Photos - New Canaan Land Trust

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The New Canaan Land Trust\'s Instagram page is a great way to follow along with current projects, be inspired by the beauty of our preserves, and learn about our community of volunteers and visitors. Below is a collection of our most recent posts. Check out our page for more...

The 2022 #newcanaansculpturetrail is off to a star

The 2022 #newcanaansculpturetrail is off to a start today. Simone Kestelman installed her sculpture of 365 porcelain flowers called "Chaos and Calm" on the GreenLink-Oenoke Trail.

While the 2022 Sculpture Trail doesn't open up officially until June 1st, this is the second work to be installed. (James Tyler's Brickhead Truth @tylersculpture has been installed at the @carriagebarnartscenter and has been delighting visitors since).

For those who frequent the GreenLink on Oenoke Trail, you will be pleasantly surprised when you encounter this amazing display of color and creativity in this woodland oasis. For those haven't been there, now is the time to discover this beautiful 6 acre property that's right next to downtown New Canaan.

All of the remaining eight sculptures will be installed over the next 2 1/2 weeks...keep your eyes out for more exciting works coming our way. Hope you plan on joining us for the opening celebration at the Carriage Barn on June 17th, 7pm to 10pm. Go to our website and select "2020 Sculpture Trail" under events.

Thanks so much to Laney Lloyd @elloyd12 for the fantastic photos and @kestelmansimone for making this installation so much fun.
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#newcanaanmoms #newcanaanct #livenewcanaan #newcanaan #fairfieldcountyct #fairfieldcounty #newcanaanct📍 #instanewcanaan #northsalem #outdoorsculpture #artinstallation #sculpturetrail #landtrustlife #loveyourctlandtrust
#westchesterlandtrust #landtrusts #landconservation #landtrust

Want to learn about those wild mushrooms that you

Want to learn about those wild mushrooms that you see in the woods? Time to learn which ones to stay away from (i.e, the poisonous ones)? Here is your chance this weekend!

Join New England’s leading mushroom hunting teachers who will lead us into the forest for a close look at local fungi in their natural habitats -- on two of the Land Trust Preserves. Saturday at 2pm at Watson-Symington Preserve, and Sunday at 4pm at Still Pond Preserve.

There are many types of mushrooms in our region. Some are poisonous, but their ecology is fun to learn about…and others are simply delicious! Ryan Bouchard and Emily Schmidt from the Mushroom Hunting Foundation will lead us into the forest for a close look at local fungi in their natural habitats. They will explain the basics of wild mushroom science and safety, and will emphasize the species of spring mushroom season that are considered “safe for beginners” to cook with. This class will show you inside a whole world of adventure that most people overlook.

Go to NewCanaanLandTrust.org, and choose Events in the top menu. Join us for a wonderful, educational walk.

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#landtrustlife #loveyourctlandtrust
#westchesterlandtrust #landtrusts #landconservation #landtrust #newcanaanmoms #newcanaanct #livenewcanaan #newcanaan #fairfieldcountyct #fairfieldcounty #newcanaanct📍 #instanewcanaan #northsalem #ediblewildmushrooms #wildmushroomspecialist #wildmushroomseason #wildaboutmushrooms #foragedfood #mushroomseason #mushrooms_of_our_world #mushroomspotting

Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) in bloom now at the

Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) in bloom now at the Silvermine Fowler meadow. The deep purple buds photographed last month have blossomed into striking yellow daisy-like flowers.

Ragwort is a native perennial that colonizes readily through rhizomes and seeds, to form an evergreen ground cover. Its natural habitat is meadows, bogs and open woodlands with moist soil.

Our volunteers planted this ragwort last fall in the shady edges of the pollinator meadow. The flowers, which bloom for about three weeks, are particularly attractive to bees.

Thanks to your support, the Land Trust continues t

Thanks to your support, the Land Trust continues to restore the historic stone walls on our properties. These iconic features that traverse so many of the Land Trust preserves are relics from the agrarian past and tell a story about land use over past centuries. Last year we rebuilt over 125 feet of stone walls.

Greg Faillaci, stone mason extraordinaire (pictured on the right), has dedicated hundreds of hours working with us, and teaching volunteers how to construct a lasting stone wall. Thank you Greg.

Keep your eyes out for the next stonewall building workshop...there is always more work to do. (Subscribe to our newsletter: go to newcanaanlandtrust.org, and enter your email in the footer on any page).

