The Plympton Zoning Board held another public hearing on June 25 for the proposed Ricketts Pond Estates 60-unit, 40B development via the applicant, Peter Opachinski of SLT Construction. Board Member Ethan Stiles opened the hearing with fellow board members David Alberti, Lukasz Kowalski, and Suzanne Jafferian in attendance as well as Town Council, Carolyn Murray. The hearing was to meticulously review and refine the 34pp. Comprehensive Permit Decision for Ricketts Pond Estates, LLC as well as go over a list of proposed waivers for a comprehensive permit to continue with the development of the Ricketts Pond Estates and estate site.
Stiles began the hearing by making sure it was understood that this was now a closed-to-the-public hearing and that the only people with the ability to comment were his fellow board members or, if a comment was needed to be made by the audience or applicants, it had to be done by the leave of the chair.
The board began with the procedural review of the draft to confirm the accuracy of the factual background, procedural history, and submittals, ensuring all necessary documentation was accounted for as of the latest updated version sent to everyone that morning. There has been suggested changes made and highlighted in red for review by the board.
The document was considered accurately updated and maintained throughout the application process and reviewed on a large screen for everyone to view. Section 4 was noted by the board as the section that includes concerns of the communities of Plympton and Carver regarding the project. This section noted and documented their unified opposition to the project proceeding for various reasons including the disregard for honored bylaws that keep the town from being damaged and overdeveloped, the combined traffic for such a large subdivision amidst an industrial park and a freeway, the destruction of rare pine barren ecosystem, insufficient emergency access, close proximity between private septic systems and wells which could lead to nitrogen loading, difficulty enforcing the maintenance and nitrogen removal from the site, last minute configuration changes to the construction plans less than one month from the closing of the hearing, and potential contamination of the natural aquifer that the town relies upon due to alleged unpermitted earth removal activities from the site, compliance with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, reduction of previously designated open space, excess dust continuing to negatively affect the nearby residents from earth removal as well as the noise of the construction, and the existence of a Massachusetts Department of Transportation stormwater basin partially located on the property without evidence of an easement ostensibly designed to collect runoff from Route 44.
The board also stated that the result upon the conclusion of the public hearings would be the decision of the board to either grant or deny the Comprehensive Permit to the Applicant for the Project to be constructed according to the Approved Plans approved by the board, the waivers granted and further conditions impose by the board.
Following the procedural review, the board worked through various conditions of approval, including construction site management, earth disturbance activity rules, and the role of the Homeowners Association (HOA). The board clarified that if there was need for a modification, there was due process on how to proceed.
Murray stated, “There is a process under the regulations for modification, so the applicant would have to notify you if they need a new waiver of sorts. The board would first have to determine if you feel that this is what the regulations would call a substantial versus an insubstantial modification. If you felt it was insubstantial you could just approve it at a regular public meeting -no need for a hearing. If you feel that it’s a substantial change, you have to advertise a public hearing, notify abutters, and then, in the context of the hearing, you would vote whether or not you want to approve or disapprove that modification.”
JDE Civil, Inc. then asked that a change be made in the document concerning earth removal, one of the projects biggest controversies, to say, “Prior to the start of any earth disturbance activities” instead of “Prior to the issuance of any building permit” in regards to construction level plans being reviewed by the building inspector or the boards’ peer review engineer.
There was also a review and refined understanding of the differentiation between a homeowners association (HOA) and individual condominium associations (COA). The subdivision is set up so that each lot is its own COA. The HOA is the overreaching organization encompassing everything else. There were detailed regulations set forth concerning the HOA being responsible for things such as stormwater management, septic tank maintenance, drainage systems, gas, and other particulars, that the town should not be expected to be responsible for.
Significant time was dedicated to discussing fire protection requirements, such as cistern capacities and sprinkler systems for specific lots, stormwater management, and maintaining septic systems. Clarification was made about how to manage nitrogen levels using innovative, alternative septic technologies to try to offset the issue of unusually close proximity of private septic systems and wells. It was suggested that inspections of the septic systems be randomized but “quarterly” to ensure they are in compliance with safety codes and if not, they are repaired by the “deemed responsible” party and if not, the town would be allowed to set in and take necessary measures to ensure proper function -including fines.
Murray reiterated that each septic system was to have its own Title V issued by the Board of Health -meaning the Zoning Board was not the sole party to enforce the conditions in the contract. “The board of health also has some teeth in this in terms of being able to enforce the septic permit,” Murray explained. There was also discussion over the Plympton Fire Departments’ recommendation that 20ft driveways for emergency access and a 4in standpipe system be installed on lots 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19. A change was also made in the document about the Plympton Fire Department requiring two 25,000 -not 30,000 gallon cisterns.
The board systematically reviewed a comprehensive list of requested waivers, including those related to Title V septic regulations, earth removal bylaws, and zoning requirements. The 23pp waiver list noted that many waivers were previously discussed but required a formal vote. The waivers addressed a wide variety of points such as removal permits, parking requirements, and the roles of the designated peer reviewers. Murray remarked, “You have heard Attorney Galvin say that denial of some of these waivers will render the project uneconomic and the public hearing is closed, so we don’t have an opportunity to challenge that in any way. It would be something for the Housing Appeals Committee to decide on appeal.” The applicant added that denial of some waivers would render the project “unconstructable” in addition to being rendered uneconomic.
The board did not reach a final conclusion or vote on the full decision during the meeting. They decided to meet again to clarify outstanding items. The board agreed to reconvene on July 6, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. to finalize the matter, as the project had a “drop dead date” for the vote of July 7, 2026.
Following the Zoning Board hearing on June 25, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office rejected the applicant, SLT Construction’s request to bypass additional environmental review of the Ricketts Pond development. The EEA has ordered a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the sand mining, office park, and proposed 60-unit residential development. SLT Construction must be held accountable for questions about avoiding and mitigating harm to the environment before moving forward with the proposed project. Further requirements of SLT Construction include a draft study for public comment as well as a final study covering groundwater protection (including the region’s sole‑source drinking water aquifer), air quality (dust, diesel emissions), traffic impacts, public health concerns, climate resilience, cumulative effects of years of large‑scale sand mining, environmental justice, and open space preservation.
The decision follows over 1,600 public comments submitted through the MEPA process, along with ongoing and increasing input from Plympton’s Board of Health, Planning Board, and Open Space Committee. The developer will be required to prepare and submit the new draft and final EIRs, with public comment periods and MEPA review before any approvals can be granted. This process will determine whether the project can proceed under MEPA’s environmental safeguards and if the project will be permitted to continue as planned. For more information and all publicly available documents on the Ricketts Pond Estate project, please visit the town website at: www.town.plympton.ma.us

