Sprinkled throughout Concord is an array of green spaces perfect for hiking, biking, bird watching, and, best of all, picnicking. The spaces are varied; some are wide open acres of green lawn while others are nestled into the woods with stone benches just wide enough to hold a picnic basket. Some spaces are filled with swings, slides, and monkey bars to keep children happy and active. No matter what you’re looking for, with summer just a glance away, picnic season is here and you’ll find the perfect spot in Concord.
“I have traveled a good deal in Concord,” said Thoreau, with his usual Yankee irony. To explore this small town, far away from any oceans or urban centers, would not seem to qualify as “travel.” But Thoreau was a man who could see Homeric drama in the movements of an ant colony; a New England town, then, with its social and natural life, was more than enough to have “traveled a good deal” in. Thoreau belongs to a long line of Concordians who have taught us how to travel a good deal in seemingly quiet places.
Concord has a reputation for being the epicenter of both the American and literary revolutions as well as home to classic authors, philosophers, and artists. But this small town of barely 17,000 residents boasts another wonder - Great Meadows, a world-renowned refuge dedicated to the preservation of native plants, insects, fish, birds, and animals.
To join the Walden scene, enjoy the ring-around-the-pond trail. Ever changing close-up views of the pond, its engineered pondside, and the hillside include periodic large stone steps welcoming walkers to lapping water.
But to discover nature’s ecology, explore the diverse woodland trails and special places. Here I highlight the intriguing land beyond the pond.
Summer is here and along with that comes bountiful blooms. Concord is a kaleidoscope of colorful periwinkle iris, diamond frost euphorbia, and purple bellflowers, all on full display. They arrive at the hands of many gardening clubs and organizations whose members enjoy getting their hands dirty, literally.
Getting out on the water is a wonderful way to escape to the outdoors, and Concordians are fortunate to have three rivers and several ponds on which to play, explore, and relax. These waterways provide opportunities to enjoy the natural world in a way that is quite different from experiencing our roadways, parks, and trails. On the water, one can imagine being in a distant place.
When someone says, “Concord is a special place,” they could likely be referring to its history, whether that be its role in the American Revolution or its literary tradition. But those things belong, after all, to the past, and so they are more reasons for saying Concord was a special place than that it is. Many towns have history, especially in New England, but few of them, like Concord, retain the sense of a living historical legacy. Concord, then, is a special place, as much as it was a special place, because of a long and ongoing tradition of conservation. Conservation in Concord means caring both for historical sites and indigenous natural beauty, protecting lands from development, and keeping away pollution and invasive species. The shared commitment of residents, nonprofits, and state agencies has made the quality and extent of conservation in Concord exceptional, or, put otherwise, special.
The stunning blooms of the Buttrick Gardens offer a colorful respite to visitors of Minute Man National Historical Park. Developed during the early 20th century,
the gardens were tended by several generations of the Buttrick family until 1963 when the National Park Service acquired the property. The Buttrick house now serves as the North Bridge Visitor Center and the gardens overlook the North Bridge, the location of one of the first battles of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775. The gardens attract 500,000 visitors annually from near and far and are regularly enjoyed by the local community.
Do you love a beautiful butterfly, a busy honeybee, or an adorable ladybug? What about a spider, or a tiny wasp, or a ground beetle with its snapping jaws? They may look scary, but they won’t hurt you and are important players in your backyard garden.
In September 2019, Concord’s 2.5-mile section of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail was opened — an integral part of what will be, upon completion, a 25-mile-long rail trail running from Lowell to Framingham. How did this all begin, and what does this mean for area residents and visitors?
