Open House at Wachusett Meadow

Following Google map directions, it took me about 35 minutes to drive from my home to Wachusett Meadow, the Mass Audubon Society Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton. I had been there before, years ago, but I had read somewhere that Mass Audubon had scheduled an Open House (homemade ice cream!) for today, so I decided to pay them another visit.

Fortunately, it was a nearly perfect day for outdoor activities:  sunny but not as hot and humid as it has been.  I arrived close to noon and stayed a couple of hours, spending most of that time wandering through the varied landscapes.  The 1200 acre sanctuary features over 12 miles of hiking trails.  I started on the South Meadow Trail, then picked up the Beaver Bend Trail, which led to the Pasture Trail, from whence I diverted to the Hemlock Seep Trail.  Back at Goodnow Road, I headed north on the Chapman Trail, turned east on the Glacial Boulder Trail, and then picked up the North Meadow Trail back to the parking lot.

Human history has long been intertwined with natural history here.  The property includes two century-old barns near the Visitor’s Center.  In the old barn, I admired a contraption for shoeing oxen; the newer barn was used for storing hay and thus has a high ceiling.

Older Barn

Newer Barn

Sheep are used for grasslands management at the Sanctuary; their wool is sold in the Gift Shop.  Many of the children visiting today tried hand-pumping drinking water from an underground reservoir.

Sanctuary Sheep

Water Pump

The Sanctuary glories in their wetlands, which include the Wildlife Pond, the Beaver Wetland, the Otter Pond, and the South Wachusett Brook.

Wildlife Pond

Beaver Wetland

The southern part of the Sanctuary features more open meadows and old fields; in fact, the “Pasture” Trail is aptly named.

Milkweed with Bluebird Nesting Box

Looking South from the North Meadow Trail

As we see so often in New England, evidence of glaciation is all around us.

Sign Says It All

Glacial Boulder

My most memorable moment came when a butterfly landed on me (I was wearing jeans) and continued to feed on my hand as I walked along; it may have been tasting the salt from my perspiration.  I’m not sure of the identification but I think this is a Common Wood Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), in the Satyr family.

Butterfly Resting

Butterfly Feeding

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