Peonies in Bloom

Last weekend, I traveled out to Stockbridge to experience Naumkeag's famous peonies in bloom. My afternoon started with a wonderful luncheon with nearly 40 guests from throughout the Commonwealth, including many of our active Berkshires supporters and Board members. As we celebrated the beginning of the blooming season, I had the chance to share details of our ambitious, 30-month project to restore all of Naumkeag's beautiful landscape features to the splendor of their prime.

Naumkeag's peonies in bloom are a
welcome sign of spring.

If you read the spring issue of Special Places, The Trustees' member magazine, then you'll know that the gardens at Naumkeag are the result of a remarkable 30-year creative collaboration between Mabel Choate, whose family built the estate, and Fletcher Steele, the premier landscape architect who, in the 1920s and 1930s, redefined modern landscape design. The joy and delight that went into these gardens' creation is evident in every bloom and every detail – and it is their spirit of collaboration and whimsy that still shines through today and makes these gardens a draw for visitors from all over the world.

When Mabel Choate entrusted The Trustees to care for Naumkeag, it was a tremendous vote of confidence in us as excellent caretakers of this treasured place. The Trustees are so well known as caretakers of land, but as the nation's first organization dedicated to conserving properties for the benefit of public use, we believe that our cultural properties are just as powerful and compelling a platform for improving the quality of life of Massachusetts residents as our scenic landscapes.

That's why we're so excited to now be working to restore Naumkeag today – thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor who has challenged us to match their $1 million gift by September of this year. We've been so inspired by this special place over the years, and we want others to be as inspired by its stories and its beauty for years to come.

Cindy Brockway shares the history of
the Peony Terrace.

As for my day on the Peony Terrace last Saturday, after the luncheon, we were joined by more than 50 more people for our annual Peonies in Bloom event. Cultural Resources Program Director Cindy Brockway shared with all of us the history of these striking fieldstone terraces and the 60 varieties of flowers that bloom here, while Scott Fulford, our Garden Restoration Expert Guide, gave our group a detailed update on the project (the renovation of the famed Blue Steps is well under way!), and Interpretive Manager Wally Swist gave a reading of Mary Oliver's poem "Peonies."

It was a wonderful way to welcome spring, to celebrate these gardens in bloom – and to look ahead to the renewed and revitalized Naumkeag to come.

Welcome to Spring!

Spring at Long Hill

The past few days I’ve been out and about! I started Monday at Long Hill in Beverly. With the day's mild temperatures, I had the wonderful opportunity to hike the trails of this spectacular property for the first time. A lovely vernal pool, rare plants in the unique gardens courtesy of our superintendent and horticulturalist extraordinaire Dan Bouchard, and our loyal volunteers were the highlight of the brisk 30 minutes. As we all get ready to prepare for the spring and summer seasons, it was great to see our staff hard at work and the flowers struggling for their first bloom. On your next outing to Long Hill, please don’t miss a walk on the trails in addition to a stroll through the beautiful gardens. (And, don't miss our annual Long Hill Plant Sale in just a few weeks – it's a highlight of the spring season!)

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to travel to Albany, New York, where I was interviewed by infamous commentator, Alan Chartock. We discussed the beauty of the Berkshires and the challenges of working in conservation today. Alan is passionate about the work of The Trustees and very knowledgeable about the nonprofits working in the area as well as the importance of our collaborations throughout the region. I then travelled to Stockbridge to meet with the producers of WCVB Channel 5’s Chronicle, where we discussed Naumkeag as a wonderful surviving example of the architecture and lifestyle of the Gilded-Age. Earlier in the week, the producers had visited the Great House at Castle Hill, so I look forward to sharing both Naumkeag and Castle Hill with new audiences through this popular, Boston-based newsmagazine show. We'll post the link to the show as soon as it's available!

Southeast Regional Director John
Vasconcellos with Chief Marketing
Officer Matt Montgomery at
the Lyman Reserve.

