More Monarchs on the Monocacy

On September 6, 2016 By trashonthemonocacyIn Monocacy River, Nature2 Comments

In a field awash in purple and yellow and green, butterflies float between plumes of goldenrod and sturdy ironweed blossoms. Among the plain, white cabbage moths and big, brilliant swallowtails, are a few ever-popular Monarchs, whose recent population decline is of particular concern (see Monocacy Milkweed). On my way back from scavenging the banks of the Monocacy, I like to stop by the open fields and look under the leaves of the scattered milkweed plants, where the distinctly striped caterpillars of the Monarch are likely to be. Yesterday I found a pair of the wee larvae munching away. As it is early September, these caterpillars, if they survive to butterfly-hood, are of the generation that will make the famous flight to Mexico. That’s a big future for such a little insect. But I’m rooting for them!

American River, American Beer

On August 30, 2016August 30, 2016 By trashonthemonocacyIn Current Events and Issues, Monocacy River1 Comment

Or not.

Judging by the trash I gather, Budweiser (and, even more often, Bud Light) is by far the most popular beer consumed along the modest stretch of the Monocacy River that I patrol. The cans are dressed patriotically this summer, the traditional “Budweiser” even sporting the new name “America” through the November election. (You heard about that, right?) The cans even feature the lyrics of “The Star Spangled Banner,” which has special significance in this part of the world, where the author of the lyrics, Francis Scott Key, worked and is buried. (In a curious non sequitor, the local mall and minor league baseball team are named in his honor). Never mind that this all-American beer is now owned by the Belgian company AG Inbev. Free trade, mergers and the vagaries of Capitalism: you can’t get more American than that.

When You Lose Your Head

On August 29, 2016August 29, 2016 By trashonthemonocacyIn Family, Monocacy River3 Comments

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Poor Barbie. Dismembered, beheaded, and thrown away by the Monocacy River. I passed by her for days before I finally stopped to pick her up. It’s not that I didn’t notice her or even think about her; I just kept hoping for a better conclusion.

It’s been a rough summer here along the Monocacy. First I realized that I had to move my father into a new living situation from York to Frederick by the middle of August ( see In Knots). Then my husband slipped down one of the river’s taller banks and tore his quadriceps tendon, which required surgery and a long recovery at home that isn’t over yet (see The Monocacy Rocks for the general site of the accident, and be forewarned!). And, finally, school was out. The less said about that, the better.

Poor me. But at least I’m not Barbie. I do have my head, and I’m back on my blog. That’s a much better conclusion.

Summer Inventory

On July 26, 2016July 26, 2016 By trashonthemonocacyIn Monocacy River, Trash2 Comments

The Monocacy is low enough now that new trash (that is, old trash that is new to me) is revealed every day, and I’ve been able to reach places that were covered in water only a few weeks ago. Rusty cans, broken bottles, fishing line, shoes, and socks: they’re all out there, waiting to be discovered. I haul out up to 3 bags a day, but I’m always leaving something behind. Here’s just a sample of what I find in a day:

Bud Light cans (5)

Corona Extra (caps and glass bottles, 3)

Krispy Kreme box (1)

Coca Cola Cans (2)

Busch Beer cans (2)

Tequila (1 large glass bottle, shattered)

Skoal (1)

Fanta can (1)

Grab & Go Chocolate Milk jugs (2)

Coors can (1)

Bud Ice bottle (1)

Gatorade (small plastic, single serve, 1)

Orbit Gum (1 empty package)

Salt packets (7)

Disposable Plate wrapper (1)

Green napkins (?)

Burger King bag (1)

Trolli Sour Brite Critters (1 bag)

Walmart bag (1 plastic)

Eagle Claw hooks (1 pack)

Fishing line (3, tangled)

Float (1)

Bottle caps (unidentified, 9)

Doritos (1 bag, family size)

Diaper (1, with wipes)

American River

On July 25, 2016July 25, 2016 By trashonthemonocacyIn Monocacy RiverLeave a comment

The sweat might be dripping down my neck and my bare ankles burning from all of the hops and nettle I stepped through to reach the river’s sand-and-pebble shore, but, in this summer’s heat, I am happy. I find the greatest peace at the most extreme of temperatures. At 20 below and 100 above, all but the hardiest of creatures are still and quiet, and, whether muffled in layers of clothing or in waves of heat, I feel alone and at home.

