As DC residents, it is all of our responsibility, whether we rent or own our homes, to help protect our rivers and mitigate damage from storm water. There are several ways to plan your garden so as to both beautify your property and lessen runoff. In many cases, the DC government will provide great assistance to owners or renters who endeavor to improve their footprint and make their gardens river-friendly. My husband and I participated in a great program called RiverSmart Homes and had a rain barrel and rain garden installed in our small yard. You can sign up as an owner or a renter (as long as you have your landlord’s permission), and be added to the waiting list for the program. Though wa
As much as I love the city, sometimes I need a change of scenery. I'll often take a couple day trips a month out to nearby towns just to see what they have to offer - here are some of my favorite places to go when I get out of town for a day. Annapolis and Baltimore Annapolis and Baltimore are the obvious ones and two of the best. Go for the Annapolis Boat Show in the spring or fall and have yourself a couple Pusser's Painkillers. There's really great shopping in Annapolis, too, if you miss the boat shows. Skip the restaurants lining Ego Alley (the main waterfront area), though- they are all about the views and have subpar food. In Baltimore, hit the Baltimore Aquarium (it really is worth t