And on Wednesday, I paid my first visit to two South Coast properties with two new staffers! I am delighted to welcome Matt Montgomery and Kelly Maclean Clark to our executive management team and thrilled to be sharing our special places with them. Together we toured Eastover Farm and Lyman Reserve in the Southeast Region, both hidden jewels. Lyman is a naturalist’s paradise and Eastover Farm is a great example of how public and private partnerships can create powerful conservation. When we talk about our reservations of the Southeast, we often refer to the islands but I find the lesser-known properties here to be as iconic. Experiencing the South Coast is like travelling to a new place. I am grateful for the continued work of our Regional Director, John Vasconcellos; our Director of South Coast Conservation, Jennifer Dubois; and the entire Southeast regional  team for their professionalism, commitment and creativity.

Welcome to Spring!

The Magic of Weir River

One special volunteer has convinced me to visit Hingham twice in the past month, specifically our Weir River Farm reservation. Signe McCullough is this enigmatic force of intelligence, creativity, and fun. Sitting in her living room, constructed in the mid-1600s, and discussing possibilities for The Trustees is a bit like stepping back into another day. Sun beams in, bouncing off the beautiful barn and century-old trees. Fire roars and coffee-table books abound. This is a woman who loves the country, land, and purpose.

Our paths have crossed two times in one month, and for good reason. Signe walks Whitney and Thayer Woods and Weir River Farm daily. She loves what we mean for her family, her life, and for the people of Hingham where she and her husband are raising their four children. She thinks a lot about our properties on these daily walks and has used her ideas to drive a movement. Let me explain.

Chefs from Tosca prepare our delicious dinner with
veggies sourced right from Weir River Farm.

Signe believes in locally sourced food. So much so that she conceived our first Farm to Table dinner with Trustees’ colleagues, Ed Pitcavage and Meg Connolly. She recruited a few friends and they were off and running, planning and executing one of the most amazing feasts I’ve ever had the privilege of joining – all of it locally sourced right from Weir River. A blissful Saturday afternoon in September, Signe and friends welcomed 100-plus guests from Hingham for a memorable experience – one I hope we can replicate across our farm network.

I watched a movement be born in Hingham through this effort, and it is energizing. Through one property, we’ve excited new Trustees about the vital role a local farm plays in a community. We’ve awakened the magic a reservation creates for the new visitor. And we’ve brought the farm to the table. All values we believe in at The Trustees and in symphony.

Katie with Meg Connolly, our long-time
farm educator.

It’s because of Signe that I got to meet another special lady, Katie Bilzekian. Katie started coming to Weir River when she was seven; she’s now 15. Katie was one of Meg’s first 4-H’ers, and I am thrilled that Meg and Weir River have created a true ambassador of farming, seven years strong. Katie reminds me so much of Signe – both in love with Weir River and dedicated to its stability and programming.

Whether you live in the area or are just passing through, a stop at Weir River is well worth the experience. Be on the lookout for Signe on her daily walk along the stone wall or Katie tending to the animals. One afternoon on the farm and you’ll be an ambassador for local food and local farms for life – just like the rest of us.

Hat's Off

Peter Pinciaro, Greater Boston Operations Manager,
congratulates Bob Murray, Castle Hill Superintendent, on 30
years of service (after telling everyone Bob was way into
ABBA in college...)

Our Trustees Annual (and my first) Staff meeting last week started with awards and ended with a historical tour of our newest reservation, Governor Ames Community Park in Easton. It was a great day to mix and mingle with our colleagues, enjoy a tasty lunch and tour, and celebrate folks who've served The Trustees with their time and talent for 5, 10, 15, 25 and 30 years! Here's a snapshot of the day in photos.

Land Conservation Vice President Wes Ward warms up to
the mike, after getting congrats on his 30 amazing years
of service.

Greater Boston Regional Director Steve Sloan is stealing
the spotlight at my first all-staff meeting.