As we near the end of our fiscal year on May 31st, please think of supporting the Land Trust. Click on the link in the bio to donate.
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.#newcanaanmoms #newcanaanct #livenewcanaan #newcanaan #fairfieldcountyct #fairfieldcounty #newcanaanct📍 #instanewcanaan #northsalem #bestphotos #photographoftheday #photographychallenge #landtrustlife #loveyourctlandtrust
#westchesterlandtrust #landtrusts #landconservation #landtrust #stonewalls #stonewallstrong
#natureupclose #inaturalist

The lullabies of our local peepers continues into

The lullabies of our local peepers continues into May. For those near a pond, or visiting some of our preserves in early evening such as Still Pond, Colhoun Preserve or the vernal pools at Watson-Symington Preserve can admire the lullabies of croaking peepers. A welcoming sound of spring.

The male peepers, often in a chorus of pairs or triplets, sing together to make the impact of the sound greater...all in the interest of finding a mate. Yes, the call of the season!

Thanks to your support, the Land Trust protects the habitats that support the wonderful chorus of frogs.

As we close our fiscal year at the end of May, please think of supporting the Land Trust. Your support can thrive on land that's preserved forever.

To donate, go to the link in our bio.

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#landtrustlife #loveyourctlandtrust
#westchesterlandtrust #landtrusts #landconservation #landtrust #newcanaanmoms #newcanaanct #livenewcanaan #newcanaan #fairfieldcountyct #fairfieldcounty #newcanaanct📍 #instanewcanaan #northsalem #naturephotography #naturephotographersofinstagram #peepers #peeperseason
#themeadows #meadows
#meadows #stewarding #springhike #sundayhike #findmeoutside #springhike #sundayhike #findmeoutside

Eastern Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) coming into bl

Eastern Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) coming into bloom at the entrance to Still Pond Preserve. These young understory trees were planted on Arbor Day three years ago to enhance the wildlife habitat.

Redbuds produce abundant pollen and nectar in late April providing needed sustenance for early season bees and butterflies that are out and about before little else is blooming.

If you look closely, you will notice the unique characteristic of redbuds - the flowers sprout directly from the trunk and branches rather than from the tips.

Thanks to our supporters, the Land Trust protects

Thanks to our supporters, the Land Trust protects almost 400 acres, and the habitat for some much wildlife. That includes otters which are known to appear in our local streams and ponds. These otters pictured here were seen on a Land Trust preserve.

While most Connecticut residents rarely have a chance to view otters in the wild, the DEEP reports that the state's population is healthy and stable. For the Land Trust, we know that we provide a stable ecosystem for otters and other wildlife.

Life in the natural resources that the Land Trust protects is to be cherished.

As we close our fiscal year at the end of May, please think of supporting the Land Trust. Your support ensures that nature is not remote to our residents. Instead nature can thrive on land that's preserved forever.

To donate, go to the link in our bio.

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#landtrustlife #loveyourctlandtrust
#westchesterlandtrust #landtrusts #landconservation #landtrust #newcanaanmoms #newcanaanct #livenewcanaan #newcanaan #fairfieldcountyct #fairfieldcounty #newcanaanct📍 #instanewcanaan #northsalem #naturephotography #naturephotographersofinstagram #stonewalls
#themeadows #meadows
#meadows #stewarding #springhike #sundayhike #findmeoutside #springhike #sundayhike #findmeoutside

Rebuilding an historic wall one stone at a time.

Rebuilding an historic wall one stone at a time.

At yesterday’s session, volunteers restored another 10 feet of the stonewall wall that runs along the edge of the meadow at the Hawkins Preserve on North Wilton Road.

This large capstone was too heavy and unwieldy to lift so volunteers used a wooden plank as a ramp and rolled the stone up to the top of the wall. No small feat undertaken by Danielle Kurkjian, Haik Kavookjian, Jim Babashak and master stonemason Greg Faillaci.

This is the land trust’s fifth stonewall restoration project. The completed walls can be seen in the Livingston-Higley meadow, along Davenport Road at the Colhoun Preserve and along Silvermine Road at both Hicks meadow and the entrance to Silvermine-Fowler.

Work sessions at the Hawkins wall are ongoing throughout the spring, summer and fall. Volunteers always welcome.

Thanks to our members, open space is nearby...and

Thanks to our members, open space is nearby...and not remote. The Land Trust protects and takes care of almost 400 acres in New Canaan. And half of the acreage are in preserves that are open to the public.

We invite all to enjoy our scenic trails on our open-to-the-public preserves. Take advantage of access to the variety of habitats that the preserves offer. Woodlands, forests, wetlands, ponds, meadows and a firefly sanctuary -- one of the only ones protected in the U.S. Yes, we are all happy that nature is close by...and we can enjoy them.

