26May 2026 by wp_admin

May Garden Planting

Blog
Saturday May 23 was a great day for working at the Res Native Plant Habitat Garden.  Not too hot, not too cold, not too wet. We had a good turnout of about ten people and put in a lot of new plants, as well as removing invasive ones.  We successfully planted over sixty plants donated by the Arlington Land Trust this past Saturday, May 23, 2026. The varieties we added to the garden included Yarrow, Butterfly weed, Aster, Coneflower, Foxglove, and Beebalm.  We have garden work days usually on the third Saturday morning during the growing season. Come by and enjoy the experience. Johanna and Cherie - Happy gardeners at work.
Read More
24May 2026 by wp_admin

Fish Talk & Walk

Blog
On May 23, Eric Harrison presented an engaging and informative talk on the Arlington Reservoir, Mill Brook, and the town’s broader network of water resources. He emphasized the role of fish within a complex aquatic ecosystem, describing the density of life in the water, the interconnected food chain, and the relationship between aquatic species and bird life. He also shared examples of local fish species and offered practical observations on fishing gear and technique in response to questions from a local angler. He highlighted encouraging progress on the Mystic, where new fish ladders have supported the restoration of herring and alewife runs as far north as Horn Pond. He suggested that a similar restoration of Mill Brook could further strengthen Arlington’s ecological resources and bring greater recognition to the town’s…
Read More
24Apr 2026 by wp_admin

celandine poppy

Blog, Garden
Stylophorum diphyllum commonly called the celandine poppy or wood poppy Patch of celandine poppy growing in the shady side garden - 4/23/26 (DEWhite) Its typical natural habitat is moist forests. It is occasionally cultivated for its bright yellow flowers. The common name is derived from greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), a closely related, but invasive, European plant with similar flowers and leaves.  Stylophorum diphyllum is an herbaceous perennial. It grows to about 1.5 feet (0.46 m) tall, from underground rhizomes. Leaves are pinnately cut and lobed. They grow from the base of the plant, and in a pair at the top of the flowering stems. In spring, the deep yellow flowers of the celandine poppy appear as a brilliant display on the forest floor. The flowers have 4 yellow petals, two soon…
Read More
23Dec 2025 by wp_admin

New Environmental Lending Library Installed at the Res Habitat Garden

Blog, Garden, Uncategorized
New Environmental Library Box with Scout Alex Rego and parents Jennifer and Dinesh. Alex Rego as part of his Eagle Scout project, with help from members of his Scout Troop 306, built and installed a Little Free Library in the Wildlife Habitat Garden at The Arlington Reservoir.  It's seeded with books focused on gardening, native plants etc. Feel free to borrow from and or to add to the collection of books. New Reservoir Garden Storage Box with Alex Rego and Reservoir Committee Chairs Johanna Meyer and David White
Read More
22Nov 2025 by wp_admin

Northern Lights At The Reservoir

Astronomy, Blog, Northern Lights
Tips for catching the Northern Lights   If you’re in Arlington and love The Res, you’ve got one of the best local spots for a potential northern lights sighting, especially if you walk down near the water with its clear view to the north. Chasing aurora right here in Arlington is a lot of fun, and half the adventure is learning to read space weather like a pro. To see the lights, you need dark nights, clear skies, a strong solar wind, and a little bit of luck! The northern lights are the result of geomagnetic forces in the upper atmosphere. The solar wind helps to create the northern lights. There is a score for how strong the solar wind is, called the KP index. The higher the solar wind…
Read More
14Nov 2024 by wp_admin

Reservoir Bird Walk

Birds, Blog
Reservoir Bird Walk – Saturday November 9, 2024 American Black Duck (Photo by Chris Floyd) About a dozen bird watchers showed up at 8 AM on a cold blustery morning of November 9 to see what could be found at and around the Arlington Reservoir.  The walk was led by local birding expert Chris Floyd. We saw quite a few land and shore birds as well as a hawk.  One find was the American Black Duck who posed on a rock for us.  Full details can be found in the following eBird links. Arlington Reservoir (15 species, 180 individuals):  https://ebird.org/checklist/S201892011 LexFarm (6 species, 13 individuals):  https://ebird.org/checklist/S201892032 After about two hours we finished up as a somewhat smaller group at LexFarm. Chris Floyd points out some birds of interest (Photo by…
Read More
02Oct 2024 by wp_admin

American Community Gardening Association Visits

Blog, Garden
The American Community Gardening Association Visits Res Wildlife Habitat Garden On Saturday, September 28, after our gardening day, seven volunteers from the Reservoir Committee welcomed a busload of visitors from the American Community Gardening Association, who were in Boston for their national conference. The association supports local networks, provides resources, and engages in food security coalitions, school gardening, urban agriculture, and environmental stewardship. We walked through the Arlington Reservoir Habitat Garden, discussing native plants and sharing seeds. The visit continued to the nearby bioswale at Hurd Field before returning to participate in a "grounding" or "earthing" activity, where one stood barefoot on the soil to connect with the Earth's negative electrical charge allowing electrons to flow. Similar to forest bathing, grounding may enhance health through stress reduction and balancing. It…
Read More
22Sep 2024 by wp_admin

Water Chestnut Harvesting

Blog, Water Chestnuts
Water Chestnut Harvesting at the Res This Summer Volunteers on July 17   Our collective efforts have led to a huge success in water chestnut harvesting, thanks to volunteer events and mechanical harvesting. Power of Volunteer Events The Mystic River Watershed Association organized volunteers for our initiative. Here are the impressive outcomes: Events: 13 Volunteers: 282 dedicated individuals Baskets Filled: 1,820 Total Weight: 38,220 lbs (21 lbs per basket) These numbers highlight our volunteers' dedication. Each event strengthened community bonds and worked towards a sustainable future. Impact of Mechanical Harvesting Mechanical harvesting, supported by the Town’s Water Bodies Fund, also played a crucial role. Dates: June 17 – June 28 Harvester Loads: 145 Volume: 36,250 cubic feet Total Weight: 271,875 lbs The harvester allowed us to efficiently collect a significant volume of water chestnuts. Combined Effort Together, volunteer…
Read More