The Buttrick Gardens at Minute Man National Historical Park look better than ever after several years of hardscape preservation projects that enhance the natural beauty of the historic gardens. Owned by the Buttrick family from the colonial period until the 1960s, the gardens were installed and expanded by three generations of the Buttrick family from 1911 to 1962, when they conveyed the property to the National Park Service.
One of the most important decisions we can make is where to spend our time – either on a visit, or when thinking about where to put down roots and build a family and community. One of the aspects of Concord that attracts so many people from around the world to come here – to spend time, or to stay – is the unique essence of ‘place.’
We take for granted that nature—and the physical, mental, and emotional health benefits that it provides—should be available to everyone. But for people who have mobility challenges, use wheelchairs, or are pushing heavy strollers, nature trails over rough terrain can be anything but a walk in the park.
Laura Davis laughs as she ticks off all the ways she’s built her family’s life around the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Concord. “I basically moved everything in my life to West Concord so I could get to it on a bike,” said the 35-year-old Concord resident.
Readers of Walden will remember Thoreau’s account of chasing a loon across the surface of Walden Pond and his observation, “I rejoice that there are owls. Let them do the idiotic and maniacal hooting for men.”
Those passages grew from the close observations of birds he made in his Journal from 1837 to 1861. Thoreau once said his Journal could be called “Field Notes,” and most of it is devoted to descriptions of his daily walks in Concord, including descriptions of dozens of species of birds.
One day I happened upon what I now know is a “kaleidoscope” of Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). In other words, a swarm of those wonderful, brilliant butterflies enjoying a puddle. Yes, butterflies do “puddle,” or gather in large numbers to feed. And for that matter, Monarchs also “roost.”
The picturesque town of Concord, Massachusetts, is renowned for its rich history, from the Revolutionary and Civil War eras to its prominent role in American literature. Few may know that Concord played a role in the history of bicycling, a form of transportation that has had a profound impact on society and culture.
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