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June 2022
Volunteer – 1st Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Five years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Volunteer – Removal of Invasives on Boggy Meadow Road
The margins of roads provide excellent habitat for the growth of invasive plants. We have surveyed and located many patches of invasives along Boggy Meadow Road, which connects the former Moose Lodge parking lot at the end of Cooke Avenue with the Fitzgerald Lake dam. We will work our way along the road, removing invasive…
Find out more »Volunteer – Removal of Invasives on Boggy Meadow Road
The margins of roads provide excellent habitat for the growth of invasive plants. We have surveyed and located many patches of invasives along Boggy Meadow Road, which connects the former Moose Lodge parking lot at the end of Cooke Avenue with the Fitzgerald Lake dam. We will work our way along the road, removing invasive…
Find out more »July 2022
Volunteer – 2nd Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Five years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Volunteer – 2nd Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Five years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Volunteer – 3rd Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Five years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Volunteer – 3rd Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Five years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »August 2022
Volunteer – 4th Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Five years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Volunteer – 4th Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Five years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »September 2022
Volunteer – 5th Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Five years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Volunteer – 5th Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
Five years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called "pull early, pull often." In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2021 the yield was down to 100 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Mushrooms in the Woodland Ecosystem with Peter Russell
Mushrooms are an essential component of our Woodland ecosystems, yet much of their taxonomy and diversity remains undescribed even in sites such as Fitzgerald Lake. A lot of such recording is nowadays performed by citizen scientists and amateurs. Take a walk in the woods to learn about this diversity, how to recognize some of the major…
Find out more »Mushrooms in the Woodland Ecosystem with Peter Russell
Mushrooms are an essential component of our Woodland ecosystems, yet much of their taxonomy and diversity remains undescribed even in sites such as Fitzgerald Lake. A lot of such recording is nowadays performed by citizen scientists and amateurs. Take a walk in the woods to learn about this diversity, how to recognize some of the major…
Find out more »May 2023
Spring Bird Walk with Lesley Farlow and Steve Winn
Lesley Farlow and Steve Winn, experienced birders and members of the Hampshire Bird Club, will lead a bird walk along Boggy Meadow Rd. to the Fitzgerald Lake dam. We will look for breeding migrants and resident birds as we pass through a number of different habitats. We should be able to see and hear some…
Find out more »Shrubland Habitat and Native Plants (Work Event)
Several years ago, we established three 'islands' of native shrubs in Cooke's Pasture to provide food and habitat for shrubland birds and small mammals. We return every year to prune the shrubs, cut back competing undergrowth, and replace plants that have not survived the winter. Tools will be provided, though additional clippers are always welcome.…
Find out more »Wildlife Habitats at FLCA with Brad Timm
Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area has a wide diversity of habitats which are used by the hundreds of wildlife species present at FLCA. Wetlands of a variety of types, forests, and early-successional patches are just some examples, and wildlife habitat can even be defined at a much finer-scale such as decaying logs on the forest floor…
Find out more »Annual Cleanup at the North Farms Road Entrance (Work Event)
Each year we devote one day in the spring to cleaning up the North Farms Road entrance to the FLCA including clearing winter debris from the path to the bridge and boardwalk, picking up trash in the parking lot, and removing by hand invasive plants such as garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed and multiflora rose in…
Find out more »June 2023
Shrubs, Lichens, and Plants of the Forest Floor with Molly Hale
Come learn about the plants we see at eye level and at our feet. We’ll see hazelnuts, musclewood, hop hornbeam, trilliums, clubmosses, wild sarsaparilla, enchanter’s nightshade and lots more! Plus we’ll peek into the world of lichens, which are found growing on trees, soil, and rocks. This will be a slow 2- hour walk starting…
Find out more »Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake (Work Event)
Six years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called “pull early, pull often.” In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2022 the yield was down to 140 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Learn Your Ferns with Randy Stone
Ever wonder if you might be susceptible to fernophilia? Join Randy Stone of the Pioneer Valley Fern Society for a walk through the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, finding common ferns and club mosses of our area. Learn the key features for easy identification of our “top 10” native ferns and maybe some uncommon ones too. …
Find out more »Removal of Invasives on Boggy Meadow Road (Work Event)
The margins of roads provide excellent habitat for the growth of invasive plants. We have located many patches of invasives along Boggy Meadow Road, which connects the former Moose Lodge parking lot at the end of Cooke Avenue with the Fitzgerald Lake dam. We will work our way along the road, removing invasive plants such…
Find out more »July 2023
Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake (Work Event)
Six years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called “pull early, pull often.” In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2022 the yield was down to 140 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake (Work Event)
Six years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called “pull early, pull often.” In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2022 the yield was down to 140 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »August 2023
Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake (Work Event)
Six years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called “pull early, pull often.” In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2022 the yield was down to 140 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »September 2023
Mushrooms in the Woodland Ecosystem with Peter Russell
Mushrooms are an essential component of our Woodland ecosystems, yet much of their taxonomy and diversity remains undescribed even in sites such as Fitzgerald Lake. A lot of such recording is nowadays performed by citizen scientists and amateurs. Take a walk in the woods to learn about this diversity, how to recognize some of the major…
Find out more »Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake (Work Event)
Six years ago we implemented a new approach to controlling water chestnut in Fitzgerald Lake called “pull early, pull often.” In 2017, we removed roughly 1,100 lbs. from the lake while in 2022 the yield was down to 140 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, viable water chestnut seed can persist…
Find out more »Insect Tracks and Signs with Charley Eiseman
Insects are extremely specialized in their habits, and because of this it is often possible to learn which ones are around us just by noticing the characteristic patterns and objects they create as they go about their lives. Participants will search for signs such as egg cases, cocoons, webs, burrows, droppings, galls, leaf mines, and the…
Find out more »October 2023
Beavers at Sundown with Brad Timm
Discover the natural history of beavers, how they alter the landscape and provide habitat for other wildlife on this walk at Fitzgerald Lake. Evening is the ideal time to observe beavers, and if we’re lucky, we’ll see them. We’ll meet at the North Farms Road entrance and walk about 3/4 mile searching for signs of…
Find out more »November 2023
BBC Annual Meeting 2023
Members and friends are cordially invited to attend the Broad Brook Coalition’s annual meeting on Sunday, November 12. Please join us to celebrate BBC’s 35th anniversary! This year’s meeting will be presented in hybrid format: you may attend in-person at the Florence Civic Center or at home via Zoom. Information about how to attend virtually…
Find out more »April 2024
Those Amazing Lichens!
Come learn about lichens, those fascinating symbiotic organisms that consist of combinations of fungus and algae enmeshed into distinct individual species. You will learn how to tell lichens from mosses, and notice different forms of lichens such as leaf, bush, dust, scale, and crust. We’ll use hand lenses to get a close-up look at the…
Find out more »- North Farms Rd. entrance is off Bridge Rd., N. off Mountain St. or N. Maple St. in Florence.
- Cooke Avenue entrance is off Hatfield St., which runs behind the WalMart/Big Y shopping center, to the end of Cooke Avenue (former Moose Lodge). Park only on the right side.
- Coles Meadow Road entrance is on the eastern end of FLCA, about 0.7 miles from North King Street (Routes 5/10). Park carefully on the street.