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Those Amazing Lichens!
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesCome 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
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Spring Nature Walk
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesRich Baker, a conservation biologist and curious naturalist, will lead a walk focused on the plants and animals we see along our way. We'll discuss the ecological relationships around us, share what we know, and wonder about things we don't know. There will be spring wildflowers to identify, trees to marvel at, birds to find
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Those Amazing Lichens!
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesCome 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
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Wild Edibles and Medicinal Plants
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesEver wonder what wild edibles and medicinal plants are growing along the trails of the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area? Join Hannah Jacobson-Hardy, community herbalist and founder of Sweet Birch Herbals for a guided walk on Father's Day weekend. Hannah chose this weekend because she grew up in Florence and her father regularly took her for walks
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Bark: Get to Know Your Trees
Cooke Avenue Entrance to FLCA (former Moose Lodge) 196 Cooke Avenue, northampton, MA, United StatesThe traits typically used to describe trees—leaves, twigs, and buds—are often hard to see or seasonally absent. Join Michael for an exploration of bark, which is always visible in any season. As you hone your perceptive abilities you will learn about a system for identifying tree species by their bark, and discover why such a variety of
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Walk & Talk: The Role of Fungi in the Forest Ecosystem
Cooke Avenue Entrance to FLCA (former Moose Lodge) 196 Cooke Avenue, northampton, MA, United StatesLocation: North Farms Road entrance Join mycologist Peter Russell on a foray to look at the fungi fruiting around Fitzgerald Lake. We will use the fungi we find to consider the roles they play in the ecosystem, especially their succession in space and time both on decomposing wood and as mycorrhizal partners with trees. The
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Work Day Event: Shrubland Habitat and Native Plants
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.
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Walk & Talk: Vernal Pool Ecology
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesLocation: North Farms Road entrance Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area is fortunate to contain several confirmed vernal pools just a short walk in from the North Farms Rd. entrance. Join biologist Brad Timm as we visit these pools and discover their truly unique ecology. We’ll learn about the wide variety of animals that rely on vernal
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Work Day Event: Annual Cleanup at the North Farms Road Entrance
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesThis is the day for cleaning up the North Farms Road entrance to the FLCA. We'll clear winter debris from the path to the bridge and boardwalk, pick up trash in the parking lot, and remove by hand invasive plants such as garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, and multiflora rose in the adjoining woods. Please help
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Walk & Talk: Spring Bird Walk
Cooke Avenue Entrance to FLCA (former Moose Lodge) 196 Cooke Avenue, northampton, MA, United StatesLocation: Cooke Ave. Entrance Lesley Farlow and Steve Winn, experienced birders and members of the Hampshire Bird Club, will lead a bird walk along the Pines Edge swamp and Boggy Meadow Road to the bird blind. We will look for breeding migrants and resident birds as we pass through a number of different habitats. We
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Walk & Talk: Fire in the Woodland Ecosystem
Location: Coles Meadow Rd. entrance Come and join Laurie Sanders as we explore a portion of the 50+ acres of the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area that experienced a brush fire in November 2024 to see first-hand how the herbaceous layer is recovering. How damaging are brush fires of this size and intensity? What are the
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Walk & Talk: Fire in the Woodland Ecosystem
Location: Coles Meadow Rd. entrance Come and join Laurie Sanders as we explore a portion of the 50+ acres of the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area that experienced a brush fire in November 2024 to see first-hand how the herbaceous layer is recovering. How damaging are brush fires of this size and intensity? What are the
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Work Day Event: Removal of Invasives on Boggy Meadow Road
Cooke Avenue Entrance to FLCA (former Moose Lodge) 196 Cooke Avenue, northampton, MA, United StatesThe margins of roads provide excellent habitat for the growth of invasive plants. There are many patches of invasives along Boggy Meadow Road, which connects the old Moose Lodge parking lot at the end of Cooke Avenue with the Fitzgerald Lake dam. We will work our way along the road pulling, cutting, and digging invasive
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Walk & Talk: Introduction to Geocaching
Cooke Avenue Entrance to FLCA (former Moose Lodge) 196 Cooke Avenue, northampton, MA, United StatesLocation: Cooke Ave. entrance Join our board member Ceci Flinn to learn about the family-friendly international game of geocaching. A great outdoor activity for all ages, Ceci will introduce you to this popular game that turned 25 this year and can be played in the FLCA. Open to all ages, it's a great summer activity
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Work Day Event: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSeveral 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 2024 the yield was down to 90 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, water chestnut seeds can remain viable
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Walk & Talk: What’s Up with Invasive Plants?
