December Nature Happenings

https://www.massaudubon.org/learn/nature-wildlife/outdoor-almanac/fall-2018

Christmas at the Coburn House!

Come visit the festively decorated Coburn House this holiday season! Admission is $10/adult, kids free when accompanied by an adult to tour the 17 room home decorated for the Christmas season. Fun kids' activities as well as raffle tickets for chances to win floral arrangements, crafts, and other goodies are included in the admission price. Additional raffle tickets can be purchased.

When:  Sunday, December 2, 2018; 11:00 - 4:00 PM

Where:  The Coburn House/ Dracut Historical Society, 1660 Lakeview Ave. Dracut, MA

Mother Nature’s Blanket

Let leaves that have fallen around the base of plants stay there—they are Mother Nature’s mulch protecting roots. Blowing leaves out of shrubs destroys the habitat for many beneficial insects that winter over in leaf litter, and exposes roots to frost and thaw cycles. Leaves that have fallen on the lawn are best run over by your mulching lawn mower. By spring they will have returned the nutrients they needed to grow to your soil. Your mower should be set at 2 inches for the balance of the season.

Bird Feeders

Clean up bird feeders and bird boxes before the weather get colder. Feeders encourage migrating birds to stop by to fuel up before continuing their migration. A steady supply of food means a winter’s worth of entertainment from the year-round residents.

November Nature Happenings

https://www.massaudubon.org/learn/nature-wildlife/outdoor-almanac/fall-2018

Monthly Meeting: New England Stone Walls

When:  Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at 7 pm

Where:  Harmony Hall, Dracut, MA

Kevin Gardner: Discovering New England Stone Walls

    

        Kevin’s informal talk covers a few of the main topics of his book about New England stone walls, The Granite Kiss (Countryman Press),touching on history, technique, stylistic development, and aesthetics.  He explains how and why New England came to acquire its thousands of miles of stone walls, the ways in which they and other dry stone structures were built, how their styles emerged and changed over time, and their significance to the famous New England landscape.  Other topics may include: differences in approach between historical and contemporary wall-builders, a discussion of restoration tips and techniques, and information about design, acquisition of materials, preservation, and analysis. There is always a generous question-and-answer period, during which listeners are encouraged to bring up specific problems or projects on their own properties. 

        Along the way, Kevin occupies himself building a miniature wall or walls on a tabletop, using tiny stones from a five-gallon bucket.  He often brings along his collection of books about stonework, and copies of The Granite Kiss will be available for sale. 

        Since the publication of The Granite Kiss, Kevin has presented his program at dozens of historical societies, bookstores, and town libraries all over New England, including Canterbury Shaker Village, the NH Historical Society, Castle-in-the-Clouds, Old Sturbridge Village, Boston's Arnold Arboretum, and many, many more.