If you find yourself sitting down to a privately catered meal featuring dishes such as wild blueberry panna cotta with Meyer lemon curd and lavender springs, or pomegranate molasses lamb chops with whipped garlic-pistachio toum, or garlic scape chimichurri salmon, with a dessert of thyme-roasted strawberries, saba, burrata, and Thai basil, you are lucky enough to be living the dream of the epicurious with Chef Jillian Walraven.
A rising local talent in the New England area and beyond, Walraven’s creations bring what could be a rather esoteric culinary niche experience back to the relatable and accessible. Walraven’s creations are an amalgamation of a lifetime steeped in the authentic and home grown, enhanced by the cutting edge of education and training in high-demand environments.
Born and raised in central Massachusetts, her Argentinian and Italian family members exposed her to authentic, homemade food from both countries. Walraven recalls, “I grew up with my family making things like handmade pasta and just truly beautiful food. Everything was grown in the garden. My grandpa grew hazelnut trees and if I got a cut or injury, there was always some remedy my grandmother had made from homegrown herbs and plants to treat it.” In addition to being surrounded by quintessential, homemade, heritage cuisine and a deeply rooted knowledge of how to grow, harvest, and use your own food, Walraven also took in the local surroundings as forms of inspiration. “I grew up next to apple orchards and really love the seasons here in New England. They inspire what I create.”
With an upbringing so rich in culture, seasons, and nature, Walraven found her passions followed along those lines. “When I was 18, I worked in an amazing local cheese shop called The Bloomy Rind in Hingham. I was exposed to all different kinds of cheese and loved it. Working there really opened me up to new flavors and flavor combinations.” She also found her boss to be a mentor who encouraged her to refine her passion and talent by attending culinary school. “I just found that whatever I did, I always went back to my love of food. My boss there helped me decide to try culinary school and so I attended the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York.”
Following her formal training, Walraven began to work at Mirbeau in Plymouth. It was there that Walraven developed her unique style and confidence in her instinct and skill. “Mirbeau was such a huge part of my life,” says Walraven, “I worked for one of the best chefs ever. He truly cared about us and was reliable -he set a positive tone to the kitchen which can often be a very intense environment. He loved to help people really shine.” Walraven also added to her professional experience in a farm to table setting working at Rye Tavern. Walraven continued to work in the restaurant scene after her daughter was born, but once her son was born, she decided she needed to have more control over her schedule and wanted to have creative license in her work.
Walraven decided private cheffing was the perfect solution. “I love being a private chef,” she says, “I can really do what I want. I can share how I see and feel about food with my clients and create using things I feel passionately about like local and seasonal ingredients. I source premium ingredients that are the best of the best in terms of environmental impact, local sustainability, taste and freshness, and I can also let my Argentinian-Italian roots add a bit of flare to make things really unique.”
Walraven’s culinary adventures are shared frequently on her social media pages and anyone who wanders into that digital space will be left not only in awe of the truly visionary meals she makes, but also the complete, curated experience offered to her clients in terms of serving dishes, floral arrangements, impeccable plating, and ambiance. “I truly believe food is made more delicious and beautiful when served in amazing settings that have been designed with intention.”
Walraven’s themed dinner menus, available on her website, span from her Lilac Dinner (inspired by the lilacs in her Chiltonville neighborhood) with dishes such as lilac & wild blueberry-thyme-glazed duck confit and sweet corn soubise, to her Heirloom Tomato Dinner inspired by the inimitable garden-fresh fruits of the summer with garden fresh heirloom tomatoes with Ricotta Salata & fried garlic and Castelvetrano Olive Focaccia & whipped tomato butter.
Walraven also offers complete menus that can be customized and are often seasonally tuned and using local ingredients. Menus like her “Fall in New England” feature Mabon-toned dishes with Italian flare such as Autumn Panzanella with golden apples, pepitas, baby lettuces, cornbread croutons, shaved cheddar and apple cider vinaigrette with pickled shallots and cranberries. If you are looking for a more ethnically geared menu, there are options like “Masa Tortilla Taco Bar” with authentic dishes like beef picadillo empanadas and Chimichurri aioli, or perhaps a sweeter take with her guava and cheese empanadas with condensed milk. Regardless of what menu or themed dinners you choose from, you can rest assured that Walraven will always highlight the best of what can be found at farmers markets, gardens, local businesses, and high-quality food suppliers.
Walraven’s passions encompass not only making food, but growing and sourcing it. An avid home gardener herself, Walraven has a keen fondness of others who dedicate their lives to growing food and flowers -so much so that she founded a local farmers market. “I started Book Love Farmers Market outside the bookstore, Book Love in the Pinehills, to help local farmers and artisans have a place to be supported and grow. It is meant to empower high-quality, local producers.” One farmer in particular has Walraven’s support. “There is a woman in Plymouth who, despite how hard it is to farm there, has started a regenerative, organic farm. I am so excited for her and I am rather protective over her growing farm. She grows beautiful things and this is what I love to do -to empower people. The farmer’s market is an extension of my food philosophy: local, seasonal, sustainable -environmentally and economically, and grown with intention.”
In addition to private cheffing and running the Book Love Farmers Market, Walraven has found a growing demand to cater private women’s retreats. For her, the catering experience has become one of community through these retreats. “I love catering for these retreats in these beautiful interiors that play off of everything from the colors on the table and the flowers, to the textures of the food and the lighting -it’s a whole vibe where style meets food, but what I really love is that my clients trust me. They work with me to create the menus so that it is a personalized experience that means the most to them and their guests, and in the process, I have found great friends and fellow creative minds that inspire me.”
As for what lies ahead for Walraven? “I am really thinking a lot about education. I have this pull to teach and pass on food knowledge. I would really love to start teaching classes and to gather community to support struggling or newly established entrepreneurs. I remember teaching a class one time to children and my daughter was the only one that knew what parsley was. I am worried about how removed we have become from our food as a society. I am also passionate about making healthy, high-quality food accessible to everyone -especially those facing food insecurity.”
When asked what advice she has for others about supporting the local food scene Walraven says, “Farmers Markets! Please visit them and get to know the farmers and business owners and artisans there. Who makes the honey in your area? Who grew your squash? Have you checked out the local fish shop in your town? It is about more than food, it’s about community and connections and that makes the best food experience.”
If you find yourself in need of a private chef or catering, or are looking for some locally grown produce for that quick summer al fresco meal, or you just need a jolt of creative inspiration in your own meal planning, Chef Walraven is an unfailingly visionary source of enthusiasm, knowledge, creativity, and kindness. “Making food that connects heritage, new ideas, and the gifts of nature and community is who I am -it is what I do.” If you really are what you eat, then perhaps adopting this philosophy is the healthiest diet around.

Chef Jillian Walraven can be reached and more information about her services found at:
chefjillianwalraven.com
Book Love Farmer’s Market:
Every first and third Sunday of the month from 9a.m. – 12p.m.
7 Village Green S., Pinehills, Plymouth.

Stephani Teran
Express staff
On a sunny June day, just before a pending New England heat wave, Tina Palmer of the Historical Commission is outside the Halifax Historical Museum gifting the garden with some water. Palmer spends a great deal of time here, and other locations in Halifax, serving, organizing, caring for, protecting, and promoting all things Halifax.
Inside the beautiful antique building that once served as a one-room schoolhouse and later the town library, an expanse of carefully curated, historical artifacts relevant to and from the town of Halifax, line shelves, display cases, and fill exhibits in the bright, open space. From floor to near ceiling, the museum holds a pleasantly dizzying number of items -all pieces of local history that tell the unique and continuing story of this bucolic, New England town.
Currently, the Halifax Museum and Halifax Historical Society are raising funds to repair and restore the historic JB Baker blacksmith shop in town. The blacksmith shop was founded by Jared Baker in 1894 who served as the towns first fire chief and also as a town selectmen from 1920-1946. His wife, Ella, served as the first woman on the Halifax School Committee from 1911-1914. The blacksmith shop is a unique and important part of Halifax history and will greatly enhance learning and historically geared experiences in Halifax upon completion. Thankfully, the Halifax Historical Museum offers a wealth of local history to view and learn about as well as town-geared products available to purchase to help support the blacksmith shop restoration.
Dr. Howland Holmes gave $100 to the town of Halifax to establish a public library, which amassed a collection of some 3,000 volumes that were kept in the current Town Hall. In 1908, the town appropriated $1,000 to establish a new library location using one of the five Halifax schoolhouses. Palmer explains, “In the deed, it was promised that this building would always serve as a public library and although it is now also a museum, it is a reference library.” The collection of volumes and artifacts also offers countless immersive research and learning opportunities to the public.
Besty Hodge, retired Halifax school teacher and fellow commission member with Palmer, helps to run the museum and assisted in the massive undertaking of sorting through, organizing, cleaning, and arranging the many artifacts. Her knowledge of town history and happenings is second nature as she talks about people in images and what objects were used for. “All of these items have been donated or found by people in Halifax and surrounding areas. We have had so much fun deciding where everything goes and what should be grouped with what,” she says beaming at an extensive World War II display showcasing locals who served in the war.
Parts of Halifax history, that may be lesser known to newcomers, are on display such as the signage for Halifax Garden Co. “Halifax Garden Company was so well known and successful that they shipped roses all over the country,” says Palmer. Another bit of Halifax history that has traversed far beyond town boundaries is the slogan and accompanying symbol of “Kilroy was here”.
The slogan “Kilroy was here” came to be a symbol of what was right about America in World War II. James J. Kilroy was a rate setter for the rivets welded in shipbuilding. In order to stop the practice of some riveters trying to get paid for the work others were doing, he began writing, “Kilroy was here” near the welded areas he was inspecting. “After a while of this,” Palmer explains, “sailors worldwide began to notice this slogan and the drawing Kilroy did each time. They started to use it themselves and graffitied various objects and places all over the world with ‘Kilroy was here’ and the little face looking over the ledge.” Backing up this story, a 1970 Yankee Magazine with an article about Kilroy is displayed below images of the phrase and cartoon donning various machines and buildings.
Endearing tales are unveiled with each object examined or marveled at by the two sage women -their minds living annals of local tales and of the people who molded and made the town what it is today. After pointing out my adoration for a picture of three elderly women dressed in fancy attire -purses in hand and looking to be heading out for a good time, Hodge instantly relayed the importance of the image and those in it. “Only July 4, 1984, Halifax celebrated its 250th anniversary. They dressed up for the occasion and Inez Gassett, the town librarian, had an amazing, elaborate float that was themed ‘Mother Goose’. She dressed as Mother Goose and read to the children as the float went down the street. She was always doing wonderful things. She was a strong woman who knew how to get things done.”
From 19th century, collector Bibles that look more like they were once housed in a gothic European castle rather than being family heirlooms, to a collection of cast iron toy soldiers that would make any child incapable of resisting staging a pretend battle, and from worn baseball mitts and rusted face masks from the first baseball games in the area, to elaborate smoking pipes underneath a display of dapper top hats, the Halifax Museum is layer upon layer of history, stories, learning, and wonder.
“We really love people coming to enjoy the many stories we have here,” says Palmer. “The other day we had a gentleman come and spend a good hour in the corner with the World War II display -reading and taking it all in. There is a real connection to be made to where you live when you know how things came to be and why,” says Hodge. “Getting this museum into shape and organizing and cataloguing -it was a lot of work but we are learning the system and more about how to run things and we are having a great time doing it,” Palmer points out, “We just really hope the community comes out to see what this place holds and to appreciate our town.”
If you and your family are in the market this summer for local learning opportunities and the chance to support the historical restoration of a building that matters to many, do not miss a visit to the Halifax Historical Museum. Every object or image you find there comes with more than historical facts and dates -they come with stories of the people and events that shaped the lives lived in Halifax today. These accounts are now passed on by people who brilliantly blur the lines between past and present to tell the stories of Halifax “yesterdays” as clearly and poignantly as if they happened moments ago. Each tale is a page in the collective story of community -a story that is waiting for your page to be added.