Our staff good-naturedly grins at the camera post-lunch.

And we’re walking...

...and walking....

Hats off (Wes’s hat, to be precise) to all who made this
event a fantastic day!

For The Birds

Coastal Ecologist Brian Degasperis and Ecology
Program Director Russ Hopping gave me a bird's-eye
tour of Crane Beach.

As we said goodbye to summer, I had the opportunity to participate in two extraordinary events. One in Ipswich and the other in Nantucket, and both had to do with birds!

We held our annual staff picnic at Steep Hill Beach on the Crane Estate in Ipswich. It was a wonderful day, with families invited to partake in the day's festivities. As the new leader of this incredible group of professionals, it was inspiring to meet the loved ones that support us all. Relishing in a glorious day of sunshine, we were visitors instead of staffers, and we enjoyed great barbecue and ice cream – and, of course, great company.

For those who have been reading this blog since its inception, you will know that I am incredibly passionate about and grateful for the team we have. Our places would not be what they are if it weren't for the dedication and commitment of the people in the offices and in the field. Thus, it was great for me to enjoy the day together.

I also had the great pleasure of learning about our ecosystem work with Trustees' Ecology Program Director Russ Hopping and Coastal Ecologist Brian Degasperis. When we talk about ecology here at The Trustees, people often assume we are referencing the bird work. It's about more than birds, though; it's about healthy places.

Through Russ's orientation, I learned about the long-term ecological approach we've taken to keeping The Crane Estate healthy. From allowing beach grasses and dunes to thrive in their natural state to mitigating the impact of our human use on this incredible refuge, The Trustees ensure that the land is for all, including the species that depend on it.

If you visit Crane Beach today, you will see areas of this beautiful coastline roped off to visitors. Crane plays a critical role in the migration passage of many species of birds and we ensure that they can do this uninterrupted while also giving people access. It's a fine balance and we monitor it on a daily basis across our coastal work.

What inspired me is the educational signage detailing our shorebird work, including a photo identification book for the curious visitor. As we were walking the beach, I saw many stop and read about our commitment to bird protection and engage in conservation. This is The Trustees: land for all, encouraging attachment to nature.

Great Point Lighthouse is a highlight of the refuge.

From Ipswich, I caught a puddle jumper to Nantucket for our annual Great Point Circle affair! A popular event held on Great Point, part of our Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, this is a unique fundraiser. No chicken dinners and stuffy speeches – this is a toes-in-the-sand gathering complete with crashing waves on one side and beautiful lighthouse on the other.

Started by volunteers, the Great Point Circle serve as our ambassadors on Nantucket. They come from all over the Northeast and their love for Nantucket is the common thread. With fishermen, sailors, hikers, and beach goers, they flock to this wildlife haven as soon as we open the Point annually.

What’s fascinating is that these visitors share the Point with plovers and terns, with the birds inhabiting the property for half the summer. This has caused some stir over the years, as the plover population rebounds ever so slightly and experiences more fledges, causing us to delay the opening of Great Point for visitor use. Ultimately, this reduces the time a summer Nantucketer can experience the beauty of the Point and that can be frustrating. Yet the people I talked with at this event understood the compromise.

Lovers of nature know that it's about a larger ecosystem. It's the sum of the parts and if all elements are supported, any special place is better for it. So we celebrated the official opening of the point during the last week of August, and raised a glass to all who work so hard to manage this property, and, of course, to the birds.

As I've said before, it's about people and place, especially healthy people and healthy places.

Family Albums

The Trustees' State Archivest, Mark Wilson, shared with
me some of the earliest records and documents
of the organization.

Had such a great time visiting our amazing Archives & Research Center in Sharon.  A fascinating trip through Trustees' history....

