Follow the Trail with Bill Reid,
The Last Green Valley's Chief Ranger
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Hope springs eternal this time of year
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Hope springs eternal this time of year Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never is, but always to be blessed: The soul, uneasy and confined from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come. — Alexander Pope,…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Nature’s Early Bloomer: Discovering Bloodroot
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Nature’s Early Bloomer: Discovering Bloodroot One of our Last Green Valley members will occasionally stop by our office to visit, find out what’s new and share information. She has wonderful woods and gardens around her house in Killingly and enjoys…
The Return of the Bald Eagle – a Perfect Way to Celebrate Earth Day
I can think of no better way to recognize Earth Day – today – than to explore our region’s success with the return of bald eagles. When Earth Day began in 1970, the bald eagle had been reduced dramatically in numbers. They were only found…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Earth Day continues to grow, change
Next Saturday is Earth Day and I wanted to share my thoughts about this special annual event and urge you to join with others in your community to celebrate our one and only planet Earth. Each April 22, we are asked again to consider the…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Appreciate where we live
“I do not know whether it is possible to love the planet or not, but I do know that it is possible to love the places we can see, touch, smell and experience.” — David Orr, Earth in Mind This time of year makes me…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Woodcock courtship ritual something to behold
I was about 12 years old when I first witnessed the magical springtime courtship ritual and flight display of the male American woodcock. It was an early spring evening at dusk and I was outside enjoying the pastoral views from my grandparents’ old farm in…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: It’s time to spring outdoors
Just a few days ago, at 6:28 a.m. Monday, marked the Vernal Equinox — the first day of spring. The winter of 2017 will go down as relatively mild, with not too many snowstorms in The Last Green Valley, though March certainly went out like…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Optics pioneer one of region’s most remarkable women
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Optics pioneer one of region’s most remarkable women It was just last month while researching my Bulletin column on the American Optical Company and the Optical Heritage Museum that I first learned about Dr. Estelle Glancy. In celebration of Women’s…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Little bufflehead duck makes brief annual visit
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Little bufflehead duck makes brief annual visit For several years I lived near Witches Woods Lake in Woodstock. We could see the lake from our kitchen window and I frequently took advantage of a nice walking trail that went along…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Sprague Land Preserve an extraordinary place
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Sprague Land Preserve an extraordinary place With the recent warm temperatures and snow melt, my thoughts are turning to springtime forest rambles. This spring, I have my sights on a very special place located in Sprague and Franklin. The first…