Even on a rainy June day, Kelly MacDonald Weeks, PhD and Executive Director of Soule Homestead is rushing around on the farm teaching, working the land, managing volunteers, arranging upcoming programs, and chatting with the Express Newspaper. MacDonald Weeks is no stranger to multitasking. In addition to being the Executive Director of Soule Homestead, she is a professor at both Bridgewater State University and UMass Boston in American Studies. For more than 25 years, MacDonald Weeks has been tailoring learning and life experiences to students young and old -hoping to teach more than whatever is offered at the surface. Her approach to making Soule an increasingly integral part of the community that honors its past while finding poignance in the future is a testament to that.
“The history of this parcel of land starts long before European colonization with the Nemasket tribe. The land here is very biodiverse with wetlands and vegetation and waterways, so the indigenous people were drawn to settle here,” says MacDonald Weeks. Many projectile points have also been found in the area -indicative of hunting grounds, MacDonald Weeks explains. “One of our community gardeners found her broccoli was being pushed up, and after digging, she found it was being pushed up by a projectile point.”
After the first European settlers arrived in the area, George Soule, an Indentured Servant of the Edward Winslow family and one of the youngest people to sign the Mayflower Compact, joined together with 25 other men in 1662 to buy a large parcel from the Nemasket Indigenous people -a band of the Wampanoag tribe. “Perhaps ‘buy’ isn’t the right word,” says MacDonald Weeks, “It was more of a trade and not a purchase, and George was the equivalent of a bit of a real estate mogul and actually lived in Duxbury and not on this site.”
With one of his sons being a known troublemaker, the parcel of land was eventually left to his son James -the first white colonist to farm the land. “The land also came with cattle inherited from the ‘Cattle Division’ when England broke its indentured contracts and the assets were divided among the colonists,” explains MacDonald Weeks. This variance from communal to privately owned livestock allowed farms and local settlers to create local industry, income, and independence.
33 years after its founding as a non-profit farm and former dairy farm, Soule Homestead has remained an undeveloped, bucolic destination and has become a beloved center for agricultural education and ecological innovation. Upon pledging to the town of Middleborough two things, that a certain percentage of Soule Homestead is leased to local farmers, and that it will continue to be a center to teach the community about agriculture and ecological responsibility, the town leased 120 acres on the Middleborough portion of the land in ten-year contracts to Soule Homestead as a non-profit organization.
“We teach so much more than livestock agriculture,” says MacDonald Weeks, “We teach about gardening, seed saving, composting, biodiversity, beekeeping, environmental stewardship, arts and crafts -I even love to teach kids how to use power tools safely.” Though immensely busy with managing the homestead, MacDonald Weeks gets her hands dirty in the gardens any chance she can. “We grew all our own flowers to harvest the color for a tie-dye project and I try to keep vegetable gardens going all season.”
MacDonald Weeks isn’t the only person working the fertile soils of Soule Homestead. “We have 22 community garden plots,” MacDonald Weeks points out, “There is a waiting list for the option to rent a spot for the season. Some of our community gardeners have been renting out the same plot for years.”
For MacDonald Weeks, the community gardens are also a hub for connection. “It is neat to see the different things everyone is growing as everyone has very different gardening styles and preferences. Community gardeners have shown how generous they are in sharing their seedlings, gardening advice, and harvests. We donate the crops not needed for our families and the farm to local food banks.”
While parcels of Soule Homestead are leased to farmers and these areas are off limits to the public, most of Soule Homestead can be explored freely by visitors. Trails meander through the forested property and a rich population of birds and insects are residents of this protected oasis. “Blake Dinius, the local insect expert, visited and found a rare butterfly here on the property that hadn’t been seen in the area in 100 years.” MacDonald Weeks was recently taken aback when she identified a male and female bald eagle soaring above the woods.
With a vast homestead, gardens, woodland, livestock, educational programs, and year-round events on the farm, you would never guess it is headed by only two full-time employees, a dedicated Board of Directors, and a large body of volunteers. MacDonald explains, “We are kept in motion by our volunteers.” One of the most popular volunteer programs is called “Leaders in Training” -a homestead education and volunteer opportunity for teenagers and young adults. “Most of them are here to earn their community service credits, but they often end up enjoying the hard, engaging work and the way it gets them to talk to each other while learning life skills. Our teens are out there weeding, weed whacking, learning about organic pest and weed control, animal husbandry, and all sorts of things you can’t learn on a screen.”
Soule Homestead offers options for anyone of any age looking for a learning experience. “Right now, we have the Middleborough Public Library displaying a storybook trail along with one of our trails. We also have our children’s summer day programs starting up, and a Firefly Frolic Walk coming up with Blake Dinius because we have an easy time seeing them here due to organic farming methods and little light pollution.” Indoors, Soule Homestead is committed to teaching arts and crafts -particularly disciplines that are nearly forgotten and rarely passed on. MacDonald Weeks explains, “We offer workshops on rug braiding, rug hooking, quilting -anything local experts want to volunteer their time and expertise to teach about. Our workshops help inspire people while preserving the skills our parents and grandparents considered essential.”
In addition to learning, volunteering, working, and exploring at Soule Homestead, there is also opportunity to simply visit and relax while supporting them. “On July 11, we are starting our Concert Series with a favorite musician, Lainey Dionne,” says MacDonald Weeks. Dionne is a GRAMMY®-considered indie pop singer/songwriter from Rhode Island with over 50 nominations and awards for her songwriting including Songwriter of the Year at the New England Music Awards. “Some of her songs were recently featured on ‘Love Is Blind’ and ‘The Kardashians’. We are very excited to have her back at Soule.”
Amidst the exciting line-up of events, workshops, educational programs for children, wildlife, community gardens, working farm plots, nature trails, a mud kitchen for little ones, adorable farm animals, story and craft time for families, and an ever-changing array of learning opportunities, you might forget that Soule Homestead is fueled by community -quite literally, and these incredible offerings can’t exist without public, local support. “Running a historic farm is expensive,” points of MacDonald Weeks, “We do our best to keep costs minimal and to cut back on spending, but as a non-profit we can only secure so much of our finding through grants. We need the community to continue to donate, volunteer, join our membership program, and even if you can’t financially support us, spreading the word is great, too!”
MacDonald Weeks is setting her sights on the future with Soule and planning to find news ways to teach new guests about the true nature of farming -which she sees as an interaction with nature and far more interconnected and intricate than just taking care of animals or plants. “We are always looking to expand our programming. We want to bring back some past programming -especially children’s programs. Schools are undergoing so many cuts in funding and we hope to find a way to support and supplement those cut areas such as assisting in providing field trips for kids to have farm experiences.”
Soule Homestead has seen many seasons as a place of good and plenty as a working farm and resource-rich area -from its first moments serving the Nemasket people with fertile ground and game, to being planted out and used to raise crops and cattle, and now as a community homestead. It would be nearly unthinkable to not add yourself to its historical guest-list -not just as a visitor, patron, or participant, but as a student because as Nemasket Chief, Lance Young said, the land in this area is “a living, breathing resource for the common good.”

