Follow the Trail with Bill Reid,
The Last Green Valley's Chief Ranger
Exploring The Last Green Valley, The Hermit of the Forest
Exploring The Last Green Valley, The Hermit of the Forest Readers of this column may recall my fondness for bluebirds and the bluebird boxes on our property in Putnam. The bluebird is one of the more familiar species of the thrush family, a diverse group…
Exploring The Last Green Valley, Mountain Laurel – Appreciating Kalmia latifolia, Our Connecticut State Flower
Exploring The Last Green Valley, Mountain Laurel – Appreciating Kalmia latifolia, Our Connecticut State Flower I was first introduced to mountain laurel after I moved to northeastern Connecticut in 1980. I lived on Route 198 in Woodstock, and at that time, the 5-mile stretch of…
Exploring The Last Green Valley – Memorial Day: Remembering the Andersonville Nine at Yantic Cemetery
Exploring The Last Green Valley, Memorial Day: Remembering the Andersonville Nine at Yantic Cemetery As Memorial Day approaches, it is time to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. This Monday, many towns in The Last Green Valley will hold parades and…
Exploring The Last Green Valley – A River Runs Through It – The Shetucket River
Exploring The Last Green Valley, A River Runs Through It – The Shetucket River Two weeks ago this column focused on the Willimantic River and the recreational opportunities it offers to paddle enthusiasts. In keeping with our spring season water recreation theme, today we explore…
Exploring The Last Green Valley – Give the Gift of Vitamin N (Nature)!
Give the Gift of Vitamin N (Nature)! “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he [or she] needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live…
Exploring The Last Green Valley – The Willimantic River – A National Recreation Trail
The Willimantic River – A National Recreation Trail To the lost man, to the pioneer penetrating a new country, to the naturalist who wishes to see the wild land at its wildest, the advice is always the same – follow the river. The river is…
Exploring The Last Green Valley – The Mother of the Forest
The Mother of the Forest “I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through deep snow to keep an appointment with a beech tree…” Henry David Thoreau One of my favorite trees is the American beech. There is a very large and now decaying beech tree…
Exploring The Last Green Valley – Spring Outdoors in The Last Green Valley
Exploring The Last Green Valley – Spring Outdoors in The Last Green Valley In this column two weeks ago I introduced readers to a new program sponsored by The Last Green Valley called “Spring Outdoors.” We are partnering with our region’s land trusts and conservation…
Exploring The Last Green Valley – The Call of the Wild
Exploring The Last Green Valley – The Call of the Wild I have seen them on many occasions, followed their tracks in the snow, and been bolted awake by their long lonely howl from the dark woods. Every encounter is recalled and always thrilling. One…
Spring Outdoors in The Last Green Valley
From time to time over the next two months, this column will feature a new program being organized by The Last Green Valley, Inc. called “Spring Outdoors.” The program provides land trusts and conservation commissions throughout the region the opportunity to showcase interesting features and…
Find your Quiet Place in The Last Green Valley
“Time and space – time to be alone, space to move about – these may well become the great scarcities of tomorrow.” Edwin Way Teale When I was about 12 years old, I discovered an ancient white oak tree located about a mile from my…
Exploring The Last Green Valley – Gladys Tantaquidgeon: A Mohegan Woman Born to Follow the Sun
Exploring The Last Green Valley – Gladys Tantaquidgeon: A Mohegan Woman Born to Follow the Sun In celebration of Women’s History Month, my March columns have focused on memorable women who lived in The Last Green Valley. There are many women from our region who…