New England Living

Hiking on the hillside along the eastern leg of the main trail at the Mills Crooked Spring Reservation in Chelmsford, we found the showy flowers of the Pink Lady's Slipper. Pink lady's slipper is a wildflower in the orchid family. It grows 6 - 15" tall with two large basal leaves at the base...
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On a cool, sunny New England spring morning bluebird love was in the air. After dropping my son off at school, I visited Red Wing Farm (a great open space in Chelmsford,Massachusetts to bird watch) and was fortunate to observe a pair of Eastern Bluebirds grazing upon fat grubs while perched atop their nesting box. The...
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I recently completed a couple of bluebird houses made from discarded fence rails that were "rescued" from a burn pile. Over April vacation, my sons and I worked with our town's Open Space Stewardship program to help establish a tree nursery at Sunny Meadow Farm. In addition to the plot used to grow trees...
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For me one of life's simple pleasures is catering to the wildlife that frequent our yard. We live in a small, rural town where woodland surrounds our property. It isn't unusual to see wild turkeys and deer trespassing across the lawn. Now that Spring has sprung, we look forward to being able to open windows,...
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According to traditional wisdom, they shouldn’t have been there at all. So much for traditional wisdom. They were there in droves. Dozens of American robins visited my yard over the weekend. Their visits, unfortunately, were short-lived. First they gathered in the trees in the backyard. Then they dispersed, some going to the birdbath and...
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This is going to be the lamest form they’ve ever received. That was my thought as I participated in my first Great Backyard Bird Count several years ago. More than half an hour into my count I had found only a few tufted titmice and a lone mockingbird. Sure I was headed toward...
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New England is famous for its historic inns, luxurious resorts, and intimate bed and breakfasts. But during the winter it’s also popular for its downhill and cross country skiing, luxurious spa and fitness resorts, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and skating on the local ponds. Currier and Ives ingrained the scenes on our brains with their...
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On a small rocky island off the Maine coast two adversarial species of gulls coexist in relative peace, despite each being a potential predator of the other. Thousands of Greater Black-backed and Herring gulls have evolved a complex system of social signals that keep violence on the island to a minimum. The gulls use...
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A New England Christmas is full of flakes on your nose, hot chocolate cupped in your hands, and a warm glow in your heart. Homes are brightly decorated with lights and poinsettias, and of course the tree In New England we don’t let the cold chill our spirits. Instead we celebrate the season with many events...
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A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on October 29 to officially open the Byam Outdoor Learning Center in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Located in Byam Elementary School's central courtyard, the Learning Center will be used as an outdoor classroom with an emphasis on ecology, biology, gardening, wildlife habitats, and recycling and reusing. The Learning Center includes...
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