On any given day in the summer on the South Shore, you can find some really wonderful things going on outdoors in your communities. You might find a group of volunteers helping to maintain a hiking trail at Halfway Pond, or a late-night firefly walk at Great River Preserve with Blake Dinius at the lead, or even a yoga class with Grace Junek at the Wildlands Trust farm in Plymouth. It is not hard to find the familiar green signs with a White Pine logo -a tree that is iconic and abundant in Southeastern Massachusetts, abutting the untouched, preserved land around you. Wherever you spot Wildlands Trust at work, you can be sure that they are having fun, but they also take their stewardship of our local environment and ecosystems very seriously.
On a busy Monday afternoon, Rachel Bruce, Chief of Staff for Wildlands Trust, has found a moment amidst a nature-full schedule to answer a few questions about this crucial organization -an organization that started back in 1973. “Wildlands Trust was founded in Plymouth in the early 70’s when there were a lot of big changes happening in the area -mainly the construction and opening of the power plant and the increased residential development that came with that. Citizens were concerned about the land around them disappearing and being ruined,” Bruce explains. In fact, Plymouth was not unique in this movement during the 1970’s. “That time period actually brought a lot of land trusts to the area,” says Bruce, “Now Massachusetts has more land trusts per capita than any other state in the country.”
Modeled after the Essex County Greenbelt Association, Wildlands Trust began with five volunteers. The first paid employee was in the 1990’s and even in 2014 there was only 3 full-time employees. “Now we have 11 full-time staff, 5 part-time staff, seasonal staff, and hundreds of volunteers,” says Bruce.
Bruce explains, “There are different levels of trusts. You have single town, regional, statewide, and even a few national and international trusts like The Nature Conservancy. Wildlands Trust is a regional, non-profit trust that purchases land, but keeps it open to the public and further enhances each preservation by providing accessibility and opportunities for the public to connect with and care for each site.” When asked how Wildlands Trust acquires their land, Bruce says there are many routes to secure sites. “We use lots of methods to acquire land -grants, deeded estates being left to our trust upon a death, fundraising events to purchase at-risk sites, land bargain sales, farmland sale with intent to preserve or maintain productivity, and any means by which we can legally own the land and then protect it.
Another way Wildlands Trust protects land on the South Shore is through conservation restriction. “This means that we do not own the land, but we are allowed to place restrictions on the land that are reviewed and enforced by the state and checked in on once a year. An example of this is Fieldstone Preserve in Avon. Wildlands Trust does not own the preserve, but we legally and permanently protect 30 acres of undeveloped land beside D.W. Field Park, a 700-acre natural oasis serving Brockton and Avon’s 115,000 residents.” The Massachusetts Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Program incentivizes municipalities to allow conservation restriction through establishing reimbursement-based funding for acquiring, developing, or renovating parkland and outdoor recreation spaces.
Wildlands Trust is committed to the acquisition and conservation of land for a myriad of reasons, but at the heart, it is to preserve, protect, and promote the rare and precious environment in Southeastern Massachusetts. “We exist to preserve and protect several natural communities,” Bruce points out, “We live in a highly biodiverse area with endangered species of plants, trees, and animals. We live in a rare pine barren ecosystem -one of the only ones in the world. Pine barrens only exist here in Southeastern Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.”
In addition to preserving and conserving the more native, wild habitats and areas on the south shore, Wildlands Trust is also invested in preserving farmland. Bruce explains, “We team up with the Southeastern MA Farmland Protection Initiative to support municipal Chapter 61A farmland protection in Southeastern MA. We purchase farmland that has been decommissioned and no longer in use for farming, but we also work to keep active farms protected and in business. For example, Duxbury has many cranberry bogs that they not only want to protect from development, but they want to keep them active as working farms to also enhance the local economy.”
Efforts and legalities aside, what does Wildlands Trust actually do with all their purchased and protected land? “We are not gatekeeping on any of this,” says Bruce, “We invite and encourage community involvement and stewardship at every site and in many different ways.” A quick look at their online “events” calendar will show a range of classes, activities, events, workshops, and adventures taking place across the south shore. “We have a lot of themed hikes,” says Bruce, “We have mindfulness hikes, hikes and hops where we go for a hike and then to a local brewery, and even a firefly hike coming up with entomologist, Blake Dinius.”
Bruce assures there are hikes for all levels and ages. “Some of our hikes are definitely longer and for adults or experienced hikers, but we have ones that engage kids and families -like our upcoming Saturday Open Barn hikes. You can stop by the Long Pond farm and pick up a map, talk with a Wildlands Ambassador, pick up a trail brochure, refill your water, and enjoy your hike at Emery Preserve across the street, or Halfway Pond Conservation Area down the road. Tea and lemonade are provided as are different activities from week to week such as borrowing a “Barn Bag” equipped with magnifying glasses, a field guide, and a scavenger hunt.”
In addition to hikes, Wildlands Trust offers plenty of hands-on opportunities to get outside and connect with our ecosystem while learning and helping preserve and protect. “We have so many ways to get involved like our VolunTuesdays where you can sign up to help out at one of our sites -whether it is helping to clear and maintain a trail after a storm, or weed a garden at a community building that we keep the gardens for, or even working to weed, water, and tend the garden and ground on the Wildlands Trust working farm in Plymouth, there are continuous offerings for anyone looking to get in some volunteer hours.
With so many ways to work, Wildlands Trust also offers plenty of fun with involvement in local fairs and festivals. “We have a really popular event coming up,” says Bruce, “the Plymouth Public Library’s 4th Annual Garden Tour. We have a table there and it is a great way to explore the amazing gardens in Plymouth.” You can also hone in on your nature and landscape photography skills with the upcoming “Outdoor Photography Essentials” class taught by local renowned photographer, Drew Ledermen. “Drew Ledermen is one of the best photographers in the state and it is a really neat opportunity to have him teaching this class. If you have any interest in this kind of photography, this class is a must,” says Bruce.
Outdoor adventure requires experts to ensure safety and the best experience for visitors and patrons. Wildlands Trust offers the training necessary to provide that. “We offer stewardship training courses at our Stewardship Training Center on Mast Rd. for things like chainsaw use, first aid, trail maintenance, tick and pest prevention, and any other skills needed for our Wildlands Trust Ambassadors to lead and teach the public,” says Bruce. “We also offer accommodation for other groups and organizations to use our facilities for their own training as we have overnight lodging.”
With so many opportunities to learn and get involved, the most important factor in keeping Wildlands Trust in tact and thriving is community involvement. “We have a wonderful donor and membership program, and our volunteers are who really keep things moving for Wildlands Trust,” assures Bruce, “We want to see our fellow community members become passionate and protective over our local environment and we will continue to provide the spaces and methods to make those connections and experiences as long as we can.”
This summer is the perfect time to get outside and be a part of the community and environment in a way that will provide far more personal benefit than another afternoon parked in front of the AC looking at a screen. You won’t want to miss out on what could be your first Lady Slipper sighting on the Lady Slipper Hike, or the chance to nurture something delicious in the gardens at Long Pond, or the clout of being able to identify to your friends and family the plants and trees around us from attending an “Exploring on the Trail” presentation. Summer in New England is temporary, but its fleeting nature means it is a cherished way of life. What better time and way to celebrate the unmatched beauty of the land and community we call home, than to include Wildlands Trust in your next summer adventure?

