Posts by Lyann Graff
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Farms offer fun during Walktober
Some of the many family-fun activities during The Last Green Valley’s Walktober are the events, tours and walks organized by our region’s farms during the glorious month of October. The farms, orchards, and vineyards of The Last Green Valley are important partners in keeping our precious land open and productive. We should be grateful they…
Read MoreElmer Bitgood was the Paul Bunyan of Voluntown
One of the more enjoyable aspects of working for The Last Green Valley has been to discover the many interesting, historical, “characters” that lived or were born in one of the 35 towns that comprise the National Heritage Corridor. In 2008, TLGV published a booklet called, “Notable and Notorious: Historically Interesting People from The Last…
Read More‘Masked bandit’ is alive and well in The Last Green Valley
Summer vacation reading was a requirement growing up in my house. When I was about 9 or 10 years old, my mother gave me “Rascal: A Memoir of a Better Era,” by Sterling North, as my summer reading assignment. North’s description of his boyhood pet raccoon Rascal and his adventures in the wilderness drew me…
Read MoreExploring The Last Green Valley: Insect-sized pit of doom a little wonder of natural world
A couple of months ago as I was unlocking the door to my barn, I noticed a conical-shaped hole in the sandy soil next to the door sill. It looked like an upside-down volcano about two inches in diameter. I recognized it immediately from my youthful years spent exploring the insect world in my old…
Read MoreIf you look closely, you can see signs of approaching fall
The autumnal equinox is more than a month away, but already I know the signs of seasonal change. I see it all around me and I hear its call, “autumn is coming.” This past weekend I attended the Lebanon Country Fair. Along with three volunteer rangers from The Last Green Valley, we provided information to…
Read MoreThe Natchaug River valley is worth a visit soon
For 30 years I lived in Woodstock Valley on Route 198, the state highway that stretches between Chaplin to the south and Southbridge to the north. For me, the defining feature of Route 198 is the beautiful stretch between the towns of Eastford and Chaplin that runs parallel to the Natchaug River — one of…
Read MoreAn eastern box turtle is rare find in The Last Green Valley
The house I grew up in was only 100 yards from a small pond, and there was a golf course in my neighborhood with several water hazard holes and feeder streams full of life. With so many ponds a short walk or bike from my house, I had many opportunities to explore and discover my…
Read MoreThe Old Connecticut Path brought settlers to state
I first learned about the Old Connecticut Path when I lived in Woodstock and saw a plaque on Route 171 identifying a segment of that road as part of the Old Connecticut Path. But it wasn’t until I met Jason Newton that I really came to understand the path’s importance and the unique place it…
Read More2018 TLGV Calendar Photo Contest!
TLGV has announced a search to find inspiring photographs that celebrate life and capture the unique spirit of the National Heritage Corridor. Every year the organization produces an informative calendar with great pictures, moon phases, and interesting tidbits about the history, flora and fauna of The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. The 2018 TLGV…
Read MoreFavorite places for “alone time” in The Last Green Valley
By the time this column is printed in the Bulletin, I will be on vacation. Most of my vacation will be spent with family and friends, but a good portion will also be spent alone. The prospect of thoughtful, quiet moments of solitude has me thinking about my favorite places for being alone here in…
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