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...

Has anyone seen a chipmunk lately? They were acti

Has anyone seen a chipmunk lately?

They were active a few weeks ago, scurrying to gather leaves, nuts and seeds to provision their winter dens. It appears that they have retreated underground for the season.

Chipmunks slumber for long periods during the cold months. While their heart rates and body temperatures drop significantly during this sleep, they do not truly hibernate. As they are unable to store body fat, they need to wake up intermittently to eat. During frigid weather, they rarely leave their dens and depend on the food they have stashed. If they haven’t gathered enough food in the fall, they won’t make it through the winter.

Orange jelly fungus ‘fruiting’ on a cut log in

Orange jelly fungus ‘fruiting’ on a cut log in late November at Still Pond.

There are several types of yellow and orange jelly fungi which are referred to as ‘witch’s butter.’ They tend to sprout suddenly after rain and disappear soon after when conditions dry out. They feed on other fungi which grow on fallen trees and stumps. Some kinds of jellies grow on conifers and others on hardwood.

Life at ground level… Even after frost, the cro

Life at ground level…

Even after frost, the crowns of Penstemon digitalis hold onto their green mantle. Photographed amid fallen oak leaves and late season mushrooms in the Silvermine Fowler meadow.

A blue sky day in November with abundant sunshine

A blue sky day in November with abundant sunshine highlights the colors of fall.

It’s a beautiful time of year to take a walk in the woods. Check out tomorrow’s Hike Through History at the Browne Preserve led by our former Executive Director Aaron Lefland @nc_land_trust.

This Saturday is our Hike Through History! Join NC

This Saturday is our Hike Through History! Join NCLT for this guided hike led by former NCLT Executive Director Aaron Lefland (now Deputy Director of the @ctconservation).

Learn about stone walls, glacial erratics, and the Grupes House! 🪨🍁🌳

You can register now by using the link in our bio!

🌱 As our deciduous trees shed their leaves each

🌱 As our deciduous trees shed their leaves each fall, they also drop an abundance of seeds in the form of acorns, nuts, and samarras. This seed crop, referred to as mast, is defined as the dry fruits of woody plants. On NCLT’s preserves, the most significant mast-producing trees are oaks, hickories, beeches, and maples.

🌱 In Connecticut, oaks are the most important wildlife trees. Acorns, which are high in protein and fat, can make up to 50% of the winter diet of white-tailed deer and wild turkeys. White oak acorns are generally preferred and eaten first, while red oak acorns are left for later and are often the only ones on the ground towards the end of winter.

🌳 You can read more of this incredible blog written by NCLT Board Member Susan Bergen on our website: https://newcanaanlandtrust.org/mast/.

Several Leucothoe axillaris bushes were planted ye

Several Leucothoe axillaris bushes were planted yesterday at Still Pond Preserve by board member Eads Johnson (l.) and land steward Brian Cucchiara.

Leucothoe axillaris is a low growing, broad-leafed evergreen native to the East Coast. It blooms in May with clusters of fragrant white flowers that attract bees and other pollinators.

NCLT is engaging in a multi-year project to enhance the wildlife habitat at Still Pond. This project has been funded, in part, through a generous gift from Jeanne Gnuse in memory of her late husband, Tom.

Join us on Saturday, November 18th at 10:00 AM to

Join us on Saturday, November 18th at 10:00 AM to hike through history and learn about our local land! This guided hike will feature information about stone walls, glacial erratics, and the NCLT acquisition of the historic Grupes House on Valley Road. 🪨🍁🌳

Register now through the link in our bio!

🌱✨ Heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined ha

🌱✨ Heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined hands in August to swiftly raise funds for the Cam Hutchins Memorial Garden at Bristow Bird Sanctuary. We honor Cam Hutchins' memory, the visionary former Chair of the New Canaan Conservation Commission and a staunch advocate for sustainability.