Generations, Old & New

This week I had the opportunity to stay a bit closer to Boston, touring our properties with long-time Trustees’ staffer, Steve Sloan, our Regional Director for this area. Steve is a fantastic leader, having held a variety of posts during his 15-year tenure with The Trustees. As a child growing up in Ipswich, Steve remembers spending time with his family at our reservations. Almost every member of his family has been involved with The Trustees in some capacity (his father, Norton, is a dedicated and long-time volunteer and the recipient of our Charles Eliot Award for special service) and thus Steve's commitment is both personal and professional. 

More than 100 Youth Conservation Corps members
gathered at Rocky Woods Reservation.

Steve and I had the good fortune of participating in The Trustees’ annual Youth Summit, which was incredibly inspiring. Our Youth Summit is where Youth Conservation Corps crews from around the state gather to share ideas and reflections on belonging to The Trustees as a young staffer. Youth Conservation Corps is a fledgling program for us, now almost 100-teens strong. It's an area I intend to invest in so that we are actively nurturing future conservation leaders. Here’s why: These kids are impressive, dedicated professionals who hail from a variety of locations and backgrounds, and all are interested in advancing the work of conservation and The Trustees. In just a summer, it is clear that we are creating the next generation of Conservation Ambassadors, developing youth who have unique skills and perspective, which will assist and support their career plans.

Teens from different Youth Conservation Corps
had the chance to get to meet and share their work.

Another benefit of this program? Confidence and leadership. These kids learn how to conduct work independently, problem solve, and earn an income. They are doing real work under the supervision of a Youth Conservation Corps Educator, but the majority of their time is spent on entrepreneurial projects like harvesting produce, selling food at farmers markets, removing invasive species, or rebuilding a stone wall. This is serious stewardship work and they are demonstrating to us and to each other that they can be leaders.

Need more reasons why this program is such a good investment? We are finding they become future staffers of The Trustees, a value proposition for any employer. These youth represent our mission and our brand by being such focused, young talent. Our investment in them is not only good for our lands but for our business. 

Finally? They’re great kids. They are funny, smart, and kind. We are fortunate to work with partners like YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs to identify these stars and I am thrilled to be working alongside them.

The Solstice Stones at Ward Reservation.

After our Youth Summit I had the opportunity to spend some time at the Charles W. Ward Reservation in Andover. A stunning place with a great lookout of Boston, terrific hiking trails –including a stop on the Bay Circuit Trail – a beautiful quaking bog (one of the last in this area), and solstice stones, Ward is a neighborhood treasure. I look forward to bringing my kids to this reservation so they can explore the hills and see the bog in the fall when the leaves, I’m sure, are fantastic.

While there, I met John Kimball, whose grandmother, Mrs. Charles Ward, gifted us the reservation in 1940. John represents a different generation than our Youth Conservation Corps members, but he is just as dedicated. John has devoted his life to supporting the needs of this reservation, logging around 500–600 hours annually in its care. He knows this property in all its curious facets and can tell you the entire history of the plants, meadows, and trees. It’s a phenomenal perspective and endearing to meet someone who is so connected to a reservation. John grew up at Ward and the land is in his blood. He appreciates the mountain bikers, families, and hikers who explore this beautiful place and he takes a great responsibility to ensure its care. He’s a great partner to Adam Rollfs, a Trustees’ team member who works at Ward Reservation. The two represent very different generations that are bonded through the same special place.

John Kimball's grandmother donated the
Ward Reservation to The Trustees. Today, he
devotes more than 500 hours a year to its care.

John now worries about the next generation and how we ensure that Ward Reservation will always be cherished and maintained at the same standard that John has encouraged. We are fortunate to have had John’s volunteerism and advice over the past decades and I take very seriously the responsibility to keep John’s vision alive. With programs like Youth Conservation Corps, I hope that we can develop the interest and commitment of all generations to be good stewards of Ward and all our special places.

It was a great week to see the same passion for The Trustees present across so many generations. I know that’s what our founder, Charles Eliot wanted: a mobilization of thousands to connect to and care for our land. Thanks to people like John Kimball and our Youth Conservation Corps crews of 2012, we are achieving that vision.