DC, Washington, USDA

STREET NATURAL
By HEATHER DEWAR
You say you daydream about being a scientist, but aren’t quite ready to give up your day job? Then join a nationwide network of citizen scientists helping researchers keep track of the changes brought by global warming.
If you live around Baltimore, all you have to do is find some Black-eyed Susans, which should be almost effortless. Cheap and cheery, the black-and-gold flowers are in every city neighborhood – they’re as hardy as cockroaches and much, much prettier. Read the rest of this entry »

By GERALD NEILY
If you’ve mentally adjusted to the idea of a year of construction for a Lombard Street makeover starting next month, as the Sun reports, you might want to re-adjust. If city officials have their way, they’re going to tear this brand-new street to pieces right after they finish it and plunge Lombard into another four years of construction hell. Why? For the Red Line. Read the rest of this entry »