Got Half an Hour? Take a Hike!
Looking for a shorter hike than the hour-long Blue Loop Trail featured in an earlier issue of this newsletter? Try combining the Yellow/White and Blue/White Trails, which make a smaller loop inside the Blue Loop Trail. This shorter circuit takes only 30 to 40 minutes, starting and ending at the kiosk next to the barn.
To begin, go through the gate and follow the cart path into the woods past the wooden bench that marks the entrance to the Blue Loop Trail. A few minutes later, a small semicircular trail will appear on your left, and on one of the trees to your right you’ll see the trailhead markers of the Yellow/White Trail. The path heads downhill, leading to a rocky area reminiscent of a dry streambed, the roughest spot on the trail.
The trail then winds uphill, bordered by blueberry bushes. Soon you’ll see two more yellow and white trail markers, this time bent at an angle to indicate a turn in the trail.
Take a left between two tall trees and follow the trail uphill once again as it twists and turns through a mixture of blueberry bushes and white pines. The Yellow/White Trail then comes to an end, and another left turn will put you on the mossy path of the Blue/White Trail. This soon opens into a small clearing of ferns and milkweed.
A side trail goes off to the right here, so stay to the left to remain on the Blue/White Trail. Soon you’ll reach the cart path, where another left turn will to take you back to the barn.
Distance: 1 mile
Time: 30-40 minutes
Our Best-Kept Secret!
If you’d like to escape to a quiet spot with a great view, we’ve got just the place. There are two strategically-placed benches at Adams Farm, donated by Dr. Gordon Goodband in memory of his wife Margaret, that offer an escape from life’s everyday hustle and bustle.
Many of you have probably already noticed one of the benches, which is located under a large pine tree at the back of the field behind the barn. To get to this bench, follow the cart path until you reach the woods, turn right through the fence at the Dogipot dispenser, and head for the large pine tree. If you enjoy water features, take a quick detour by turning right as you enter the field, and follow the trail down to the vernal pool. During the warmer months, the pool is teeming with iridescent dragonflies and elusive little green frogs.
If shorter hikes are more your speed, the other bench is located just off the other side of the cart path. Turn left before entering the woods, and the bench will be just a few steps in front of you, hidden behind some tall plants. Take a short (or long!) break here and you’ll be rewarded with a view of rolling fields stretching all the way back to North Street. The remains of a stone wall and wooden fence border the far edge of the fields and tall trees almost completely block the cart path, providing a wonderful feeling of solitude.
For a special treat, come in the early morning when the mist is rising off the fields!
Give the Gift of Membership
Having trouble coming up with just the right gift for someone this holiday season? Why not give them a membership in the Friends of Adams Farm? Membership will put them on the mailing list for our quarterly newsletter, as well as regular email updates about happenings at the Farm. It’s easy! All you have to do is download the membership form from the Adams Farm website (www.adams-farm.com) or pick up a copy in the Selectmen’s office at Town Hall, fill it out with the recipient’s information, and send it to the Friends of Adams Farm, P.O. Box 725, Walpole, MA 02081, along with a check for the membership level of your choice. Please include your name at the bottom of the form, so we can inform the recipient of your gift. Your donation will be used to maintain and enhance the Farm property. |