Unless, of course, it is a long Sunday afternoon, and droves of pool-less, beach-less citizens suddenly appear. As much as I like my peace, it is good to be reminded how very much I am part of a larger community. My boys play in the water with the children they meet, even if they and their families only speak Spanish. Kayaking hipsters wave hello to us. “Country” folk share fishing stories. Bored teenagers of every shape and size and color appear in motley groups, trying to escape the watchful eyes of adults. (They look a little annoyed when they see me, but my dog wins them over). The river, so imperfect, is so very American.

A Few of My Favorite Things

On July 22, 2016July 22, 2016 By trashonthemonocacyIn Monocacy River, Nature2 Comments

Because I can’t pick just one thing when I have such little time to write, and The Sound of Music is inspiring any time of the year…

A doe, a deer, a female deer. There’s a Where’s Waldo scavenger hunt going on in downtown Frederick this month, but at the river we like to do things a little differently.

Raindrops on…Sharp-winged Monkey-flowers. Because the bloom of the mimulus alatus is beautiful, but the common name is even better.

Ford every stream. Seriously. It’ll cool you off.

How do you solve a problem like… trash? Clean it up, one piece at a time.

Shoe

On July 13, 2016July 13, 2016 By trashonthemonocacyIn Monocacy River, TrashLeave a comment

A shoe without its mate is a forlorn thing, especially if it’s somewhere out of place, like on the side of a road or, like yesterday, in the muddy shallows of a river. Where is the other shoe and, more importantly, where is its owner? I could concoct a million stories about how this lovely black flat found itself in the Monocacy, but there is only one true one, and I almost certainly will never know it. Still, I like the possibilities.

The Little Things

On July 12, 2016July 12, 2016 By trashonthemonocacyIn Monocacy River, WildlifeLeave a comment

When I think about summer along the Monocacy River, I think about sun, heat, and humidity, of course, but it’s the little things that really define the season…things like spiders, bugs, beetles, bees and other creepy crawlies. Some of these invertebrates are welcome: I love examining spiders in their webs, watching damselflies flit from plant to plant along streams of shallow water, and bees bumbling over the wildflowers in the floodplain. On the other hand, the invasive insect destroyers, like japanese beetles, which descend upon plants in dense, reproducing masses and devour their hosts’ leaves to bits of lacy shreds, repulse me. Yesterday, however, when I saw a slew of them chewing up some stinging nettle, I was almost happy with them. So, you see, it really is the little things. As long as you don’t mind getting a gnat in your eye every now and then.

A Bag on the Water

On July 11, 2016 By trashonthemonocacyIn Environment, Monocacy River1 Comment

The waters of the Monocacy slow to near stillness mid-summer, when the moisture in the air feels equal to that in the river. At the end of a narrow dirt path, hemmed in by the stinging nettle, poison hemlock and japanese hops that the boys call “itchy plants,” you can find a deep, wide expanse of water that is more pond than stream. My old labrador likes to stop here for a drink (which I don’t advise unless, like her, you have a stomach made of steel). Yesterday, we both looked across to see a plastic bag floating on the surface of the lethargic water. It was impossible to reach from our side of the riverbank, but I did pick up a few fishing supplies. Float on.

Cicada

On July 1, 2016July 1, 2016 By trashonthemonocacyIn Monocacy River, Nature1 Comment

As I was walking along the island trail yesterday, I noticed a new adult cicada just emerged from its exoskeleton. It’s not one of the famous 17-year cicadas that periodically make the national news, but a simple annual Dog-Day Cicada (Tibicen canicularis), whose rasping buzzes fill the air along the Monocacy River every summer. This cicada was unique, however, for choosing to molt on the leaf of a Japanese Hop plant rather than on the bark of a tree, where cicada nymphs usually appear after feeding on the tree’s roots for 3 years.

TRASH ON THE MONOCACY

Category: Monocacy River