By Lawrence J. Winship
Who in Amherst has not heard of the tunnels that allow the gorgeous yellow-and-black spotted salamanders to cross safely under Henry Street on their way to vernal pools where they mate and lay eggs? Or of the scores of enthusiasts who wait expectantly for the first warm wet night in spring when the call goes out, “The salamanders are migrating!” and then rush to the tunnels to watch and help? Or that these marvelous amphibians are the “mascots” of the Hitchcock Center for the Environment?
By Elizabeth Farnsworth
Have you seen a moose (and kept a straight face)? My first close encounter with a moose, in the wilds of Royalston, took place shortly after we moved here. My husband and I were gazing sleepily out the bedroom window one early morning, admiring the view, when we looked down to catch a bull moose staring directly up at us from the backyard.
By Piotr Parasiewicz and Kathleen Ryan
Although it may appear modest at first glance, the Fort River, which rises in Amherst and makes its way through Hadley to the Connecticut River, boasts distinction among the 53 tributaries of the Connecticut. It is the longest free-flowing tributary of the big river in Massachusetts, and it is home to an impressive array of rare and intriguing species. From the sea lamprey to a wide variety of mussels, the Fort is a treasure trove of biodiversity right in our own neighborhood.
By David Spector
At this time of year I enjoy watching the red trilliums, with their threefold symmetry and deep red color, flowering in the woods near my house. They please me for many reasons. I find the simplicity of the flower beautiful—the large petals, the three- way replication of pattern, the spacing of the plants that allows easy focus on one flower at a time. I enjoy the deep, understated red of the flowers, seeming to glow slightly in the shade of the woods.
By Michael Wojtech
As tree buds unfurl in spring, they cast sweet hues of yellow, pale green and red in the canopies of our local forests. Soon after, this new growth matures into a kaleidoscope of dense greens. This is the season when deciduous trees seem to come back to life, when they transform from a blur of browns and grays and resume their individual identities. But the source of these browns and grays—bark—harbors more distinguishing characteristics, more beauty and has been more active during the past six leafless months than you might imagine.
By Ted Watt
Every year around April 15 I go to my favorite (and secret) spot to find hepaticas in bloom. I spend time there all by myself; it’s an antidote to filing my taxes and the many other complexities of everyday life.
By David Spector
“Hip, hip, hooray, boys, spring is here.” This, according to one classic transliteration of the song sparrow’s song, is a characteristic sound of a North American spring, a sound that actually starts in winter and continues through the summer. Male song sparrows, those that spent the winter here and those recently returned north from warmer regions, are now singing to proclaim their presence, establishing their territories and attracting females.
By Michael Dover and Rebecca Reid
Here is a hypothetical tale of two elementary-school teachers, both teaching a unit about energy and the environment. Both explain what the term “fossil fuels” means and discuss the consequences of burning them—air pollution, acid rain, smog and climate change. One teacher goes on to describe the potentially disastrous effects of climate change around the world. The other moves the conversation to alternative fuels for cars and different ways of producing electricity, after which the students brainstorm ways of conserving energy at home and in school.
By Robert T. Leverett
There are many reasons why people like trees, but big trees in particular have always stimulated human imagination. Size matters. Hulking forms casting twisted shadows vie with arrow-straight trunks of the forest cathedral. These are contrasting images, but equally iconic. In honoring the giants, some employ the camera. Others prefer canvas or pen. My greatest satisfaction comes from measuring big trees. It’s been a lifelong passion.
By Ginny Sullivan
As an advocate of the kind of learning that happens naturally, outside, “without being taught,” I consult with schools, child care centers and other institutions to help them develop habitat in every nook and cranny of their outdoor environment.
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Hitchcock Center for the Environment
at Hampshire College
845 West Street | Amherst MA 01002 | 413.256.6006 | 413.253.2809 fax