Blog

The view from my window shows a season of change. Bees picking up tiny suitcases of pollen drone past, too busy at work to pay me any mind. The butterfly bush attracts great spangled fritillary and monarch butterflies that land and flutter like showy baubles. Before the monarchs move south on their long journey to Mexico, Teatown educators join thousands of other citizen scientist volunteers across the country that catch, tag, and release monarchs as part of Monarch Watch.

After 25 consecutive years at Teatown’s Natural Science Summer Day Camp, first as a camper, then as a counselor and now as health director, 2020 became the summer without camp. As the world struggled with the COVID-19 pandemic, Teatown made the difficult decision to cancel summer camp.

At Cliffdale Farm we like to live on the edge—the forest edge. Day hikers and community members visiting Teatown’s meadows might notice some changes where the high grasses meet the tall trees.

Teatown was proud to “reveal” and celebrate the completion of our Wildflower Woods Wetland Restoration Project on July 15, 2021. This multi-year project was the result of a successful collaboration among Teatown stewardship staff, environmental engineering and landscaping professionals, and funders, including the Land Trust Alliance and a generous anonymous donor from the larger Teatown community.

June 21-27 was National Pollinator Week.  This international event celebrates and supports pollinator health and spreads the word about what we can do to protect them. Why should we take an active role in the health and well being of pollinators?  Simply put, their existence is critical to the health of the Earth’s ecosystems.

The sun is out, pandemic restrictions are lifted, and we’re all itching for a summer adventure. Before striking out, take a moment to plan for a trip that’s as easy on your wallet as it is on the planet.

Teatown has a funny way of luring people back. As an educational organization, we pride ourselves on inspiring children, teens, and young adults to be the environmental stewards of the future.

Have you looked into the twilight sky and seen the quick, agile silhouettes of bats in flight? For some it can be frightening to see bats nearby, but take heart that these amazing little hunters use their keen eyesight and powerful echolocation to find prey and stay away from humans! While there are 1,400 species of bats in the world, only 9 call New York home. Do you know your bat neighbors?

Parks are a popular destination for families to gather for picnics and to enjoy the fresh air. There are also wildlife families going about their daily lives searching for food and raising their young in the same parks.

Spring is also known as baby season. Many animals have and raise their young at this time of year. Food sources are plentiful, especially plants that are at the base of the food chain. There is also considerable time for the young to grow and learn important survival skills before winter comes.

In the wetland below the cliffs, observed through the remains of the snow and ice, the burgundy-rimmed horns, scattered about, signal the change of season. The curved mottled spathe provides a hood for the rounded spadix peeping from within, which bears indistinct petal-less flowers with both stamens and pistils.