As we close our fiscal year at the end of May, please think of supporting the Land Trust. Your support ensures that nature is not remote to our residents. Instead nature can thrive on land that's preserved forever.

To donate, go to the link in our bio.

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#landtrustlife #loveyourctlandtrust
#westchesterlandtrust #landtrusts #landconservation #landtrust #newcanaanmoms #newcanaanct #livenewcanaan #newcanaan #fairfieldcountyct #fairfieldcounty #newcanaanct📍 #instanewcanaan #northsalem #naturephotography #naturephotographersofinstagram #stonewalls
#themeadows #meadows
#meadows #stewarding #springhike #sundayhike #findmeoutside #springhike #sundayhike #findmeoutside

The Birdhouse Trail arrives at the Silvermine-Fowl

The Birdhouse Trail arrives at the Silvermine-Fowler Preserve.

This educational exhibit features 14 types of bird boxes each designed to accommodate a different kind of cavity nesting bird. The collection illustrates the diversity of bird life in our local habitats and includes bird ID photos plus information on life cycles, diets, territories and life spans.

The rotating exhibit, funded by the Stuart Higley Foundation, first appeared at Bristow Bird Sanctuary last year. In 2023 it will move on to the New Canaan Nature Center.

Thanks to Chris Schipper and Leo Patel who installed this exhibit for NCLT. It is located along the path leading from the trailhead on Silvermine Avenue up to Still Pond.

Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) carpets t

Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) carpets the woods at the Browne Preserve.

This low-growing ground cover is a member of the lily family, and is sometimes referred to as false lily-of-the-valley. It has shiny oval leaves that sprout singly or in pairs. As with our native trout lily, the single leaves do not blossom or produce fruit. The paired ones put up a stem with minuscule white blossoms which bloom in late May. The flowers offer pollen (no nectar) which attracts small bees, flower flies and beetles. Tiny pale green berries form in late summer and turn red when ripe. These are eaten primarily by white-footed mice, chipmunks and some songbirds.

Canada mayflower loves acidic soil rich in organic matter and will thrive in dappled, part or deep shade. It is common throughout the eastern woods and can be found growing wild all over town and especially on NCLT’s woodland preserves.

Join us today at the @newcanaannaturecenter for an

Join us today at the @newcanaannaturecenter for an Earth Day Extravaganza! We have so many great activities and programs planned for visitors of all ages. Don’t forget to a top by our table and say hello!
#earthday #newcanaan #newcanaanlandtrust

Thanks to our members' support, the Land Trust pro

Thanks to our members' support, the Land Trust protects and take care of nearly 400 acres in New Canaan, including the first dedicated firefly preserve in the U.S. The Firefly Sanctuary is a special destination for so many during the peak season of the firefly luminescent show in the early summer days. (Not far from now!)

As the Land Trust approaches the end of our fiscal year, perhaps you will consier supporting our efforts to preserve open space and protect an amazing habitat that fosters fireflies from larvae to pupa to the adult whose bioluminescent display amazes us every year.

To support the New Canaan Land Trust, click on the link in the bio.
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#landtrustlife #loveyourctlandtrust
#westchesterlandtrust #landtrusts #landconservation #landtrust #newcanaanmoms #newcanaanct #livenewcanaan #newcanaan #fairfieldcountyct #fairfieldcounty #newcanaanct📍 #instanewcanaan #northsalem #firefliesphotography #nightskies #fireflies

Have you ever been to Browne Preserve on Valley Ro

Have you ever been to Browne Preserve on Valley Road, next to the Grupes Reservior? Those familar with our preserve in northeastern New Canaan will recognize the glacier erratic as an iconic feature of this beautiful preserve.

Erratics take their name from the Latin word "errare " -- which means to wander. And yes, this large boulder did wander a great distance. it was most likely carried by glacial ice over hundreds of miles and deposited here at Browne Preserve. The good news is that its home is open space protected by the Land Trust into perpetuity. It probably been right here since the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (Ice Age) 10,000 years ago! Plus, as these kids know, it is fun to climb.

As the Land Trust ends our fiscal year, please think of supporting us in our effort to protect and steward open space and connect the community to our natural resources. Click on the link in the bio and go to our website to Donate.
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#glacialerratic #beautifuloutdoors #trailhiking #theoutdoors #newcanaanct📍 #instanewcanaan #northsalem #newcanaanct #livenewcanaan #bestphotos #photographoftheday #landtrustlife #loveyourctlandtrust
#westchesterlandtrust #landtrusts #landconservation #landtrust #naturephotography #naturephotographersofinstagram

Thanks to our members' support, the Land Trust pro

Thanks to our members' support, the Land Trust protects and takes care of nearly 400 acres in New Canaan.

