Author Archives: Hillary T.

About Hillary T.

Where: Mass Audubon Headquarters, Lincoln Who: Massachusetts transplant by way of Florida and New York. Raising two young girls, who she hopes will be budding naturalists Favorite part of the job: Learning something new every day from some of the smartest and most enthusiastic groups of people

Take 5: Rainbows

This week has had a soggy start, but with any luck (and a bit of physics) we may get a glimpse of a rainbow! All it takes is three ingredients: sunlight, raindrops, and a viewer, all lined up at an opportune angle. In bright sun, look for a fainter second rainbow arc, with its colors reversed, above the main rainbow—a double rainbow, the result of sunlight making an extra bounce inside the raindrops before heading toward the viewer’s eye.

Can’t wait to see this illusion? Enjoy these 5 lovely rainbow photos from past photo contests. Have a great shot of your own? The 2016 Photo Contest will begin on June 1, 2016.

S. Martin Friedman

© S. Martin Friedman

Greg Stone

© Greg Stone

Cheryl Rose

© Cheryl Rose

Shannon Georges

© Shannon Georges

Burton Balkind

© Burton Balkind

5 Fun Facts About Drumlin Farm

If you’re already familiar with Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, you probably know that when you visit, you’ll see farm animals like cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, goats, and a pony. You might also know that we provide a home to rehabilitated injured and imprinted native wildlife. There’s even a chance you or your children have taken a class, attended a special event, or been part of our summer camp.

But that’s not all Drumlin Farm has to offer. Here are 5 things you may not know about Drumlin Farm:

Word Games

Drumlin Saying-640

There are puns and sayings throughout each barn. Keep a list as you go to see how many you can find. Can you find all of them? Hopefully before pigs fly!

You Can See For Miles

View from the Drumlin-640

You don’t have to drive far to get a peek at the mountains—on a clear day, take a mini hike to the top of the drumlin (a tear drop-shaped hill formed from glaciers) for a view of Mt. Wachusett, Mt. Monadnock, and the summits of Uncanoonuc in Goffstown, NH. You can even follow the footsteps of Henry David Thoreau, who recorded the same view in his journal in 1853!

Drop-In Activities

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We offer free-with-admission drop-in programs each weekday from mid-April to the end of October at 10 am and 11:30 am, and on weekends year-round at 10 am, 11:30 am, and 2:30 pm! On just about any given day, you could meet native wildlife up close, practice spinning wool into yarn, or feel the pelts of different mammals. Check the board near the nature center and at the farmyard entrance for a list of activities offered on the day of your visit.

Homegrown

crops

When we say our farm is a “working farm,” we mean it! The fresh, sustainably-grown produce you see at our Farmstand, in our Community Supported Agriculture program, at farmers’ markets in Somerville and Watertown, and in many local restaurants is grown right here on the farm.

Take an easy walk to Boyce Field to see what’s growing and maybe even talk to a farmer, too. In addition to vegetables, we also sell eggs and meat from our livestock, maple syrup from our sugar bush, pesto from our basil, goat milk soap from our goats, and yarn spun from our sheep’s wool.

A Natural Place to Shop

shop front w butterfly signs-640

Drumlin Farm is also home to the Audubon Shop, which has all the gear you need for identifying, explaining, and celebrating nature. Here, you can find great deals on binoculars, field guides, children’s toys and games, jewelry, and more. And in spring and summer, grab some ice cream as a sweet way to end your adventures.

Adapted from a post previously published on MassVacation.com