Fells Nature Notes – Spring 2025

Wild Geraniums by Mary H. New.

by Niti Seereeram

While out in the Fells, you may notice pale-pink to lavender flowers of wild geranium popping out amongst the green verdure. Native to eastern North American woodlands, wild geranium is a perennial wildflower, consistently blooming each year around late spring and early summer. Wild geranium’s flowers attract a variety of native bees and insects, making it a powerful contender for pollinator gardens. The seeds are also highly attractive to wildlife such as white-tailed deer, mourning doves, and the bobwhite quail!

Keep an eye on the ground for flashes of black and yellow during this time of year – you may find a Garter snake friend slithering by your feet! During the day, garter snakes like to bask themselves in sunny areas of meadows or forests. These charismatic snakes are not harmful to humans and play an integral role in the Fells food web, feeding on amphibians, fish, small mammals, earthworms, and insects.

Ever wonder why snakes stick out their tongues? They’re smelling you… in a sense! Snakes have a special organ, called the Jacobson’s organ, located in their mouth that helps them sense their environment. When the snake sticks out its tongue, smell particles from the air are collected and sent to the brain as the tongue re-enters its mouth. This is how snakes orient themselves in their surroundings, catch prey, and sense potential predators such as people.

 

Looking for ways you can support the Fells while hiking on the trails this season? Check out our Trail Adopter program where you can help keep our trail system safe and sustainable by monitoring Middlesex Fells trails. Trail Adopters keep trails accessible by:

  • Identifying and reporting issues on trails such as fallen trees
  • Collecting data to monitor human impact in the Fells
  • Clearing blocked trails and keeping unofficial trails closed

To apply to be a Trail Adopter, please complete this application and join us on June 21st at Greenwood Park for our monthly Trail Adopter Orientation, where you will complete your first trail report with fellow volunteers.

As the days grow sunnier and warmer, we hope you take time to get outdoors and appreciate the natural beauty of the Middlesex Fells and all who call this beloved park home. Remember to send friends@fells.org photos from your Fells adventures for a chance to be featured. We hope to see you out on the trails!

Banner image by Mary H. New.

Invasive Plant Removal

Our target areas for invasive plants this year include Bellevue Pond, Spot Pond, and Greenwood Park. Volunteers have removed 42 large bags of garlic mustard from all three of these locations. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) removed vast amounts of garlic mustard from Greenwood Park’s Dana’s Meadow and Bellevue Pond in May. 
Tufts Leonard Carmichael Society removing buckthorn

Volunteers started to prep-cut the Japanese knotweed at Greenwood Park. In September, a DCR-licensed contractor will administer a foliar spray to the regrown knotweed. The spray is applied during a window called the “FFFF” or “final flower, first frost” window. This is the prime time to apply herbicide to the plant, for this is when the plant pulls its energy and resources back into the rhizomes to prepare for winter. The prep-cut is critical because it reduces the height of the plant and allows the contractors to apply herbicide at a safe height (not over their heads).

 

Buckthorn, bittersweet, multiflora rose, and porcelain berry continue to be removed at all three of these sites. These four plants tend to be targets year-round for our volunteers. 
Great Malden Outdoors hike

Hikes

Volunteer hike leaders have guided over 45 outings across the Fells so far this year. The summer is shaping up to be full of plant walks, history walks, social strolls, and more. Check out our full lineup of events here.

Trail Closures

The three unofficial trails that were closed at Greenwood Park in December remain closed! We are thrilled with the success of these trail closures and look forward to continuing this work at other locations across the Fells. Why are we closing these trails? To reduce our impact on the Fells and to restore sensitive habitats for our plant and wildlife species. Learn more about unofficial trails and our work here.

Three more unofficial trails will be closed with volunteers and students in the ninth-grade Erath Science class at Stoneham High School this June. Be sure to head to the Bear Hill Parking Lot to check out their hard work!

Thank you!

We’d like to thank the following groups who have joined us since January and have made a big impact in helping us remove invasive plants, pick up trash, and work on trails:

ALKU
American Tower
Boston Cares
Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
Elaine Construction Company
Melrose High School Cross Country
Repair the World Boston
Tufts Leonard Carmichael Society
Ultragenyx
Winchester Cub Scouts
Winchester Girl Scouts

Interested in assisting these efforts? Apply to volunteer here!

Want to volunteer with your group, company, school, or team? Learn more about our group volunteering opportunities here.

Reach out to friends@fells.org if you have any questions or if you’d like to get more involved in these efforts.

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