The Root Beer Tree: Sassafras in The Last Green Valley
In the woods near my childhood home grew a cluster of small trees. I only noticed them after my older brother pointed them out to me. He showed me that some of the leaves were shaped like mittens, but when he mentioned root beer, I…
Walktober’s First Week Offers A Variety of Adventures
27-years strong, and bigger and better than ever, Walktober kicks off Sept. 21 to celebrate the autumnal equinox. Brought to you by The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV), the 2017 Walktober offers an array of adventures, with more than 220 unique experiences and more than…
Elmer Bitgood was the Paul Bunyan of Voluntown
One of the more enjoyable aspects of working for The Last Green Valley has been to discover the many interesting, historical, “characters” that lived or were born in one of the 35 towns that comprise the National Heritage Corridor. In 2008, TLGV published a booklet…
Walktober Brochures Are Here!
With more than 250 opportunities to get out and explore The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor, there’s something for everyone in the 2017 Walktober lineup! Printed copies of the brochure are available by calling us at 860 774-3300 or by filling out the online…
Acorn Adventure Scavenger Hunt
Ranger Jean will be leading the TLGV Acorn Adventure at the Opacum Land Trust’s Thompson Forever Preserve in Southbridge, MA, on Sunday, September 10, from 1-2:30. The Preserve is located on Eastford Road (Route 198), just south of Dennison Drive in Southbridge, MA. We will…
‘Masked bandit’ is alive and well in The Last Green Valley
Summer vacation reading was a requirement growing up in my house. When I was about 9 or 10 years old, my mother gave me “Rascal: A Memoir of a Better Era,” by Sterling North, as my summer reading assignment. North’s description of his boyhood pet…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Insect-sized pit of doom a little wonder of natural world
A couple of months ago as I was unlocking the door to my barn, I noticed a conical-shaped hole in the sandy soil next to the door sill. It looked like an upside-down volcano about two inches in diameter. I recognized it immediately from my…
If you look closely, you can see signs of approaching fall
The autumnal equinox is more than a month away, but already I know the signs of seasonal change. I see it all around me and I hear its call, “autumn is coming.” This past weekend I attended the Lebanon Country Fair. Along with three volunteer…
Putnam Bank Supports The Last Green Valley
Putnam Bank through its Foundation donated $3,000 to support The Last Green Valley’s annual Walktober celebration. Walktober is TLGV’s premier event, designed to raise awareness of the significant cultural, natural, and scenic resources of The Last Green Valley and also promotes several fairs, festivals, and…