Acorn Adventure – Geocaching 101 – Sept. 23
Become a high-tech detective of the outdoors as Ranger John Kochinskas teaches us how to geocache on Sept. 23 from 11 am – 12:30 pm on the Air Line Trail at the intersection of East Thompson Road and New Road in Thompson, CT. Participants should…
Rolltober in The Last Green Valley – Sept. 29
Have you ever wondered whether a trail will meet your individual ability or disability needs? On Sept. 29, from 1-3 pm at Goodwin State Forest, 23 Potter Rd., Hampton, CT, learn about our new trail assessment program using special equipment designed for the High Efficiency…
Green Darner Dragonfly an Amazing Acrobat
On a hot and humid July night, I stood gazing out over a friend’s three-acre horse pasture abutting the Natchaug River when I witnessed a sight I had only ever heard about. In the lower pasture I noticed a dragonfly air force squadron patrolling the…
August Means Start of Agricultural Fair Season
“By August’s end the warblers are moving through here again, on their way south. But more quietly than they came north in May. I see them, but I have to listen to hear them. The Summer wanes, well before the Equinox.” From, “Beyond Your Doorstep:…
Brooklyn is a small town full of history and heroes
Brooklyn is one of my favorite towns in The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. Located at the intersection of Route 169 and Route 6, I travel though Brooklyn frequently as I make my way around the The Last Green Valley. From historical heroes, to…
Buckthorn Can Overtake A Forest
Invasive plants are attempting to take over our forests and fields. From winged euonymus (burning bush) and Japanese barberry to oriental bittersweet, multiflora rose and autumn olive, our region is becoming overgrown with harmful invasive plants. I have written about these problematic plants and the…
For a Touch of Sweetness, Visit Your Local Beekeeper
“The only reason for making a buzzing-noise that I know of is because you’re a bee…The only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey….and the only reason for making honey is so I can eat it.” Winnie the Pooh in…
Meet the Oriole, Summer’s Songster
“To hear an oriole sing May be a common thing — Or only a divine.” Emily Dickinson from “The Oriole’s Secret” Last month, I heard an unfamiliar sound in our backyard. I strained my ears to try to identify the vocalist performing so melodiously from…
Countless Activities in Region This Summer
Welcome to July. Summer might have officially started June 21, but for me this month is when the summer season finally settles in for its all-too-brief three-month turn on the calendar. To help you get in the July mood, here is a short list of…