Parks & Nature

This is your chance to go behind the garden gates of some of Concord’s most beautiful – and unusual – private gardens.

As I pull into the parking area in early summer, I see people down at the dock of the quaint wooden boathouse on the Sudbury River. Family-owned South Bridge Boat House on Route 62 in Concord is the gateway to the rivers for all who would like to rent a kayak or canoe to explore.

What would you do if you were walking along and came across a nest in the ground full of baby bunnies? Or perhaps a little bird hiding in the grass or a baby squirrel lying on the ground? 

Why native plants? Native, or indigenous, plants are plants that have evolved in the North American landscape prior to European colonization. Native plants are adapted to a particular region’s climate and soils. Native plants have formed complex interrelationships with our local wildlife over thousands or millions of years of evolution. They provide food and shelter for our wildlife and insects that sustain the food web of our ecosystem.  

The Concord River Boater’s Trail begins at the confluence of the Sudbury and Assabet Rivers, at Egg Rock, where they join to become the Concord River. The river is slow-moving and easy to paddle in this section, so you can appreciate the rich natural and cultural sites along the way. 

Community gardening in Concord had its beginnings in 1973, when Dan Monahan, the Director of Natural Resources at that time, investigated the concept being practiced in other parts of the U.S. by those who remembered the success of the WWI and WWII Victory Gardens in local communities throughout the country.  

One April morning in 1872, William Brewster (1851-1919) took the train from Cambridge to Concord to go birdwatching with a friend. Making their way to a nearby farm, a local resident expressed surprise at their coming all the way from Boston to hear a Woodcock sing. 

Our New England days lose daylight and might even be a bit bleak at times, but it helps to keep our eyes out for warm colors and interesting nature to brighten our days. Reflections of water and ice often glow. The slanting light of winter and patterns of ice are delightfully complex in contrast with the direct light of summer. 

While the term “park ranger” might bring to mind the brown-hatted, uniformed men and women that we see so often, managing a national park requires a diverse staff of dedicated employees to conduct the many facets of park operations including visitor safety, building preservation and maintenance, landscape restoration, public education, and administrative duties. They may not all wear the brown hat every day, but they are all part of the park ranger system. Here is a snapshot of just a few of the rangers who work at MMNHP.

Concord is well known for its rich history and stunning natural beauty. As the warm days of summer arrive, residents and visitors alike deeply appreciate having access to national and state parks which provide a great way to get outside and enjoy nature. Here, we present the key features of two of our most popular destinations.