2024 Park Photos

2024 Park Photos
Birds were thankful in December 2023 for these stunning berries on one of the many winterberry shrubs we planted as part of our revegetation project. Daniel Jalkut, FSPP Membership Secretary, took a selfie at home with the Citation the FSPP presented him at the FSPP 2023-24 January Annual Meeting for his 7 years of dedicated service. Mithilesh Sharma captured the fleeting signs of winter this year at Spy Pond. We posted our 2024 Work Days at some Arlington locations to solicit volunteers. Olivia, 6-year-old FSPP member, watched Lally Stowell, Stewardship Team, demonstrate how to remove the grass growing between the cobblestones. One of the shrubs we planted this year in the revegetation area
Agathe and Antoine Schaeffer and Brian Hare dug up Mulberry roots for EcoFest in Spy Pond Park in April. FSPP purchased a new root slayer tool that, thankfully, helps dig very efficiently. Mulberry roots removed from SPP planting beds Brian W. managed to take out a 5” wide mulberry stump in pieces on July 27. We put it together, like a puzzle, and the roots spanned roughly six feet! Agathe Schaeffer, working towards earning the Girl Scout Silver Award, held an orientation meeting in SPP on June 8 with volunteers of her watering team. The iris cristata we planted in 2022 bloomed this year, as you can see here.
This red-tailed hawk was one of the birds found in East Arlington, dead from second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) poisoning. Untitled design - 1 A Town-Sponsored Sidewalk Mural for Champion Clean Streets, Clean Waters and Arlington’s Adopt-a-Drain Project by Jill Strait near a drain that flows into Spy Pond The screech owl was the other bird found in East Arlington that died having eaten an animal poisoned by anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR). Goldenrod in SPP planting beds Woods Pink and Pink Crush New England Asters Cape Cod native Asters in Spy Pond Park
This is the place to be on this beautiful, almost fall day, looking out at Spy Pond’s reflections. As the sun sets over Spy Pond, TeLiu fills the park with melodic flute music. Spy Pond is rich in cormorants. Great blue herons are amazing! Especially in flight Cairn displayed one of the sawed-off roots of a stunted elm tree that was growing from under the boat ramp.
Grooming the cobblestones lining the path through the park was hard work Trimming the bushes near Linwood Circle will allow park visitors to have a better view of beautiful, glistening Spy Pond. Removing grass between the cobblestones around the picnic table and putting it in the mini-wheelbarrow was a family affair for Adam, Sara, and 4 yr. old Isaac Siegel. Volunteer Spotlight- Diana Maggini joined us this year volunteering for 6 Work Days, at Fun Day and FSPP meetings. Georgia Hoffmann designed this very bright, eye-catching poster and flyers to publicize Fun Day all over Arlington. “Cousin Louis” threw some of us back to delicious blues and jazz.
Teresa’s steady hand transformed this patient youngster into a wonderful, whiskered tiger-face. She scanned the pictures to decide what face she wanted. Brad Barber had lots of people at the pond’s edge learning about water quality and aquatic plants. This family was working together to top off the colorful shapes on the pegs. Joyce and her dad displayed the pictures of animals that live at Spy Pond. SPP got an updated bike racks thanks to the generosity of Dick Norcross, longtime faithful FSPP volunteer who passed away in December 2023.
The Town of Arlington installed the bicycle rack near the playground in Spy Pond Park and we dedicated them on Fun Day. Nothing like reading to make nature come alive. Could he name all the insects that bats might eat at night near Spy Pond? The tight rock combo, “Aunt Mimi”, threw some of us back to 70s memories. He couldn’t wait to wear his newly purchased FSPP t-shirt! Leah, the Faery Troupe leader, recruited 2 family members to help, but still couldn't keep up with the massive demand for fairy house decorating. Kush and Sage listened to Lally Stowell’s directions for making leaf prints as they decide what color paint to use.
On Fun Day lots of children and their parents stood at North Beach to launch bark boats onto Spy Pond. Parents and children enjoyed lots of activities at this busy table. Playing with water is fun so close to Spy Pond. He was determined to use his wand to make bubbles. Julie McBride (l.) and high schooler, Maya Chakrabarty, weathered the rain to volunteer, at the FSPP Town Day booth on September 21 as did Sharon Green and Jenny Babon (not pictured).