Follow the Trail with Bill Reid,
The Last Green Valley's Chief Ranger

We have several hickory trees in our neighborhood, but the one I appreciate the most stands by the stone wall bordering the back pasture. At least 60 feet tall in the open air, the tree benefits from little competition for sunlight. Its rounded crown is…

“Fireflies create a magic that transcends time and space. Their resplendent displays change ordinary landscapes into places ethereal and otherworldly.” — Sara Lewis, “Silent Sparks: The Wonderous World of Fireflies” Do you remember the first time you saw fireflies? I vividly recall one warm summer…

It was a chilly, sunny autumn morning when I discovered a frog in the grass below a maple tree in my yard. The cool weather had slowed its metabolism, and it hardly moved when I picked it up and held it in my hand. Its…

I am pretty sure my neighbors drive by our house and wonder when we’re going to mow the lawn. The fact is, we care more about the wildflowers and important pollinating insects making our yard and fields home than we care about how it looks…

One recent morning, I ventured over to Old Furnace State Park in Killingly for a hike. The park is less than 10 miles from my house and is one of my preferred locations for a forest ramble. Old Furnace has an excellent trail network. I…

I am partial to June. It is my birth month and that of my mother, too. It is also the month of the Summer Solstice and when school summer vacation begins. My memories of summer vacation run deep. Summer meant Boy Scout camp, hikes and…

We’re on the cusp of June, and before you know it the summer solstice will arrive with the warmth and heat of the season. If you’re looking to get outdoors and experience countless and diverse locations in The Last Green Valley for enjoying nature, here…

“The sun always crosses the line on time, but the seasons which he makes are by no means so punctual; they loiter, or they hasten, and the spring tokens are 3 or 4 weeks earlier or later some season than others.” — John Burroughs from “Spring…

What do three types of mayfly, four types of stonefly and five types of caddisfly have in common? Each of these micro-invertebrates begins their life in water. Each of these species is also sensitive to water pollution, and therefore serve as an indicator of the…

“The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.“ Edwin Way Teale It seems as if a switch turned on, or perhaps it was due to the night of soft rain, but the morning of April 14 I remarked to my…

Bird nesting season has arrived. Migratory birds have returned and, along with our year-round birds, are actively seeking nesting territories, attracting mates, building nests, laying eggs and rearing young. Every bird builds a nest characteristic of its species. Bald eagle nests are built of large…

Too often, we don’t recognize the treasures in our own backyards. Living in The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor means there is a rich array of both natural and cultural resources within reach. When thinking of a museum to visit, we often go to…