Meadow Magic at Garden in the Woods

New England Wild Flower Society will celebrate "Meadow Magic" Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, 2009, at Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA. Garden in the Woods is open both days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., however, special Meadow Magic events are scheduled noon to 4 p.m. There is free parking on premises both days.

See peak meadow bloom from ground level and above on the new Observation Deck. This will be the inaugural event for the 12' X 24' Observation Deck which will put a whole new perspective on looking at the meadow. Be amazed at the height of the wildflowers in the meadow. This can mean native species in bloom up to 7 or 8 feet tall. Beside these "giant sized" plants are others that are quite small and delicate.

Look for butterflies, bees, ladybugs, and more as they fly from flower to flower collecting and spreading pollen. Learn about plant pollinators, play games, and more. The Bugmobile brings craft projects and live bugs to the meadow. Enjoy a scavenger hunt in the Garden too. A beekeeper will join us at the Garden to explain how bees work in the web of life. Discover what a bee hive is all about, how bees make honey, and which bees make honey. Meet some fun, costumed characters who explain their roles in our ecosystems.

Take a special walking tour of the 45-acre botanic museum, scheduled at 2 p.m. both days. Tours, included in the price of general admission, cover the Invasive Plant Jail, Idea Garden, Lily Pond, Lost Pond, and unique New England Garden of Rare and Endangered Plants.

Visit the Garden Shop and its nursery to find which plants could bring beautiful insects and wildlife to your garden. Our knowledgeable staff will assist you in a butterfly garden design, birdhouse selection, or plant combo for a great container garden. Books and eco-friendly gifts complete the Garden Shop experience. Visitors receive a special discount on merchandise at he Garden Shop on August 15 and 16; 10% off the cost of native plants, books, eco-friendly gifts, clothing, and tools.

Founded in 1900, New England Wild Flower Society, the nation's oldest native plant conservation organization, promotes the conservation of temperate North American flora through education, research, horticulture, habitat preservation, and advocacy. The Society owns and operates Garden in the Woods, a 45-acre public botanic garden in Framingham, MA, and Nasami Farm, a 75-acre native plant nursery in Whately, MA, as well as ten sanctuaries located in New England. The Society's vision is a future where vigorous native plant populations live in healthy, balanced, natural ecosystems—protected, enjoyed, and beneficial to all life. For more information, visit newenglandwild.org.

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Exploring the "Emerald Necklace"

"We want a ground to which people may easily go when the day's work is done, and where they may stroll for an hour, seeing, hearing, and feeling nothing of the bustle and jar of the streets where they shall, in effect, find the city put far away from them..." ~ Frederick Law Olmstead, 1870 ~

Late one night I got a phone call from my sister Fran. "So, what are you doing tomorrow," she said. "I was thinking you should ride up to the city. Some of my art is being showcased at the Thayer Gallery and I thought you might like to see it." I did want to see the exhibit but I also had a bee in my bonnet. Wednesday was Earth Day 2009 and I wanted to explore "The Emerald Necklace", a series of parklands surrounding the city of Boston. Over the years I have visited Franklin Park and of course Boston Gardens and the Commons, but I had never explored the rest of the "necklace." click here for the full photo essay by Elizabeth E.

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Walden in Winter

The sunlight was perfect at Walden Pond from 2 to 4 pm on on Jan. 4. My son and I found that walking the 1.7-mile pond trail loop was a great time to reconnect and have a free-flowing talk, easy and from the heart. Strangers seemed oddly familiar and wished us "Happy New Year." The parking is $5 but the machine was broken so we wrote a note that we would leave a donation; the store reopens on January 15.

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Middlesex Fells Hiking

The DayTripper Divas & families love the Fells, year-round! Click here for photos.

Experience History on the Menotomy Trail

Created as a Scout project, the new Menotomy Minuteman Historical Trail guide tells the exciting history of Arlington, Massachusetts, the site of the most fighting and bloodshed on the opening day of the Revolutionary War, April 19th, 1775.

You can bike or walk the Trail past many important historic landmarks, such as the Jason Russell House, the Old Schwamb Mill, and the Uncle Sam Memorial. At roughly the halfway point along the trail, walkers stop at the Foot of the Rocks, where the largest engagement occurred as over 1,500 British troops were ambushed by colonial militias from all over Massachusetts at the start of the Revolutionary War.

The 4-mile Trail follows a loop that begins and ends at the Jefferson Cutter house in Arlington Center. It is designed for self-guided walking tours for anyone interested in American history, including families, school groups, and Boy Scout and Girl Scout units. Parking is available in the municipal parking lot in Arlington Center. Anyone interested in walking the Trail should dress for the weather and wear comfortable, supportive shoes. For those unable to complete the entire loop, there are opportunities to return to the starting point via MBTA buses.

You can download the Trail guides on-line, or pick up a printed copy at the Jason Russell House, the Jefferson Cutter House, the Old Schwamb Mill, or the Robbins Memorial Library. For more information, feel free to click here to contact the Arlington Boy Scouts.

Botanical Delights in Acton

The Day Tripper Divas recently rediscovered that Acton Arboretum, near the town's center, is an easy place to take a stroll and get a beautiful botanical education. Choose from the Orchard Loop, the Wildflower Loop, or the Highland/Bog Loop; and/or take a picnic and visit the nearby nursery. Enter via Wood Lane, Minot Avenue, or Taylor Road. Information is availalble at the website or by calling the arborists at 978-264-9631. The site is in Acton, about 15 minutes from 2/128. Many pathways are wheelchair/stroller friendly, and the Arboretum is working on making more trails accessible.