On Friday evening, May 29, Silver Lake Regional High School held graduation for the Class of 2026. Overseeing the ceremony was Superintendent, Dr. Jill Proulx and Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Tricia Clifford, as well as Silver Lake Regional High School Principal, Michaela Gill.
Class of 2026 Student Body Vice President, Paul Beauchesne, opened the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Select Choir Singers sang the National Anthem. Following the National Anthem the choir sang, “I Shall be Released” by Bob Dylan and “You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King and James Taylor.
Following the beautiful music numbers, Class of 2026 Student Body Treasurer, Elora Coffey introduced Class of 2026 Student Body President, Makaia Rekord. Coffey noted Rekord’s outstanding student career as the secretary of the National Honor Society, an advocate for public services such as organizing food drives, and volunteering at animal shelters, as an exceptional athlete as captain of the girls volleyball team, and as a dedicated employee at Cancun Restaurant in Kingston. In addition to her involvement and many accomplishments, Coffey spoke of Rekord’s natural ability to connect with the student body and be a true friend.
Rekord took the podium following Coffey’s remarks. She reflected on her grade school days when she could not imagine being in sixth grade, but when she finally got to sixth grade, it was more challenging than she imagined. Her middle school years were also a struggle. “When you are younger, time feels endless and we are always waiting,” said Rekord, “We think we will be happy later, but always chasing the next thing means we are missing out on what is right in front of us now.” Rekord quoted Muhammad Ali who said, “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” In her final remarks, Rekord urged her fellow graduates to not let the fear of failure or the comfort of procrastination make you settle for less than what you really want.
Following these remarks, Class of 2026 Student Body Secretary, Maeve Hamilton, introduced the guest speaker for the ceremony, English teacher, Mrs. Heather Bates. Hamilton praised Bates for being an enthusiastic teacher who has a unique ability to find common ground to and connect with students through literature and media. Hamilton described Bates as composed, passionate, quick thinking, and as someone who fosters a sense of belonging to everyone. In addition to teaching English and Literature, Bates serves at the choreographer for the drama club musicals and the coach for unified basketball.
Bates followed this introduction with a quote by Cassius to Julius Caesar, “The fate lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.” She praised that everyone there was there because of their efforts and they should feel proud of that. She then urged the graduates to choose shared experiences in life over isolating ones. Bates gave many poignant examples of times in class where deep meaning and connection was felt when group discussions took place about literary works and movies -no phones or Google needed. “We live in a world where most things can be experienced alone. We scroll alone, react alone, watch movies and shows alone, but in the classroom we have authentic, shared experiences -phone free. Choose to make the connection, because stories are better shared, laughter is better shared, growth is better shared, lessons are better shared, and life is better shared.” She then gave many touching examples of the human experience being recognized, related to, understood, and investigated by reading books and watching films. Bates assured the graduates that life is meant to be experienced together -not alone, and that everyone deserves a place to feel that connection safely. Bates closed with a quote from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: “It is not our abilities that show us what we truly are. It is our choices.”
Upon the conclusion of Bates remarks, Class of 2026 Student Body Historian, Sophie Gebler introduced Class of 2026 Silver Lake Salutatorian, Sarah Curtin. Praised as an especially intelligent student with quiet confidence and devotion to her peers, Curtin was described as highly regarded by her peers. While serving on the Executive Board for the National Honor Society and on student council, Curtin is also an award-winning artist, and on the school soccer and lacross teams. She will be attending the University of Virginia in the Arts and Sciences Department.
Curtin began her speech assuring graduates that it is okay to not have everything mapped out for the future. “Being undecided means being curious and open minded,” Curtin pointed out. She noted that confidence does not come from always knowing what is next, it comes from trusting in your own ability and being strong enough to face whatever comes next. Curtin related her thoughts to Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Curtin noted that life situations will require substance over standing. “Life will not ask what your test scores were. It will ask who you are when things go wrong.” In closing, Curtin reminded her fellow graduates, “Success is not where we are going, but what we take within us when we go there.”
Class of 2026 Student Body Vice President, Paul Beauchesne then introduced the Class of 2026 Silver Lake Valedictorian, Hayden Mathias. Beauchesne described Mathias as someone who realizes that service and integrity go hand in hand. His personal experiences with Mathias as a fellow track teammate showed her as not only an outstanding athlete who used every day opportunities to grow, but as an accomplished student who already acquired her CNA license to further pursue a career in the medical field.
Mathais began her remarks talking about her struggles with school and the fear of failure from a young age. She decided the best solution was to not go to school. Luckily, her father helped her overcome these difficulties by spending a great deal of time and energy finding ways to make learning fun and not anxiety-inducing. Through patience, persistence, and a father’s love for his daughter, Mathias began to understand material and her anxiety and fear lessened. On Oct. 1, 2015, her beloved father was lost at sea after a hurricane sank his ship off the coast of Puerto Rico. Mathias described her immense difficulty in life and school following the loss of her mentor and father. Eventually, Mathias found herself comforted in academic devotion and success and found it a way to connect with and honor her father. “His death became a source of strength for me. I wanted to make him proud. His memory and spirit motivated me and gave me a new purpose. Being valedictorian is a tribute to my father.” Closing her speech Mathias quoted Confucious: “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Class of 2026 Student Body President, Makaia Rekord then introduced Silver Lake Regional High School Principal, Michaela Gill. Rekord thanked Gill for being the foundation of support and encouragement for students and noted that her genuine care for the students made a difference to them. “She shows up to every game and match. Everything she touches isn’t just good, it’s the best that it can be.”
Gill took to the podium and thanked the attending district and school administration and staff and local selectmen from district towns. Gill then highlighted retiring teachers, World Language Coordinator, Spanish teacher, and coach, Señora Buffy Hines, and math teacher, Dawn White. Following the appreciation of these two outstanding teachers, all veterans in the audience and graduated who were newly enlisted in the armed forces were invited to stand up to a round of applause. Gill went over some of the remarkable accomplishments of the Class of 2026 such as organizing successful food drives with the Plymouth Area Coalition, Toys for Tots, and many other charities and organizations. Gill praised the athletes for a historic year in which Silver Lake took home the state championships in soccer, wrestling, track, softball, and also the founding of a boy’s volleyball team.
Gill continued reflecting on the contributions of the students through choir, award-winning art shows, and drama and theater productions that she claimed “rival any of the professional companies”. To the CTE students she praised, “You built actual houses, you fixed cars -and the computer science tech students were designing prototypes, designing software and solving incredibly complex problems with technology.” Gill pointed out that the Class of 2026 over $300K in scholarships had been awarded to more than half the student body. Lastly, Gill recognized the students who struggled though school -who found that showing up was their greatest battle. “High school is not a race or a competition, it is measured in your bravery. You were so brave and you belong here on this stage and in our community.” She thanked the class advisors, Tony Pina and Carrie Mathias for working with the seniors to secure their graduation and plans afterward.
Honoring the annual tradition Gill set for each graduating class, she picks a book that represents that year’s graduating class for her and she picks a quote from the book to summarize the theme. This year’s book was, “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. The book deals with breaking molds and the nature of human growth and development. Gill chose the quote, “Courage is the root of change, and change is what we are chemically designed to do.” She closed, “True transformation requires a catalyst, and that catalyst is courage.”
Following Gill’s remarks, Dr. Jill Proulx deferred her remarks due to the rainy weather as she did not want the rain to ruin the handing out of diplomas. Her remarks can be found on the school website. Concluding the speeches, diplomas were presented and hats thrown by the new graduates from Silver Lake Regional High School. We want to express our sincere congratulations to all the graduates of 2026. We are inspired by who you are now and look forward to seeing where your hard work, ambition, and heart take you in the future. The kids are alright.

