Winter lectures at the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary are given each Saturday at 1:30 pm at the Sanctuary at 30 Peck Road in Wales, Massachusetts. Directions can be found at www.norcrossws.org. These one-hour free talks are designed to capture your attention and pique your interest in the natural world. Reservations are required as space is limited and printed materials are provided to each person. Please call 413-267-4859 or email ohop@norcrossws.org for reservations and information.
January 29 – Fabulous Ferns. Ferns add color, texture and pizazz to your garden. Do you have a place where nothing else grows? Maybe a fern will fit there, too. Fun and easy to grow, ferns are fabulous in the garden. Leslie Duthie will lead the discussion.
February 5 – Ecosystems on the Edge. Some ecosystems do not function according to the “normal” rules of nature. Today, Mike Tremblay looks at ecosystems that use chemicals like sulfur and methane as their primary source of energy such as sulfur vents, methane seeps and isolated caves.
February 12 – Hit the Trail for Health. Trail walking is a great way to get some fresh air, keep healthy, and get your bodies moving. Where are your local trails, how did they get there, and who takes care of them? Did you know there are exercise trails out there, too? Every town has at least one trail to walk, and Stephanie Morin will introduce you to some great local trails for all ability levels.
February 26 – Your Green Home. Help solve the earth’s rapidly changing environmental catastrophe through a change in buildiing materials and procedures. Reed Coles, a local “green” builder and remodeler, will showcase materials and methods of sustainable building practices including passive and active solar and zero energy structures that define Energy Star and US Green Building Council’s LEED certified building codes. He will also discuss harvesting equipment and green washing.
March 5 – Small Native Trees for the Home Landscape. Many native trees have great potential to enhance the enjoyment of your home landscape. Some offer brilliant fall colors or interesting bark, some come to life with breathtaking spring flowers, some produce delicious fruit, and a few may encompass all these qualities. This presentation by Vinny Normand showcases small to medium sized native trees that can be used in the home landscape.
March 12 – Vernal Pools. Jennifer Ohop presents a talk on the natural beauty and seasonal rhythm of this unique habitat.
