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…
The Natchaug River valley is worth a visit soon
For 30 years I lived in Woodstock Valley on Route 198, the state highway that stretches between Chaplin to the south and Southbridge to the north. For me, the defining feature of Route 198 is the beautiful stretch between the towns of Eastford and Chaplin…
Are The Last Green Valley’s Streams Healthy? You Can Help Us Find Out!
Each fall, dozens of volunteers gather important water quality information by collecting, sorting, and identifying underwater bugs from small streams in eastern Connecticut. Through this program, called, “Riffle Bioassessments for Volunteers (RBV),” we can learn a lot about water quality in these fragile stream environments…
Universal Accessibility Training
Nonprofit trail groups, land trusts, municipalities, and state and federal agencies are invited to train with The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) using “High Efficiency Trails Assessment Process (HETAP)” equipment. The HETAP equipment helps land managers collect and provide information so that mobility-impaired people can…
Butterfly Season is Here: The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
For one of my teenage birthdays, I was given an insect and butterfly catching kit that came with a fine-meshed insect net and other items for euthanizing and mounting specimens in display frames. With my net in hand, I ventured forth to hunt my butterfly…
A Giant Along the River Bank: Our Mighty Sycamore
Safe in the harbour of home at last I’ll tell the tale of my dangers past. O! for my cottage beside the sea, And the peaceful shade of my sycamore tree! From The Sycamore Tree by Charles Mackay The first time I really noticed the…
Water Advisory Committee Meeting and Special Cyanobacteria Presentation
The next meeting of the TLGV Water Advisory Committee will be held on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 from 9 – 11:30 am at Roseland Park, 205 Roseland Park Road, Woodstock, CT. After the normal WAC meeting business, Jeff Hollister of the US EPA will give…