When you think of 120 world class musicians playing great works and pieces ranging from Beethoven to ABBA, do you think of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra? Well, you should. In a sunny office on the third floor of an antique home on Court St., Marketing Manager, Melissa Arp, is surrounded by the bits and pieces of behind-the-scenes paperwork, files, folders, and devices that are required to keep the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, known as The Phil, running smoothly and planning ahead.
In what will be The Phil’s 111th season starting July 1, led by Conductor Steven Karidoyanes, Arp is visibly excited when handing me the pamphlet showcasing the upcoming 2026 performances and explaining the theme for the year. “Our theme this year is ‘Music is the Answer’, and it really is,” says Arp, “Everything in life can be connected by and communicated through music where words fail. And everyone has a music story,” Arp explains.
The Phil is a local gem with both loyal, long-time patrons and new guests who are having their first orchestral experience. No matter what your experience or taste in music, Arp is adamant that everyone can find something for them through music. “Music has touched us all -be it popular songs on the radio right now or a classical piece of music heard live -everyone has their own music story of what it means to them and how it speaks to them. Music affects everyone in unique, individualized ways -and we at The Phil want to learn about your music stories and share them through music.”
The theme, ‘Music is the Answer’, is applicable to everyone in every situation. “Music carries us through grief, inspires us to dream, comforts us when we need it, and connects us to other people -especially when its live music,” Arp muses, “The Phil hopes to connect this season more than ever with community and find out how music is moving through our communities and how it affects them.” With nine feature programs for the 2026 season with an amalgamation of timeless classical pieces, beloved pop music, and familiar movie themes, as well as many learning, socializing, fundraising, and music exposure opportunities, The Phil is set to give everyone something to resonate with and enjoy no matter your musical preference or age.
In addition to providing the community with incredible, life-enhancing performances, The Phil offers unique opportunities for the public to learn more and get up close and personal with the music and the musicians. Arp explains, “Pre-Concert talks are free for ticket holders and provide a chance to hear Conductor Karidoyanes give a bit of background and backstory for the upcoming music being performed and insights into how the orchestra is interpreting it. It really makes the music less foreign and more relatable for the patrons if they understand who wrote and what it was intended to convey.”
The Phil does not forget its youngest community members and has amazing programs in place to enhance music education and exposure to children. “There is an annual Concert for All Ages where young kids are invited to come and not only listen to a shortened, hour-long, kid-friendly performance, but to meet musicians and have a hands-on-instrument demonstration. It is one of our most popular programs,” says Arp.
Other programs for local budding musicians include The Youth Concerto Competition. In partnership with the South Shore Conservatory, The Phil annually hosts the winner of the Conservatory’s Concerto Competition as a featured soloist in our Concert for All Ages. The Phil’s Music Immersion Program is a unique collaboration between Plymouth Public School administrators, teachers, their supporters, and the Plymouth Philharmonic. This program engages 3rd and 4th graders who hear Phil ensembles in their school over the course of the year and culminates in the spring when over 2000 area school children attend a live, daytime performance of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra at Memorial Hall.
“We also have a long-standing collaboration with the South Shore Conservatory Youth Orchestra,” Arp says, “Under the direction of Elijah Langille, SSC Youth Orchestra Program Director & Principal Conductor, the SSCYO is an auditioned youth program that provides the opportunity for young musicians, from 4th grade to college, a chance to perform symphonic music at a high level in an orchestral program. Composer Karidoyanes meets and rehearses with the students three times a year and then the seniors of SSCYO join The Phil in a concert. It is one of our more impactful programs for youth.”
If you are looking for a possible last-minute ticket to The Phil, they have a Rush Ticket program. Any unsold tickets will be made available for $10 each, 15 minutes before showtime. Simply line up at the venue box office. Tickets are based on availability and are cash only. Full-time high school or college students can attend a Phil subscription concert for $5. Student Rush tickets go on sale 15 minutes before each concert and are distributed, as available, on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must show a valid student ID. One ticket per student ID.
After the annual performance for the Independence Day concert on the waterfront, The Phil performance season will begin Sept. 19 with Fiddler of the Opera featuring violinist guest artist, Irina Muresanu. This integrative performance will feature four operatic masterpieces from Rossini’s epic overture, Borodin’s exotic dances, Sarasate’s famous fantasy, and Gershwin’s unfinished virtuosic violin concerto -a piece waxing nostalgic and intriguing for violinists.
In November, Conductor Karidoyanes will lead the audience and orchestra through The Question of Sound featuring the iconic and rare instrument, the theremin with theraminist Caroline Scruggs showcasing the 50’s instrument used in the sci-fi classic, The Day the Earth Stood Still. The concert will also include 18th century superstar Haydn’s final symphony and the musical conversations of the compositions of Charles Ives.
Arp assures that the much anticipated, staple, hometown performances are on the lineup as well. “In late November we have America’s Hometown Celebration: An American Soundtrack that will feature pieces about rhythm and movement like Glenn Miller, the Two-Step -of course the Turkey Trot -really fun music that will get everyone engaged and tapping their toes. This performance will also have pieces from Hamilton, The Music Man, and Wicked. Lots of people will recognize the music in the concert.”
“Of course, in December we have our most popular performance of the year, Hometown Holiday,” says Arp, “This is a really special concert and this year we have tenor Matthew Anderson and the Plymouth Community Intermediate School Chorus, under the direction of Jessica Fuller. We do a toy drive for this show and it goes perfectly with the annual piece performed in this particular show, The March of the Toys Parade.”
February brings Symphonic Sinatra with vocalist Brian Duprey. Crowd favorites such as, That’s Life and New York, New York will be taken to the moon when played by The Phil and accompanied by a vocalist that Nancy Sinatra, herself, has praised for being performer worthy of her father’s legacy. As a bonus, there will be a ticketed pre-concert cocktail party worthy of the Rat Pack scene.
Families looking for enchantment will find it in Plymouth this March. “Our Fairy Tales and Fantasies concert is perfect for families,” Arp points out, “We feature orchestral pieces from John William’s Oscar-nominated score from Hook, and A Whole New World and Friend Like Me from Disney’s Aladdin as well as pieces everyone recognizes like Night on Bald Mountain (Mussorgsky) and Stravinsky’s Firebird. We have an instrument demonstration as part of this performance as well so audience members can identify which instrument makes which sounds.”
In April, The Phil will dive deep into the music of Beethoven with Beethoven’s Legacy featuring pianist, Jonathan Bass. On the bicentennial of his passing, Beethoven’s works -some that he composed in his brother’s basement while he taking refuge from Napoleon’s war, will lead into the concert finale, Symphony No.7 -Beethoven’s personal favorite. To wrap up the 2026 season, Arp ensures something highly enjoyable, but perhaps to some, unconventional. “ABBA Fever will be our final performance of the season. We will have guests from Spot-On-Entertainment and this show will be so much fun.”
The Phil’s 111th season truly holds something for everyone. “We want to make orchestral music and live music experiences less intimidating and more relatable to the community,” Arp says,” You don’t have to know anything about music to come and enjoy The Phil. Everyone has a music story and we hope that you come to a performance and let us become part of your ongoing music story.” With this much talent, professionalism, vision, inspiration, and sincere effort to enhance the human connections and experiences right here in our community, it is easy to find the answer to anything life is giving or asking of you when you visit The Phil.

Stephani Teran
Express staff
When I first moved to Massachusetts thirteen years ago, I was told by a friend who grew up here that “In New England, summer is not just a season, it’s a way of life.” That first summer, as I became acquainted with my surroundings, I saw that her sentiment was true. After eight (at the time) moves all over the country from California to New York, I had never seen a place where people truly savored and squeezed every last drop out of summer that they could. Of course, there is good reason when winter is often long and harsh, but also when the natural beauty, proximity to the ocean, and an abundance of untouched, undeveloped nature stands to be cherished and enjoyed.
In Massachusetts, people are outside early and long past sunset. In my previous seaside neighborhood in Plymouth, lobster bakes on the front lawns were weekly and people lounged in hammocks and lawn chairs as if they had not a modern-day care. Kids rode bikes and played kickball in the little road by the secret beach that was never without locals on towels or quiet summer sojourners scouring the tidepools for this or that. Here in the Plympton countryside, summer days mean garden tending and pottering, kettle pond swimming, afternoons in the shade of ancient trees with popsicles, and evenings of fireflies and fireside s’mores while kids run about in the woods and on farmyard with flashlights playing night games.
In addition to these summer rituals playing out more substantially and beautifully in Massachusetts than anywhere I have ever lived, one other thing I noticed is that local community gardens and nature centers are go-to hubs for locals every day, until summer vacation is over. New Englander’s truly love their gardens -evocative to the level of the British and their national gardening and garden strolling tradition. Luckily, we live in a state with an abundance of gardens and nature centers to explore.
These nature-rich places offer perfect opportunities to get summer-strung children off screens and office-bound adults out into the majesty of New England summer while it is here. There are nature centers that offer education and hands-on involvement through walks and workshops, or there are tranquil, lush gardens that only require relaxation and observation. Here is a list of some local nature centers and public gardens in Massachusetts that are more than worth a day-trip to enjoy. Happy garden strolling and may your summertime livin’ be easy!
Nature Centers:
Wildlands Trust: Wildlands Trust works throughout Southeastern Massachusetts to permanently protect native habitats, farmland, and lands of high ecologic and scenic value that serve to keep our communities healthy and our residents connected to the natural world. From preserving farmland and forests to protecting coastal resources and urban parks, Wildlands carries out a wide and ever-evolving range of conservation tasks. Wildlands Trust is a community service organization working in the land conservation field. They maximize their impact by nimbly responding to the unique needs of local people and wildlife. Wildlands Trust offers daily classes, workshops, walks, service opportunities, training, summer internships, many children’s programs, and educational opportunities. They are located out of Plymouth and are one of 130 land trusts in Massachusetts -the most of any state in the country.
Info:
675 Long Pond Rd.
Plymouth, MA 02360
info@wildlandstrust.org

South Shore YMCA Nature Center: The South Shore YMCA Nature Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the education of natural and cultural environments of the South Shore. Their mission is to provide natural science experiences that educate, excite, and commit all generations to preserve the environment and encourage responsible use, stewardship, and enjoyment of our natural resources. Located on 30 acres surrounded by 200 acres of town conservation/recreation land consisting of meadows, woodland, and a pond, the South Shore YMCA Nature Center is home to Environmental Education programs, a Nature Center Preschool and summer day camp, Nature Adventures Camp. Their campus features five nature trails, the Jose Carreiro Children’s Garden, pollinator and native plant gardens, picnic areas, Coe’s Greenhouse, the EcoZone, and much more!
Info:
48 Jacobs Ln.
Norwell, MA, 02061
skugel@ssymca.org

Heritage Gardens: Heritage Gardens in Sandwich offers transcending beauty tucked away in a Cape Cod neighborhood. There are 100 acres of trees, shrubs, beautiful flowers, and sweeping lawns. This extraordinary environment offers examples of professional horticulture, garden design, outdoor discovery, the exhibition of great collections, and a year-round blaze of vibrant color. The region’s moderate temperatures and rainfall mean happy plants totaling more than 500 cultivars spread over Heritage in the Labyrinth, the Hart Family Garden Maze, Hidden Hollow, Flume Fountain, the Parade Field, the Wicked Plants Garden, and the Windmill Garden where some of the most spectacular blooms can be found including hundreds of hydrangeas in the summer. Enjoy garden-related workshops, lectures, and activities throughout the year. Three gallery buildings house special and permanent exhibitions and there is a charming gift shop with gifts for all garden lovers in an antique house near the entrance.
Info:
67 Grove St.
Sandwich, MA, 02563
info@heritagemuseums.org

