Mother Nature is bursting forth with color, and TLGV thinks it is a great time to Spring Outdoors with your mother! There’s a great variety this week, so spring out with mom more than once!

Kick off the weekend with “Tobiasson Forest Hike” on Saturday, May 7th, at 10 a.m. on Noah Lane in Tolland on the Coventry, CT line. Joshua’s Trust stewards will take you on a short but interesting ramble through a winding forest trail, crossing seasonal brooks and passing several vernal pools. Great bird and wildlife habitats exist, and perhaps you’ll spot a resident owl! There is no rain date; we’ll walk in showers, but heavy rain cancels. Leashed dogs are welcome.

Next, head to the Palmer Arboretum, 523 Scenic Rte. 169 in Woodstock, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 7th to enjoy the “Trees on Woodstock Hill.” Tour the 100 year old Palmer Arboretum, which is currently being restored, and view the special trees on Woodstock Hill’s Common. Your leashed dogs are welcome to attend.

Sunday morning May 8th starts off with a perfect “Mother’s Day Walk at McCann Family Farm” in Somers. Park at the Somers Town Hall, 600 Main St. This Northern CT Land Trust property offers a comfortable trail walk through field & forest, and good bird-watching habitat. Mothers bring the kids! Kids bring your mother! This walk is family-friendly and aimed especially at families with children.

A mid-week Wednesday night collaboration on May 11th between the Sturbridge Conservation Commission and Opacum Land Trust offers “Walking the Plimpton Community Forest.”  This walk starts at 6 p.m. and is limited to participants over age 12. Park at 277 New Boston Rd. in Sturbridge, MA. You’ll experience conservation collaboration at work as you explore the new Plimpton Community Forest in Sturbridge with Conservation Agent Glenn Colburn and Opacum Land Trust Executive Director Ed Hood. Follow the old cart paths and logging roads on this 2.5 mile, 1.5 hour walk over the rolling terrain of old farmland. The property contains scenic ponds, ledges, streams and classic New England stone walls. Wear sturdy shoes. No rain date; plan to walk in light showers, but heavy rain cancels.

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