Saturday, April 17,
10:30 am:
“Forest Bathing along the Artists’ Trail”
Enjoy an outdoor experience with certified forest bathing guide Regan Stacey at the Florence Griswold Museum, ($45, for on-site event).
Register at https://
Thursday, April 22:
Earth Day!
Get in on the count with CT Audubon’s annual Backyard BioBlitz and help count nature’s species including birds, insects, fungi, and plants with iNaturalist ID app.
Learn more at www.ctaudubon.org
OLD LYME — A small but mighty single cell organism, plankton, pictured above, is the base of the marine food web.
Dr. Hans Dam
In a free lecture presented by the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center on April 29 at 6 p.m. via Zoom, Hans Dam, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Connecticut, will speak about the evolutionary ecology of plankton and its vulnerability to climate change. His lecture is titled, The Secret Life of Plankton: The Base of the Marine Food Web.
Register to obtain the Zoom link for the presentation at ctaudubon.org/
Dr. Dam is a biological oceanographer interested in the ecology and evolution of planktonic organisms: the tiny creatures that control the biology of the sea.
He will describe the macro-power of these microorganisms and help attendees to improve their understanding of the invisible life teeming in a tablespoon of river or Sound water.
Dr. Dam’s current research focuses on how copepods, the most abundant animals on Earth, adapt to the ocean’s warming and acidification.
Another area of his work is the evolutionary “arms race” between grazers and toxic plants.
Dr. Dam has published more than 100 papers and trained a generation of oceanographers. He has also spent 20 years advising the State of Connecticut about water quality in Long Island Sound.
Included with participation in the lecture is a special offer: a dinner available for pick-up on the day of the event prepared by renowned chef Ani Robaina, formerly chef at the Microsoft Conference Center and the Pond House in Hartford and currently owner and chef at Ani’s Table. The cost is $75.
This is the third and final presentation in The Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center’s Connecticut River Lecture Series, now celebrating its seventh year with presentations that feature prominent scientists focusing on critical environmental issues. Named for the internationally and locally renowned artist, scientific illustrator, environmental educator, and conservation advocate, the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center is known for its work in environmental education, conservation, research, and advocacy.
For the past year and continuing in 2021, the Center has served young people and adults across the region with small group programs like bird walks and owl prowls, virtual CT River ecology and other courses, seasonal nature crafts and activities for kids via Zoom, as well as an upcoming multi-disciplinary, summer camp program.
More information is available at https://www.ctaudubon.org/
LYME — On Saturday, May 8, the Lyme Grange hosts a Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Grange sited on the corner of Sterling City Rd, and Rte. 156 in Lyme.
A great selection of perennials and annuals will be offered for sale.
All proceeds benefit the work of the Grange.
OLD LYME — On Saturday, May 22, enjoy a day of outdoor fun and family friendly activities at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center’s Pollinator Party.
This is an opportunity for families to visit the new home of the RTP Estuary Center at 100 Lyme Street in Old Lyme, the former home of the Bee & Thistle Inn.
There will be scavenger hunts, a pollinator planting station, rock painting, and plenty of time to meet staff and board members, ask questions, and have fun.
This is a free event for all ages but registration is required. Suggested donation is $20.
Pollinator seeds have kindly been donated by the Dominion’s Project Plant It!
Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed. In order to meet social distancing guidelines, families are asked to register for one of three times slots listed on the registration site at https://www.ctaudubon.org/
For more information about the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center and its programs, visit https://www.ctaudubon.
OLD LYME — The Old Lyme Land Trust owns a large field lot at 14 Sill Lane. The Trust recently had a contractor clear the very overgrown northeast corner of the property, which was extremely overgrown with invasive plants.
On Saturday, May 22, from 9 to 11 a.m., a Work Party is now planned with the aim of cleaning up the remaining surface to keep the area mowed and prevent the invasive plant from growing back.
The location for the event is 14 Sill Lane — park along the road in front of the stone wall.
Bring gloves, metal rakes, pitch fork, perhaps a tarp.
The plan is to haul the debris to the transfer station. If you can provide a pick-up truck or dump trailer, it would be much appreciated.
OLD LYME — The Old Lyme Land Trust (OLLT), the Old Lyme Open Space Commission and the Old Lyme Inn are sponsoring a “Hiker’s Happy Hour” on Wednesday, June 2.
A guided walk will leave at 4:15 p.m. from the red trailhead in the Champlain North Open Space, located at the end of Wyckford Lane, just north of the I-95 exit 70. People preferring an easy, level walk can just go a short way to the Barbizon Oak, a 300-year-old historic landmark.