Green Briar Nature Center and Thornton W. Burgess Society: This charming Cape Cod nature center, library, and gardens is a remembrance of the works of Thornton Burgess, a popular children’s author of the early 1900’s. Visitors can enjoy a wildflower garden and lots of nature activities for parents and children.
Info:
6 Discovery Hill Rd.
East Sandwich, MA, 02537
info@thorntonburgess.org

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill: New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is a nonprofit organization located in Boylston. It is one of America’s most famous botanical gardens. Located on 171 acres by the Worcester County Horticultural Society, it is one of the oldest of its kind in the country and is open to the public for garden viewing, trail walking, activities, private events, educational classes, weddings, exhibitions, and more. They are an AAM-accredited museum that includes an irreplaceable collection of plants. Their mission is to engage visitors in their lifelong passion for growing plants for their ornamental, economic, and ecological value.
Info:
11 French Dr.
Boylston, MA, 01505

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary: Ashumet’s most spectacular feature is Grassy Pond, a globally rare ecosystem characterized by the species of rare wildflowers that bloom along its sandy shores during low water in late summer and early fall; the pink Plymouth gentian is particularly beautiful. As its name suggests, Ashumet Holly is well known for its 65 varieties of holly trees planted throughout the sanctuary -including the largest and oldest holly tree in North America. Self-guided trails take visitors on a quiet hike through the sanctuary.
Ashumet Rd.
East Falmouth, MA, 02536

Arnold Arboretum: This 265-acre site is part of the emerald necklace of Boston parks designed in the late 1800s by Frederick Law Olmsted (my great-great-great grandfather!). The arboretum is one of the most respected and important centers for plant research in the country, with about 14,000 woody plants representing nearly 5,000 botanical classifications. The Visitor Center has maps and self-guided tour brochures. There are rotating exhibits about the Arboretum and plants, seasonal art exhibitions, a shop featuring books and educational items for children and adults, and activities for children.
Info:
125 Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130
https://arboretum.harvard.edu

Garden in the Woods: The New England Wild Flower Society maintains this garden, the largest landscaped collection of native plants in the northeastern United States. New England’s premier wildflower garden has more than 1,000 native plant species, with many rare specimens, as well as the unique New England Rare Plant Garden. Native plants are also available for purchase.
Info:
180 Hemenway Rd.
Framingham, MA, 01701
https://www.nativeplanttrust.org

The Garden at Elm Bank -Massachusetts Horticultural Society: The Garden at Elm Bank is located on Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s 36 acres on the Elm Bank Reservation. The site includes open fields and meadows, streams and pools, wooded areas, and formal gardens. The Charles River nearby surrounds the property. Various gardens at Elm Bank include a Children’s Garden, Vegetable Garden, The Italianate Garden, and gardens of daylilies, rhododendrons, herbs, and daffodils. If you want to see what gardens look like when planned and maintained with a mix of expertise and passion, visit Elm Bank for endless inspiration.
Info:
900 Washington St.
Wellesley, MA, 02482
(They offer a help line for gardening questions staffed by master gardeners at mhshelpline@massmastergardeners.org)
https://www.masshort.org

Long Hill: From 1916 to 1979, Long Hill was the summer home of author Ellery Sedgwick and his first wife, Mabel Cabot Sedgwick, an accomplished horticulturist and gardener. Five acres of cultivated grounds are laid out in a series of separate garden rooms and accented by garden ornaments, structures, and statuary. There is a pleasant 1.2-mile loop trail in the nearby woodlands, filled with spring pools and imposing boulders. This is truly a space to study and learn about gardening logic meeting artistic freedom.
Info:
572 Essex St.
Beverly, MA, 01915
Info@TheTrustees.org

Laura and Alex Falconer might be a bit busier than usual this year. Instead of home gardening, they have set out on a new adventure to bring the garden goods to their community. Both long-time Plympton residents, the Falconer’s have purchased the Plympton staple, Sunrise Gardens, and are taking tradition to new heights with fresh ideas and innovation.
On a hot May day, where the first of summers lashing is felt after months of persistent cold, the vibrant flowers and lush hanging baskets cluster the tables and every corner of the newly minted Falconer’s Garden Shop. Local goods, and very reasonably priced, high-quality garden tools, line wooden shelves of the recently renovated shop building. Piles of fresh mulch and small hills of stone sit ready for customers to load into trucks, and new areas of garden treasures, such as locally grown evergreens, hibiscus plants, and even apricot trees with tiny fruits on them have spread into previously unused areas of the garden center. Things here are growing -and not just the plants.
“I worked part-time here for Sunrise Gardens for five years,” says Laura, “So it is not totally new to me, but it is definitely a lot to learn.” The Falconer’s purchased the garden center over the winter after learning it was for sale. “It just made sense for us,” Alex explains, “Okay, well we have yet to see if it makes sense for us, but things are going good so far.” While maintaining the staples that customers have come to expect from Sunrise Gardens since the 70’s, the Falconer’s Garden Shop will take tried and true and mix it with new offerings -many of them based off of what customers are asking for on a consistent basis.
One of the soon-to-come-focuses? “Native plants,” Laura says, “We get so many customers asking for native plants and so we are going to build up a section of the garden center for those.” Another frequent request: Shade plants. “We have a ton of interest in people looking for shade plants and native trees,” Alex explains, “And we have plenty of room for that, so we are going to add that to the stuff everyone already loves like the hanging baskets.”
The hanging baskets, overflowing with blooms in particularly lovely color schemes, are prepared and planted on site. Standing under the showcase house with ceilings lined with them is a small visual taste of what an undertaking that is. “We start planting them in March,” Laura says, “We get plugs of flowers and then decide which color schemes we like and then we put them together and they are finished around April.”
Aside from the crowd-favorites like marigolds, geraniums, and petunias, Falconer’s is looking to carry more unique plants as well as unique products like pre-made raised beds built by Alex who is a well-known and reputable handyman who can build and fix just about anything. “I made a watering bench for a woman the other day and it gave me the idea to start building things like that to sell in the shop.” The indoor shop space has been tastefully remodeled and has plenty of room for lots of great local products. “Pretty much everything in here is under $25 -even though it’s really nice stuff,” says Alex holding up long handle garden claw. “We are going to carry local honey soon, too,” assures Laura.
With the new ownership came a new logo designed by the Falconer’s. “It is a classic black and white look but we added the Falcon because people so often confuse our name. They think it’s Falconieri, so we figured putting a Falcon in the logo would clear that up,” says Alex. Helping them along in their new barrage of responsibilities are six employees who assist at the checkout counter and caring for the plants. “We have the best helpers,” says Laura, “We could not do this without them.”
Falconer’s Garden Shop is just warming up in terms of offerings and ideas. The fall will bring the beloved pumpkins and mums and cool garden crops like decorative kales and squashes, but the Falconer’s look to take a more community-involved approach. “I am looking into having a little tractor ride for kids out back and a pumpkin patch where kids can pick their pumpkins. We have a lot of space for kid’s crafts and garden classes -you know, stuff that will involve the kids in the area more.” “We also want to have a food truck sometimes for events,” says Laura. We are in a great location so it would be easy for passing people to see there is something going on and stop by.” And rest assured, the Christmas trees will also be back under the Falconer’s ownership. “Oh yes, we wouldn’t skip the Christmas trees,” says Alex. “We will try to keep the wreaths as well but it will be hard to make them like Keelin (the former owner) did. We will do our best.”
Enthusiasm and innovation are bursting to life alongside the thousands of plants and with the Falconer’s endless streams of ideas matched with stellar work ethic and dedication, Falconer’s Garden Shop is well on its way to picking up where Sunrise Gardens left off and establishing a new reputation for local plants, goods, and community inclusion. “We just hope to keep up the amazing legacy Sunrise built and brought to the town since the 70’s,” says Laura. As I check out with a spur-of-the-moment purchase of annuals, herbs, and Osmocote in my second trip there the last few days, it is obvious that the familiar at-home feeling Sunrise had is still there but it is enriched with the amazing energy of new ideas that will surely grow Falconer’s into Plympton’s garden center staple.