Location: Arcanum Field Parking Lot, Florence (carpool to site) Managing invasive plants can at times be. . . well. . . depressing. On this walk led by Tom Annese, we’ll take a more light-hearted approach to invasive plant management and focus on practical measures to control invasive species and increase biodiversity on forest land. We’ll
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Work Day Event: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSeveral 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 2024 the yield was down to 90 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, water chestnut seeds can remain viable
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Work Day Event: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSeveral 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 2024 the yield was down to 90 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, water chestnut seeds can remain viable
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Work Day Event: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSeveral 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 2024 the yield was down to 90 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, water chestnut seeds can remain viable
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Walk & Talk: Night Sounds
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesTake a walk to explore the sounds of the woods and shoreline at night. We’ll be on trails using flashlights (bring your own, plus extra batteries). We’ll talk about the sounds we hear and also spend several minutes experiencing the dark in silence. To hone our hearing to the sounds of the wild, we’ll request
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Work Day Event: Removal of Water Chestnut from Fitzgerald Lake
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesSeveral 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 2024 the yield was down to 90 lbs. Though we are pleased with the results so far, water chestnut seeds can remain viable
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Walk & Talk: The Role of Fungi in the Forest Ecosystem
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesJoin mycologist Peter Russell on a foray to look at the fungi fruiting around Fitzgerald Lake. We will use the fungi we find to consider the roles they play in the ecosystem, especially their succession in space and time both on decomposing wood and as mycorrhizal partners with trees. The main purpose of the foray
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Broad Brook Coalition Annual Meeting
Florence Civic Center 90 Park Street, Florence, MA, United StatesMembers and friends are cordially invited to attend Broad Brook Coalition’s annual meeting on Sunday, November 9, at the Florence Civic Center. This year’s meeting will be in-person only, with no Zoom link. Light refreshments will be served at the Civic Center starting at 2:00 p.m. Please join us! This year’s speaker is Elizabeth Wroblicka
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Controlling Invasive Plants at Lathrop Community: Methods and Challenges
Lathrop Community 100 Basset Brook Drive, Easthampton, MA, United StatesMore details at: https://www.kestreltrust.org/calendar/controlling-invasive-plants-at-lathrop-community-methods-and-challenges/
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A Wildlife Search at FLCA
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesJoin wildlife ecologist and author of “America is Wild!” Brad Timm as we take a leisurely stroll looking and listening for a wide diversity of animals that live in the Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area. We’ll look under logs for salamanders and other critters, keep our ears and eyes peeled for birds all around us, keep
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Annual Cleanup at the North Farms Road Entrance
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesThis is the day for cleaning up the North Farms Road entrance to the FLCA. We'll clear winter debris from the path to the bridge and boardwalk, pick up trash in the parking lot, and remove by hand invasive plants such as garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, and multiflora rose in the adjoining woods. Please help
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Pyrophilous (Fire-loving) Fungi Walk
Marian Street Entrance to FLCA 88 Marian Street, Northampton, MA, United StatesPeter Russell and Karen Hidalgo from the Pioneer Valley Mycological Association will lead this program focusing on fungi that thrive in burned-over landscapes. We will meet at 1:30 at Laurel Park’s Normal Hall for a talk on fire-loving fungi followed by a walk at 3:00 to the site of the 2024 brush fire near the
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Spring Nature Walk
North Farms Road entrance to FLCA 61 North Farms Road, northampton, MA, United StatesRich Baker, a conservation biologist and curious naturalist, will lead a walk focused on the plants and animals we see along our way. We’ll discuss the ecological relationships around us, share what we know, and wonder about things we don’t know. There will be spring wildflowers to identify, trees to marvel at, birds to find
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Spring Bird Walk [Rescheduled]
Marian Street Entrance to FLCA 88 Marian Street, Northampton, MA, United StatesLesley Farlow and Steve Winn, experienced birders and members of the Hampshire Bird Club, will lead a bird walk along the Marian St. Trail to the bird blind, along the Boggy Meadow and Pines Edge Trails for a total of about 2 miles. We will look for breeding migrants and resident birds as we pass through
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Shrubland Habitat and Native Plants
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.
- 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.