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!