All are welcome.
After the hike, people will re-group at the nearby Old Lyme Inn for a 5 to 7 p.m. friendly happy hour, with half-price drinks the first hour. You need not hike to enjoy the event; the happy hour at the Inn will begin at 5 p.m. for hikers and others alike.
Additional “Hikers’ Happy Hours” are scheduled for Sept. 1 and Oct. 6, with locations to be announced.
Information on the Champlain North Open Space and its trails may be found at: https://www.oldlyme-ct.gov/open-space-commission/pages/champlain-north.
Hikers should wear comfortable walking shoes and bring insect repellent.
In the event of rain, meet at the Old Lyme Inn for Happy Hour instead of the trailhead.
CT Trails Day–Riverside Preserve Community Work Day
Date: Saturday, June 5, 2021
Time: 9:30 am -11:30 am
Place: Riverside Preserve, Salem Rd, Lyme CT
Contact Email: [email protected]
We invite you to take part in a Community Work Day to improve the site of a Pollinator Meadow and nature trail at the Lyme Land Trust’s Riverside Preserve, a haven for butterflies and other pollinators along the bank of the Eightmile River. Learn to recognize the native and invasive plants in the meadow. Native wildflowers that benefit pollinators will be identified and nurtured. Find out which plants are invasive and help us remove them. Leave with the knowledge and resources to create a pollinator patch of your own.
Bring tools: a pair of work gloves, clippers/loppers, a shovel, and a water bottle.
The walk is sponsored by Lyme Pollinator Pathway, an initiative of the Town of Lyme, and the Lyme Land Trust.
Reservations required: [email protected]
OLD LYME — Lyme Academy of Fine Arts has announced an outdoor summer concert series titled, Sounds on the Grounds, which kicks off tomorrow evening, Thursday, June 10, with performances by Chris Gregor from 5 to 5:45 p.m. followed by Brad Bensko and Kathleen Parks from 6 to 8 p.m.
All are welcome and admission is free. Masks are advised for those who are not vaccinated and children under 12.
The series is being produced in partnership with Nightingale’s Acoustic Café.
Tomorrow is the first of four Thursday evening, outdoor musical events during which attendees can savor a cold beer, glass of wine or craft cocktails, as well as delicious food truck fare. Lawn games will also be available and children can enjoy a few hours of safely social, family-friendly fun.
The full schedule of concerts is as follows:
Thursday, June 10:
5 – 5:45 pm Chris Gregor
6 – 8 pm Brad Bensko and Kathleen Parks
Thursday, June 17:
5 – 8 p.m. Java Groove
Thursday, June 24:
5 – 5:45 pm John Brown and the Backporch Pickers |
6 – 8 pm Eight Mile River Band
Thursday, July 1:
5 – 5:45 pm Midnight Anthem |
6 – 8 pm Steve Dedman and Plywood Cowboy
LYME —‘The Farmer’s Market at Tiffany Farms’ in Lyme opens for the season this Saturday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Vendors will include
- Sankow’s Beaver Brook Farm
-
Biscotti and Beyond
-
Bittersweet Farms
-
Chatfield Hollow Farm
-
Confections by Tonie Marie (new – confections!)
-
Dondero Orchards
-
Fat Stone Farm (returning!)
-
From the Farm
-
Long Table Farm
-
Maple Breeze Farm
-
Marna Roons. (New – macaroons!)
-
Sankow Beaver Brook Farm
-
TALK Seafood
-
Tiffany Farms Pasture Raised Beef (started in September and was a HUGE success!)
-
Traveling Italian Chef
-
Wave Hill Breads
The final concert in this summer series will take place Thursday, July 1, and feature Midnight Anthem playing from 5 to 5:45 p.m. and Steve Dedman and Plywood Cowboy taking the stage from 6 to 8 p.m.
LYME/OLD LYME — After the great success of last year’s inaugural Rogers Lake Boat Parade, another one is planned this year starting at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 4, from the Hains Park area.
Both motorized and non-motorized boats are invited to participate but all must be festively/patriotically decorated! In order to achieve a timely start, participants should arrive around 1:45 p.m.
Once the parade has begin, all boats should follow the designated lead boat or join at your respective location.
The route will be one counter-clockwise lap around the lap.
Boats should stay within 100 ft. of the shore at ‘No Wake’ speed and no swimming in or near the parade is permitted.
