Land Trust Report by Bob Miller, Vice-President Land Trust For a number of years, we maintained the native grassland at Middle Farms by burning or mowing roughly one-third of the area annually, but that schedule could not be maintained recently due to Covid issues, wet weather, and other factors. This resulted in saplings and
The Henry L. Ferguson Museum Newsletter Vol. 40, No. 1 • Spring 2025 From the President Elizabeth McCance The Museum has many fun and inspiring activities lined up for this summer. For starters, the opening party will be held on Saturday, June 28, and
STATION XI Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary To the right of the trail is a grove of American beech, a tree easily recognized by its smooth gray bark, shallow spreading roots, and long, sharply pointed buds. Dull green, oval, toothed leaves turn yellow in autumn and may persist on the branches
STATION X Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary Dwarf dandelion grows in the dry soil at this station overlooking Island Pond. Relatively few species are capable of withstanding the environmental extremes of fluctuating salinity and temperature typical of brackish water environments, and those that can adapt may occur in large numbers. Two
STATION IX Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary This station, perched above the small freshwater pond, marks a high point with distant tree line and water views. A patch of evergreen club moss or “princess pine” carpets the ground. Clubmosses are primitive, spore-producing vascular plants more closely related to ferns than mosses.
STATION VIII Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary This station offers an excellent view of the outer pond, barrier beach, and the channel that links Island Pond with Beach Pond and Block Island Sound, where distant windmills can be seen on a clear day. After the Hurricane of 1938, a pump was
STATION VII Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary Along the trail, fallen leaves, logs, and branches provide a good example of how nature recycles. Trees on islands are subject to stress, perhaps more so than their mainland counterparts. High winds and salt spray can weaken trees, making them susceptible to pathogens. Sometimes,
STATION VI Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary As the trail turns inland, away from the pond and up the hill, you may see and hear migrant and resident songbirds that nest in the sanctuary during the breeding season between late April and July, including Gray Catbird, Eastern Towhee, and Black-capped Chickadee.
STATION V Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary The path leaving the freshwater pond intersects the outer trail loop along the northern edge of Island Pond. This site provides an opportunity to see shorebirds and raptors that frequent the pond and feed on marine fauna. Depending on the time of year, possible
STATION IV Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary This little pond (0.4 acres) contains fresh water rather than the brackish water that surrounds the sanctuary peninsula and therefore attracts a distinctly different biota. Green frogs, pickerel frogs, spring peepers, snapping turtles, and painted turtles, common residents of inland ponds, are found here,
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F.I. Sketchbook 2005