In a moving tribute to his enduring impact, the Town of New Canaan enshrined his dedication to our environment through the "Cam Hutchins Pollinator Pathway Resolution" in April 2022. This significant resolution allowed us to bring to life a pollinator garden that not only supports crucial pollinator species but also offers a living classroom within the serene Bristow Park. 🦋🐝

This October, the vision blossomed into reality! A coalition of gardeners, united by a commitment to our planet, armed themselves with gloves and shovels to plant this emblem of hope and education. While the final touches of mulch and informative plant signs are on the horizon, the foundation has been laid—a testament to our incredible community spirit. 🌼🍃

Let's continue to nurture this space, inspired by Cam's passion, for education, and for the irreplaceable pollinators that sustain us.

Photo 1: Robin Bates-Mason of Planet New Canaan and Carl Mason
Photo 2: The site of Hutchins Garden before the planting
Photo 3: Chris Schipper (Conservation Commission), Susan Bergen (NCLT), Beth Sanford (NCLT), Robin Bates-Mason (Planet New Canaan), Carl Mason, Rob Fryer (NCLT)
Photo 4: Brian Cucchiara (NCLT Land Steward) and Chris Hughey (Greenwich Land Trust Land Steward)

Waiting for a mighty wind… Mature butterfly wee

Waiting for a mighty wind…

Mature butterfly weed seeds are ready to fly at the Silvermine Fowler pollinator meadow.

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)is in the milkweed family and serves as a host plant for Monarch caterpillars. The bright orange summer flowers offer nectar to bees, wasps, flower flies, beetles and other butterflies.

As butterfly weed grows a bit shorter and is more compact and less invasive than other milkweeds, it a good candidate for a small pollinator garden.

The Cam Hutchins Memorial Garden at Bristow Bird S

The Cam Hutchins Memorial Garden at Bristow Bird Sanctuary was planted in record time last weekend with the help of volunteers under, fortunately, sunny skies! What a wonderful way to commemorate Cam, a naturalist to the core!

Here, you see the Cam Hutchins Pollinator Pathway Proclamation displayed by @planetnewcanaan Robin Bates-Mason as she presents the proclamation to Julia Portale, Cam's widow and former Land Trust board member. Pictured here from left are Conservation Commission Chair and Ex-Officio Land Trust board member Chris Schipper @schipper.christopher, Carl Mason, Robin Bates-Mason, Julia Portale, NCLT Board VP Rob Fryer, Susan Bergen @susannbergen and NCLT Board member Beth Sanford @bethsanf. And thanks to Laney Lloyd @elloyd12 for being there and taking the photos!

The public-private partnership between the Town and the Land Trust for the stewardship of Bristow Park Bird Sanctuary is off to a great start. As Rick said at the end of Casablanca, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

@bristowpark_birdsanctuary

#pollinatorsmatter #pollinatorsanctuary #pollinatorsarelife #pollinatorsneeded #pollinatorpathway #pollinatorswelcome #pollinatorhabitat #pollinatorplants

Please join us on Thursday, November 2nd for a rec

Please join us on Thursday, November 2nd for a reception with hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, updates about the Land Trust, and a presentation by Mary Ellen Lemay, Landowner Engagement Director at the @aspetucklt. She will discuss the Aspetuck Land Trust Green Corridor Project which aims to increase the scale and rate of land conservation within the Aspetuck footprint. This project will hopefully become a model for communities in our region to balance conservation efforts with economic and environmental health throughout the urban, suburban, and rural settings across Fairfield County.

We also celebrate our retiring former Board Presidents Chris Schipper and Art Berry as they move from the Board to the Advisory Committee.

Register now through the link in our bio!

Last week, NCLT Vice President Rob Fryer and First

Last week, NCLT Vice President Rob Fryer and First Selectman Kevin Moynihan signed the Bristow Sanctuary stewardship agreement! The New Canaan Land Trust will guide the Conservation Commission and other town departments in stewarding this property and maintaining the bird feeders and birdhouses.

Watch for our November eblast, which will have more information about this partnership!
🐦🦅🦉🦜🦢🕊🪺

A single stem of blue wood aster blooming at the e

A single stem of blue wood aster blooming at the entrance to the Browne Preserve on Valley Road. These and other kinds of native asters bloom until frost and offer both pollen and nectar to late season bees, butterflies and flower flies.