Dan Stevens, pictured above, will join Steve Dedman of Plywood Cowboy and The new Fusion Quartet on Saturday for a free concert at the Lyme Grange Fairgrounds.
LYME — This Saturday, July 10, a free, front-porch style concert will be held at the Lyme Grange Fair Grounds at 1 Sterling City Rd. in Lyme, Connecticut starting at 6 p.m.
Local favorites Steve Dedman of Plywood Cowboy and Ramblin’ Dan Stevens will trade songs and stories from the road. The New Fusion Quartet, a group of young musicians from Lyme-Old Lyme High School, will open the evening.
All are welcome. Bring family, friends and your own picnic and seating. No alcohol is allowed on the fair grounds.
The event is sponsored by the Lyme Public Hall and Local History Archives to celebrate community.
The Lyme Public Hall & Local History Archives, Inc. (LPH&LHA ) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the appreciation of Lyme’s history, culture, and community through the preservation and use of the historic hall, archives and historical programs. The LPH&LHA thanks Ramblin’ Dan and the Lyme Grange for their enthusiastic support for this community gathering.
More information at lymepublichall.org
LYME — Join the Lyme Land Trust for a Sound Bath, Sunday, July 11, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Diana’s Field in Banningwood Preserve, 19 Town St., Lyme.
A Sound Bath is an exhilarating event that brings a feeling of peace and rejuvenation. This Sound bath concert is presented by Rooted Endurance.
Sound Bath is a relaxation technique and meditative experience whereby participants ‘bathe’ in the sound waves produced by the complex harmonics of the human voice as well as instruments such as chimes, gongs and singing bowls.
Sean and Colleen Alexander, of Rooted Endurance, provide a multifaceted sound immersion performance that invites a delightful exploration of your internal self.
Create space for self-healing, sound massage, contemplative listening, relaxation, and rejuvenation; move prana (life force) through the body; deliver a deep, energetic reboot to the nervous system; and allow you to let go of everything that is not supporting you.
The results are waves of peace, heightened awareness, and relaxation of the mind and body.
You are welcome to bring your own water, mat, light blanket or sheet, and pillow and eye covers for this enjoyable experience. Bring a picnic to enjoy after the concert.
A suggested donation of $10 minimum will be collected on the day of the event, with all proceeds to benefit The Lyme Land Trust.
Registration not required.
For more information, visit the Rooted Endurance website at https://www.rootedendurance.com/or email [email protected]
GREENPORT, Mass./LYME/OLD LYME — The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) will host three virtual Clean-up Coffee Hour sessions leading up to their 25th annual Source to Sea Clean-up being held this fall, Sept. 24-26.
The annual Source to Sea Clean-up is a river clean-up coordinated by CRC in all four states of the 410-mile Connecticut River basin (NH, VT, MA, CT). Each fall, thousands of volunteers of all ages and abilities clean trash from the Connecticut River and its tributaries on foot or by boat.
Join CRC at these virtual Clean-up Coffee Hours to learn more about how to get involved in the Source to Sea Clean-up:
· Registration and Site Selection: Wednesday, July 14, 12 – 1 p.m.
· Trash Disposal and Tallies: Wednesday, Aug. 11, 4 – 5 p.m.
· General Q&A: Thursday, Sept. 9, 5 – 6 p.m.
Additional details and links to register for these online events can be found at www.ctriver.org/events.
“These coffee hours will be a fun, informal way to get familiar with this year’s Source to Sea Clean-up,” says Stacey Lennard, CRC’s cleanup coordinator. “Anyone can come with questions about the process, or just come to meet other group leaders and volunteers. The Source to Sea Clean-up strengthens community while cleaning up our rivers and streams. It’s an opportunity for you to make a difference.”
The Source to Sea Clean-up is one of the largest river cleanups in the country. Thousands of volunteers participate each year to remove trash along rivers, streams, parks, boat launches, trails and more.
To learn more about how you can register for the Source to Sea Clean-up, connect with a group, choose a trash site, and tally your trash, tune into any of these three Clean-up Coffee Hours.
Since 1952, Connecticut River Conservancy has been the voice for the Connecticut River watershed, from source to sea. They collaborate with partners across four states to protect and advocate for the state’s rivers and educate and engage communities. They bring people together to prevent pollution, improve habitat, and promote enjoyment of your river and its tributary streams. Healthy rivers support healthy economies.
To learn more about CRC, or to make a contribution to help protect your rivers, visit www.ctriver.org.