Follow the Trail with Bill Reid,
The Last Green Valley's Chief Ranger
A Giant Along the River Bank: Our Mighty Sycamore
Safe in the harbour of home at last I’ll tell the tale of my dangers past. O! for my cottage beside the sea, And the peaceful shade of my sycamore tree! From The Sycamore Tree by Charles Mackay The first time I really noticed the…
An 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…
The 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…
Favorite 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…
Exploring The Last Green Valley – The Trumbulls of Lebanon were revolutionary leaders
Exploring The Last Green Valley – The Trumbulls of Lebanon were revolutionary leaders Since we are on the cusp of our July 4 Independence Day holiday, I thought it would be a good opportunity to remember the Trumbull family and the important role they played…
Exploring The Last Green Valley – Garter snakes like frogs, and their freedom
Exploring The Last Green Valley – Garter snakes like frogs, and their freedom On one of those unseasonably cool days this month, I ventured out to remove the cover off my large compost pile and discovered a surprise underneath the tarp. As I pulled back…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Towns like Thompson make this region so special
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Towns like Thompson make this region so special The Town of Thompson is located in the northeast corner of Connecticut and is one of 35 towns within The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. I am very familiar with Thompson…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Explore Guide has suggestions for every season
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Explore Guide has suggestions for every season When it comes to getting out and exploring our region, no one season has an advantage over another. While Cape Cod fills with people during the summer, and Vermont is a popular destination…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: WWII pilot from Thompson fought for Britain
Exploring The Last Green Valley: WWII pilot from Thompson fought for Britain “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” — Winston Churchill Winston Churchill provided this well-known quote when he delivered an address to England’s…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Long Island Sound an important estuary
The Last Green Valley is blessed with several large rivers, smaller streams and many ponds and lakes. Our waterways provided food and transportation routes for Native Americans, waterpower for 19thand 20th century industries, and today, they provide scenic paddles and excellent fishing. The rivers and…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Ruffed grouse encounter a pleasant surprise
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Ruffed grouse encounter a pleasant surprise This past March I was hiking through a forest that had recently gone through an extensive timber harvest. Most of what foresters refer to as the overstory, composed of dominant, mature white pine, had…