From the Executive Director

April 6th, 2020

Dear Sycamore Friends,

We’re about to begin the third week of the recently extended statewide stay-at-home order, during which our wonderful staff have been working at home and finding new ways of accomplishing Sycamore’s mission. With the COVID-19 situation changing every day, it’s hard to know what the next few days, weeks, and months will look like. These are uncertain times, to say the least.

However, there is certainty to be found in nature. The spring ephemeral wildflowers are coming up now, in their usual order, just as they do every year. Cut-leaved toothwort and spring beauty are currently carpeting the woods, while bloodroot has started to bloom and mayapples are spreading their leaves. The first spring migrants, such as eastern phoebes and yellow-throated warblers, have returned. Great blue herons are back on their nests in the rookery along Beanblossom Creek at Grandchildren’s Woods.

A great blue heron at Grandchildren’s Woods on March 17, 2020 | John Lawrence

There is resiliency to be seen in nature, too. A pair of bald eagles is nesting once again at Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve, even though last June’s tornado destroyed their previous nest. The new nest they built over the winter is actually the fourth at Beanblossom Bottoms since 2005. Prior to the tornado, two others were blown down in earlier windstorms. And yet the eagles have returned, year after year, because of the habitat we’ve protected together.

These cycles will continue, as long as there remain areas set aside and stewarded for nature to persist and thrive. That’s what Sycamore has been doing for 30 years now, because of you. And thanks to your ongoing support, we’ll continuing caring for these special places, and adding more, for Forever.

Be well, and thank you again for supporting nature and Sycamore.

Sincerely,

John Lawrence
Executive Director
Sycamore Land Trust

P.S. Sycamore’s public nature preserves remain open at this time, thanks to the member support that has allowed us to protect the land and build and maintain the trails so many people visit and enjoy. We intend to keep these healing natural areas open as long as government directives and safety allow.

Signs are posted reminding visitors to maintain at least 6 feet between other hikers, to follow the boardwalk at Beanblossom Bottoms clockwise, and to take other precautions such as wearing masks and not touching surfaces. Stay tuned to our website and social media for any updates.