The next Stone Wall Repair with Haik Kavookjian an

The next Stone Wall Repair with Haik Kavookjian and Greg Faillaci is THIS WEDNESDAY!

Join the fun on Wednesday, October 25th, from 3:30 - 5:30 pm at 167 North Wilton Road. No experience is needed, but please bring work gloves, boots, a personal water bottle, and tick spray. Light food and drink will be provided.

To RSVP for this amazing event, please email Haik at drkavookjian@gmail.com

👻The Story BOOwalk that was originally schedule

👻The Story BOOwalk that was originally scheduled for tomorrow at Still Pond Preserved has been POSTPONED until SUNDAY (October 22nd at 11:00 AM) due to inclement weather.

🎃As this is a waitlisted event, please email Miss Marie at the @newcanaanlibrary at maspinwall@newcanaanlibrary.org if you need to cancel your reservation.

We’re excited to host Mary Ellen Lemay, Landowne

We’re excited to host Mary Ellen Lemay, Landowner Engagement Director at the Aspetuck Land Trust. She will discuss the Aspetuck Land Trust Green Corridor Project which aims to increase the scale and rate of land conservation within the Aspetuck footprint. This project will hopefully become a model for communities in our region to balance conservation efforts with economic and environmental health throughout the urban, suburban, and rural settings across Fairfield County.

Register now through the link in our bio!

October duet…late blooming goldenrod and a tiny

October duet…late blooming goldenrod and a tiny Syrphid flower fly.

According to the U.S. Forestry Service, there are nearly 900 species of flower flies in North America. They rank 2nd after bees as essential pollinators. In their larval form they prey on soft-bodied insect pests such as aphids and scales (thus helping to control those populations), and aid in decomposing organic matter.

Many flower flies resemble bees in coloring, but they do not sting. They have large eyes, stubby antennae and only one pair of wings. Most are generalist feeders and visit a wide variety of flowers for pollen and nectar.

📢 Due to the heavy rain of the past few weeks c

📢 Due to the heavy rain of the past few weeks completely saturating the main parking area, tomorrow's Last Saturday on the Trail with the Mushroom Hunting Foundation will meet at the entrance to the southern part of the preserve, across from 161 Cedar Lane.

Join us on Saturday, October 14th, to learn about

Join us on Saturday, October 14th, to learn about the beautiful world of mycology! Whether you’re a seasoned forager or a curious beginner, this event promises to uncover the mysteries of these incredible organisms. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the forest, learn about the diverse fungal species that call it home, and gain insights into their ecological importance.

Register now through the link in our bio!

See what’s growing on this nurse tree… Fallen

See what’s growing on this nurse tree…

Fallen trees support all sorts on new life which is why they are referred to as ‘nurse trees.’ Take a closer look at this ‘plant nursery’ and you will find, mushrooms, many kinds of mosses and even a baby maple tree.

Dead trees keep on enriching the environment after they tumble to the ground.

Tomorrow at 10:00 AM, we have an incredibly specia

Tomorrow at 10:00 AM, we have an incredibly special Last Saturday on the Trail. This Honey Harvest event will feature the young artists who designed the logos for the honey jars and the hives and the Eagle Scout candidate helping to manage the hives across town.

Come join us behind our office (58 Pine Street) for a honey bottling workshop! Learn to bottle honey, and help us label the bottles we have already filled. You'll walk away from this workshop with a complimentary bottle of honey (and we'll have additional bottles available for sale).

Register now through the link in our bio!

In the spring, we installed 12 bee hives across fo

The next Stone Wall Repair with Haik Kavookjian an

The next Stone Wall Repair with Haik Kavookjian and Greg Faillaci is THIS WEDNESDAY! Join the fun on Wednesday, September 27th, from 4:30 - 6:30 pm at 167 North Wilton Road.

No experience is needed, but please bring work gloves, boots, a personal water bottle, and tick spray. Light food and drink will be provided.

To RSVP for this amazing event, please email Haik at drkavookjian@gmail.com

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