As we approach the end of our fiscal year, perhaps you will consider supporting our efforts to conserve open space and foster a connection between the New Canaan community and its natural resources?

Thanks to Peter Vendall for this beautiful photograph of Livingston-Higley Preserve.

Consider donating now. Click on the link in the bio and go to our website to Donate.
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#newcanaanct📍 #instanewcanaan #northsalem #newcanaanct #livenewcanaan #bestphotos #photographoftheday #landtrustlife #loveyourctlandtrust
#westchesterlandtrust #landtrusts #landconservation #landtrust #naturephotography #naturephotographersofinstagram

One common trait among invasive species is their a

One common trait among invasive species is their ability to leaf out before native species, as pictured here with Japanese Barberry. This 1-3 week head start gives the plants an added boost, and can allow them to outcompete any native plants in the area.

It is hard to visualize that these lush purple bud

It is hard to visualize that these lush purple buds will open into bright yellow daisy-like flowers. This is Golden Ragwort or Groundsel (Packera aurea), a wildflower in aster family native to eastern US. Several of these were planted last fall at the Silvermine Fowler pollinator meadow.

Golden ragwort prefers a part shade location with moist soil. It forms a low growing semi-evergreen ground cover with spring flowers that attract small bees.

Many thanks to the @nchs_slobs for helping to impr

Many thanks to the @nchs_slobs for helping to improve and install new raised walkways at Watson-Symington preserve. The raised walkways will help visitors traverse some seasonally wet sections of the trail from Wellesley Drive.

In the coming weeks, the SLOBs will also be working to maintain and improve water diversion bars along the steep sections of trail. This important but often overlooking piece of trail infrastructure ensure that trails don’t erode and become washed out during heavy rains.

#newcanaan #landtrust #newcanaanlandtrust #serviceleagueofboys #newcanaanhighschool #trailmaintenance #trailconstruction #landstewardship #volunteering #communityservice @newcanaanhighschool

A single stalk of Glory of the Snow (Scilla lucili

A single stalk of Glory of the Snow (Scilla luciliae) heralds Spring at the Silvermine Fowler meadow. The intense blue color is stunning and not that common in Nature. Most flowering plants have yellow, pink, red or purple blossoms. Only about 10 percent produce blue ones.

Each year, volunteers help to clean out our networ

Each year, volunteers help to clean out our network of 40+ birdhouses, and inventory the nests. This year, we found nests made by bluebirds, tree swallows, wrens and chickadees…and a few field mice who moved in over the winter.

With the birdhouses cleaned out, new residents can move in for the breeding season this spring and summer.

Walk on by or stop to take a closer look? These a

Walk on by or stop to take a closer look?

These are Crusts a type of fungi in the Stereaceae family that get their sustenance from fallen trees. They are important to woodland ecology as they decompose dead and decaying wood. In this process, they return organic nutrients to the soil and help create new life.

There are numerous specimens like these throughout the Watson-Symington Woodlands. This particular colony can be found on the ‘waterfall’ path that crosses below the top of the ridge between trail intersection points C and F.

Brickhead Truth by @tylersculpture is the first in

Brickhead Truth by @tylersculpture is the first installation of the 2022 New Canaan Sculpture Trail presented in partnership with the @carriagebarnartscenter

Tyler’s Brickhead installations are unique colossal heads that invite us to identify with the world’s ceramic heritages. They bring today’s faces together with pre-Columbian, South American, Native American, Asian, African, and Western influences. The heads are stylized portraits of everyman and everywoman. They are unique yet universal. They are us.

Stay tuned for more details about the 2022 Sculpture Trail, opening in June.

📷 Photos by @elloyd12

#publicart #newcanaansculpturetrail #artinstallation #newcanaan #newcanaanct #outdoorsculpture

A white tail deer visits the Oenoke Lane GreenLink

A white tail deer visits the Oenoke Lane GreenLink. It’s hard to say for certain, but we believe this doe is pregnant, and is the same doe that has successfully raised fawns here in previous years. If so, she’ll give birth in May or June, approximately 6 months after the November breeding season (also called the “rut”).

#whitetaildeer #deer #wildlife #newcanaan #landtrust #newcanaanlandtrust #newcanaanwildlife #greenlink

The sounds of spring at Still Pond Preserve. The

The sounds of spring at Still Pond Preserve.

The ‘quacking’ is a chorus of wood frogs and the shrill piping is spring peepers. Both are terrestrial frogs that lay their eggs is quiet waters of ponds, wetlands and vernal pools.

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