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Naromi Properties
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Click
HERE for all of Naromi's trail maps.
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AmazonSmile
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Help Naromi by shopping on Amazon.
Log into your AmazonSmile account BEFORE you shop on Amazon and Naromi will receive a contribution from Amazon. It is easy as that!
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Members, Friends and Neighbors,
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I hope this finds all of you well. Not much about this spring has been predictable, but the steady signs of spring like blooming forsythia and daffodils, wood ducks and woodcocks, peepers and wood frogs bring me comfort.
I am so grateful that so many have been finding solace and connection with the natural world at Naromi preserves. Special thanks to those who have sent in membership contributions in these past several weeks.
As the weather gets warmer, please be aware of the animals that are migrating across roads to water sources. Drive carefully on rainy nights when the frogs and salamanders are crossing the road. If you decide to help a turtle cross a road, remember to bring it in the direction it is already heading and to deliver it only as far as needed to get it out of the way of traffic.
Normally, this time of year, we'd be wrapping up the frogs & vernal pool events, getting ready for our May bird walk, and celebrating Earth Day with some group events. Things are a little different this year, to say the least.
Even with these changes, we are continuing with a couple of Naromi traditions - roadside clean-up and our annual Invasives Primer and excellent kite-flying at Hadlow. My children and I had so much fun there last week!
Stay safe and be well!
Amanda Branson
Executive Director
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May Events Canceled
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Unfortunately, we've had to make the tough decision to cancel our May events due to the current situation. We have not canceled our June events yet but will keep you updated via this e-news, Facebook, and our website.
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We Can All Be Good Stewards
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We are so grateful that many people are enjoying Naromi's incredible preserves.
However, there have been some unfortunate incidents including vandalism, trespassing, and improper parking.
We ask that you enjoy Naromi preserves responsibly, observe regular preserve rules, practice social distancing, and stay within Naromi land. If there are many cars when you arrive, please find somewhere else to discover. Do not block driveways or the road when parking.
We can all be be good neighbors and good stewards of the land by doing small things.
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Kites at Hadlow - the best!
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My three kids and I went to Hadlow last week to record our part of an Earth Day 50th anniversary video that
CT Land Conservation Council is preparing on behalf of all Connecticut land trusts. We had a blast! Here is our submission to the video (plus a bonus). We will share the final video on Facebook later this week.
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Naromi Earth Day 50 video
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Road-side Clean Up
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Thanks Eden Bruzinski!
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This is the perfect time to celebrate Earth Day, help your community, help ensure clean air and water, protect wildlife, and support Naromi all at the same time.
In normal times, the town hosts an annual roadside clean-up. This year, due to the current situation, the town isn't organizing a formal clean-up day. The litter to be picked up remains. You can still volunteer to take on some clean-up along Naromi roadsides and DOT will pick it up. Many Naromi preserves need roadside clean up. Towner Hill, Wimsink, and The Dell are often the hardest hit by trash and litter, but there are many others that need attention.
Bags will be provided outside of town hall. It is safest to go with another person, we ask that any teams be members of your own household and remember to wear gloves, sturdy shoes and bright colors. The bags should be double-bagged. After picking-up, you can just leave the bags on the side of Routes 37, 39, or 55. DOT will pick it up on or after April 27 - easy peasy!
Please send Naromi an email at office@naromi.org to let us know you will help and we will help coordinate locations. Thanks so much to the Town of Sherman, Ruth Byrnes, and DOT for helping ensure roadside cleanup still gets done!
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Invasive Plants 101
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Things are greening up and that includes invasive plants! We include this article each April, with some updates. Remember, the most important step in managing invasives is to prevent seeds from setting for next year.
Invasive plants compete with native plants for nutrients and water and often "crowd out" native plants. Unfortunately, the overpowering invasives tend to be poor food sources and some even emit growth-inhibiting chemicals to prevent other plants. While some have medicinal benefits or can be enjoyed in a salad, it's better for our habitats to remove invasives wherever we can.
Here are some pointers on how to manage invasives:
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"Burning Bush" or Winged Euonymous, Photo by Leslie J. Mehrhoff, UConn, Bugwood.org
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Identify the Plant.
The
Connecticut Invasive Plants Working Group (look at their "Meet the Plants" in their top menu) and the
USDA are good resources. If you're still not sure, consult with local experts, ask a knowledgeable friend, wait until it flowers, etc. At the moment, burning bush plants are identifiable by the 'wings' alongside their branches. The leaves aren't out yet but will be green until they turn a brilliant red in the fall. Japanese barberry is also leafing out now and always has a distinctive bush appearance and thorns.
Get ahead of the invasion. It is much easier to pull up a few small seedlings than to remove a forest. Many invasive plants are spread by bird droppings, so keep an eye out for unidentified plants underneath bird-roosting places, such as trees and fence posts. The earlier in spring you get started, the better.
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Garlic Mustard - The green leaves of plants that have over wintered are visible peaking through the leaves on the ground. This photo shows what it looks like now.
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Manage from the edge. Even though it'd be nice to be able to take out an entire group in one outing, it might not always be possible. Start at the edge and keep working your way through it when you can.
Remove the entire root. Once you start pulling plants, make sure you prevent re-sprouting by removing the entire root. Many invasives spread underground.
Stop the seeds. Even if you can't do anything else, if you can stop the plant from going to seed, you will limit the amount of damage that the plant does.
Disposal. Once you have separated the unwanted plant from the land, what do you do with it? The best method is to bag the seeds and roots in black plastic and leave the bag in direct sun to totally dry out.
This is also the case with cuttings. Japanese knotweed can spread super easily with a small section or a "cutting" casually thrown into the woods. If you get the plant early in the year before it has seeds, bushes in particular, can be turned upside down in place so that the roots cannot touch the soil again, even with the help of a strong wind. In a wild area, the up-ended bushes make good brush-pile habitat.
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