Friday night’s heavy rain beat down the Joe Pye Weed at the MRG overpass pollinator garden, but that didn’t stop this American White Admiral butterfly from enjoying it. Interesting that the immature caterpillar wraps itself in a leaf that wards off freezing temperatures and protects it from hungry birds. How do they know how to do this?! We humans are so dependent in our early years!
Thanks to Roger Lohr for sharing his photo of some of the pollinator plantings on the MRG behind the Miracle Mile. Roger writes: “The recent rain has helped flower gardens along the MRG in this photo that I took today. Been riding my bike 40 times since early June and it has been nice to see the blossoms coming along.” These are some of the flowers sown this Spring by Lebanon Mayor Tim McNamara’s Dartmouth Class of 1989 pollinator project. For more info see Creating Habitat For Pollinators. You can see more of their plantings at the Lebanon Airport and recycling facility and the West Lebanon Cemetery near Mt. Lebanon School.
Glad to know you are out there Roger, enjoying the MRG and stopping to appreciate the flowers.
A ring of small keys and an Energizer battery were found by the pollinator garden near the MRG overpass parking lot near APD. Are they yours? If so, please contact the Lebanon Rec Department.
For the first year since being planted in 2019, the two apple trees at the MRG overpass pollinator garden near APD, are heavily laden with apples. They are not quite ripe , but look healthy, and will be available as an organic snack in a few weeks. Thanks to all Friends of Lebanon Recreation, Upper Valley Apple Corps, and other volunteers who helped plant these trees 5 years ago!
MRG organic apple tree planting during Climate Strike Week in September 2019.
And, given the abundance of apples this year, might you have a supply that could help feed bears at Kilham Bear Center in Lyme, NH? They rehabilitate and release injured, orphaned, and abandoned black bear cubs . . some of which have been rescued in Lebanon. He has put out a request for apples:
There is a bin at the bottom of our driveway at 172 Grafton Turnpike Rd, Lyme, NH 03768. Thanks, Ben Kilham
It was not yet Noon and the day was already steamy . . . such a good place for a family outing! The shady green tunnel of trees, the views of the Mascoma River . . . Happy Fourth of July!
We are so lucky to have this Cycling Without Age trishaw and a host of volunteer pilots available to widen access to the MRG and NRT! Thanks to pilot Chipper Ashley for a great trip!
And behold! New swag to carry the message!
Much appreciation to all who made this program happen.
Thanks to the members of the Upper Valley Rugby Club who showed up to mulch and weed in the MRG Pocket Park by the tunnel. We appreciate your good energy and the Pocket Park and the blueberries look great!
Back in early May, Dan Moriarty sent a photo of a snapping turtle he had spotted on the MRG on a rainy day. She must have been doing reconnaissance, looking for a good place to lay eggs. At the end of May, he spotted her again . . .and indeed, she had found a sandy spot to lay her eggs. Isn’t it encouraging to know that, behind all the development on the Miracle Mile, there is this other world ?! Ah, the Mascoma River and the MRG! Thanks for sharing, Dan!
“Made a new friend when I got drenched during downpour on MRG this afternoon. He was crossing from river to pond behind Cinemas between P&C access road and steel umbrella. Made my getting drenched worth the additional 2 mile walk back to my car worth it as the downpour continued.”
Thanks to Dan Moriarty for sharing this snapping turtle encounter! (Might this be an egg-laying SHE?)
The Mascoma River Greenway 