Biology & Geology This is a big page with lots of stuff. Outdoor stuff. You won't find nature or Audubon centers here, as they are on the massive museums list. I'll let you sort out whatever else you're looking for. Animals (Aquaria, Zoos, Hatcheries, Wild & Weird Animals) Farms Worth Visiting Plants (Gardens, … [Read more...]
(Former) National Champion: Striped Maple
Acer pensylvanicum, Striped Maple Kongscut Mountain/Meshomasic State Forest, Glastonbury Big tree fans and big tree fans alike, you might want to grab a tissue for this one. Glastonbury's former national champion striped maple tree is dead. Like, snapped near the base and lying on the forest floor dead. Dead. … [Read more...]
(Former) National Champion: Poison Sumac
Toxicodendron vernix, Poison Sumac Fern Hollow Preserve, Glastonbury Height: 18 Feet Circumference: 14 inches It's always special when I meet people with pursuits similar to mine. It's also quite rare. So when Frank Kaputa from the Connecticut Notable Trees project reached out to offer to take me to a national … [Read more...]
NNL: Cathedral Pines
National Natural Landmark: Cathedral Pines Cornwall Designation Date: 1982 Most Connecticut citizens, when they think of pine trees, visualize a young pine tree of the kind ordinarily seen in nurseries or water company plantations. It will amaze such persons to see what the great pine trees of Connecticut really … [Read more...]
National Champion: American Smoketree
Cotinus obovatus, American Smoketree Windham Height: 33 Feet Circumference: 150 inches Every now and then I get all jazzed up about our state's slate of National Champion trees. Ever since I discovered the Connecticut Notable Trees project database, I've been hooked. But also a little frustrated. I learned … [Read more...]
FLT: Canal Aquaduct & Henry Mason Trail
I Think I Can(al), I Think I Can(al)... Farmington Land Trust: Canal Aqueduct Trail ~1 Mile, March 2018 Hiking with my older son Damian is a total crapshoot. His unique brand of special needs is such that I have no idea how the outing is going to go until we get going. This hike was one of those rare and beautiful … [Read more...]
Civil War Beech Tree
War’s a Beech Civil War Tree Granby It’s 2018 and I’m editing old Granby posts before “releasing” the CTMQ Complete Guide to Granby and I came across this from my Colton-Hayes Tobacco Barn Museum post of 2008. Because of its apparent uniqueness, I’m not bestowing this chunk of tree its own hallowed page on … [Read more...]
Site of First Christmas Tree in US
“Fröhliche Weihnachten!" Site of First Christmas Tree in US Windsor Locks CTMQ readers know that I love my dubious superlatives. Writing about one of our country’s oldest states means that I come across a lot of them. There are so many – and so many are impossible to really, truly corroborate. But this one … [Read more...]
JT: The Ashford Oak
”This Place is Dead Anyway” The Ashford Oak January 2, 2017 There’s a line in 1996’s Swingers that my wife and I love so much we use it anytime we can. The boys are at an absolutely packed club and a suggestion is made to leave and go to a party in the Hills. “Yeah man, this place is dead anyway.” It’s … [Read more...]
The Auncient Oak
"On the morrow morning..." The Auncient Oak, Bethlehem November 1, 2014 On the morrow morning Ricciardo went to an auncient woman of his acquaintance, who was the Mistresse of a Bathing-house, and there where he had appointed Madame Catulla, that the Bath should bee prepared for her, giving her to understand the … [Read more...]