Jonas Salk, the American virologist who made the Polio vaccine, famously said, “If all insects disappeared, all life on earth would perish. If all humans disappeared, all life on earth would flourish.” Food for thought as we enter spring and summer and the local insect populations unearth to make their annual appearances after a long, harsh winter. Given that (hopefully) humans and insects are going to be around for a long time, it is up to us to find the means to coexist in ways that respect a symbiotic dynamic rather than one of domination and destruction. One person that has a better grasp than most about how to best do that is Blake Dinius -entomologist for the Plymouth County Extension.
Dinius was hired by the Plymouth County Extension to help curb tick and insect-born illnesses in Plymouth County as well as educate the public on prevention, awareness, and responsible environmental stewardship. After nine years with the county, Dinius is well-known in the community through his many public outreach and education programs and for going out of his way to be accessible for questions, learning, and curiosity about the natural world. With a degree from UMass Boston in biology and previously working at Smithers Viscient, an ecotoxicology testing facility in Wareham, as a biologist/study director of the Insect Department, Dinius is committed to helping the public navigate prevention and preservation with our tiny cohabitants.
“I work to provide science-based information and make it practical to the public through education and exposure to the natural world around them,” Dinius explains. With over 150 outreach programs a year through the Plymouth County Extension, Dinius is going to great lengths to accomplish just that. In addition to traveling all over the South Shore to give talks, Dinius also hosts free educational walks in forests, trails, wildland trust areas, and preserves. Dinius insists that the best and only real way to learn about our natural world and the insects in it, is to have first hand experiences. “The best way for people to come to understand insects is to get to know them”, Dinius explains, “People are not going to protect what they don’t care about, and they aren’t going to care about something they don’t see or understand.”
In addition to tick and mosquito education, Dinius specializes in pollinators. Anyone can easily catch wind of this topic via discussions and topic-presence on the news, social media, in our schools, and anywhere people are chatting about the outdoors. “Save the Bees” is a very basic and broadly applied sentiment, but how can we actually materialize this goal and who/what, exactly, are we trying to save?
In case a reminder is needed, pollinators do us the favor of assuring our survival and existence as a species. Roughly 85% of the worlds flowering plants, including a great deal of our edible food crops, rely on pollination. Pollinators also promote genetic diversity -which is mandatory to survive and adapt to a changing climate and shifting environments. The United States spends over $10 billion a year on pollination services for edible crops and over $3 trillion is spent on pollinator services globally. Our entire food system is dependent on the existence and health of pollinators -we simply can’t have food security or biodiversity without them.
But what about the pollinators at home? Dinius explains, “Our local pollinators are basically following the same trends as the national and some global trends. There are changes happening, but not all of them are the same or considered a decline in the way we think of it. In some areas, there is an overall decline of pollinators, but in others areas there is a decline in the variety of pollinators, but not their overall numbers. It is very complicated and there are many factors that contribute to these changes. The drought, for instance, is a large part of pollinator decline locally. If the flowers are in drought, they produce less nectar which affects the pollinators. It isn’t all about chemicals and loss of habitat. There are many contributing factors.”
When it comes to geography, pollinator populations are faring differently depending on the country and continent. “It is interesting to see that pollinator populations in some countries are actually increasing in spite of drastic decreases in others. One idea being studied is that countries who use pollinators as part of their agriculture systems, meaning to pollinate their crops by hiring out for hives to come sit in their fields, are showing a decrease in pollinators and increase in their diseases, whereas countries who are mostly using the products of the pollinators -honey and honeycomb, are showing increases in populations. Something interesting to think about in terms of what they are being exposed and subjected to and how it is different even in Canada for a pollinator compared to the United States.”
One of the most beneficial things humans can do to care for, protect, and enhance their local pollinator populations is to plant things that are found in our native habitats. The honeybee is not a native insect to North America (it originated in Asia and Africa), and many native bees and wasps are not catered to or noticed in comparison to the ambiguous honeybee.
With a loss of natural habitat as humans over-develop without replenishing or renewing, native pollinators are in a constant struggle to find the food sources their bodies are designed to break down and use. Plants that are not native to the area do not offer the same floral-traits or nutrition to the insects of that area that spent thousands of years evolving to subsist on those specific plants and flora. One of the worst offenders each spring, for countless reasons including its detriment to local pollinators, is the horticultural horror, the invasive Bradford Pear tree. That said, we all love our roses and vegetables, so it would be unrealistic and ineffective to ask people to only plant native species.
Dinius offers a more balanced perspective. “Mix the native plants into your existing and beloved plants. You can have your tomatoes, but perhaps add some spice bush or annual fleabane to your yard amidst the things that are there for ornamental or enjoyment purposes.” Dinius says that once you are aware of the need for native plants and cognizant of the local insect health and populations, other wise and sound environmental choices will fall into place. “Other focuses that help pollinators, like using less or no toxic chemicals in your yard, will usually naturally follow because that is just what happens when you learn to care -you learn to be careful and responsible for how you affect your environment.”
It is one thing to want to protect and promote local insects, but what happens when you want to avoid or hinder them? Dinius spends his days focusing on this public health-centered endeavor. Plymouth County’s tick-disease prevention initiative is largely modeled after Barnstable County’s, where entomologist Larry Dapsis had great success in decreasing infections during the start of the tick epidemic.
Plymouth County also has a financial incentive in pursuing the tick and insect issue. Plymouth County residents spend around $2.3 million per year on tick-related medical expenses, according to data released by County Administrator Frank Basler. It may be tempting to call your local spraying company with the goal of “killing them all” as a large thread on a local social media page recently suggested, but even with the most potent of poisons, ticks will not be eradicated at a level high enough to justify the damage to your local environment.
“The most effective way to deal with ticks and tick bites is through personal protection -meaning on your clothes and body,” Dinius explains. “According to the CDC data the last few years, even the strongest chemicals allowed for spraying for ticks only has about a 60% tick reduction rate,” says Dinius, “A single tick can lay about 3,000 eggs in its lifetime, so it is truly impossible to ‘eradicate’ them -nor do we want to as they are native insects and have a purpose in the ecosystems for other animals and insects as a major food source.”
Dinius points out that personal protection via body sprays and clothing cover and treatment, as well as tick checks when you go inside, provide closer to 100% prevention of tick bites and tick-born illness. “I grew up on 13 acres, I live near wetlands where sprays are illegal, and I am outside in tick-rich environments every day and I have not had a tick bite in 30 years,” Dinius points out, “I make sure I treat my family’s shoes and clothes with EPA Regulated repellants every single time we go outside.” As for the all-natural sprays Dinius says, “They can work in terms of the ingredients they use -they are effective ingredients, the issue is that because they are not regulated by the EPA, the amounts of the ingredients used is often off or not enough to provide adequate protection. It is best to use EPA approved tick and mosquito repellants to have your best chances of avoiding bites.”
In addition to personal protection, it is important to use jurisdiction about yard management. Dinius explains, “Leave the leaves and No-Mow May are great, and they can absolutely benefit insects, but it also benefits ticks. They love leaf mulch. My suggestion is to designate an area of your yard to allow leaf mulch to sit until the weather warms and the insect eggs using the leaves hatch, but you should avoid letting it accumulate where your kids and animals play or go often. I have a specific area that I give to nature -where I keep the grass long and leave the leaves, and I have a great display of fireflies and a healthy pollinator population in my yard, but I make sure it is not the same area my kids play.”
When it comes to the other hot-topic pest of the area, mosquitoes, Dinius explains the need for and administration of large-scale sprays. “The Mosquito Control Project of Plymouth County is a state agency overseen by the Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They use a spray made of BTI – Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis -a naturally occurring bacterium found in soil that produces toxins specifically targeting the larvae of mosquitoes, blackflies, fungus gnats, and related flies. This spray impacts mosquitoes and midges, but largely leaves other insect populations unharmed. It also dissipates in sunlight and is sprayed at night so that by the time the pollinators are up for the day, the spray is gone and there is no effect on them.”
Dinius also explains that the late summer spraying via planes are only used by the state if there is a credible threat to the public via mosquito transmitted illnesses like EEE. “The late summer sprays are meant to kill mosquitoes on a non-targeted, larger scale, but even with these large applications, studies have shown that insect populations pre and post spray are not different. The spray also does not bind well to soil, so there is no evidence that is gets into groundwater systems long-term and has little to no effect on soil health.”
In spite of the overwhelming presence and talk of tick and mosquito-born illnesses, and pollinator and insect crises around the world, it is imperative to not feel powerless or fearful. “We risk getting hit by a car every time we go across the street,” says Dinius, “But we are not afraid to cross the street -we are careful. We need to apply this to our being out in nature. Now it is more important than ever to be outside -to get to know our surroundings and learn about our local environment so that we care about it, and we can’t do that if we are all avoiding it.” The best way to stop fearing or disrespecting anything is to come to understand it. Dinius hopes we can realize our place in our local ecosystems and thereby enjoy them much more. “It is absolutely great outside. There are so many incredible things to see and learn right out in the woods or in your neighborhood. You just have to make the effort to go look and watch and then learn a bit about what you are seeing. It enriches your life.” This summer I, for one, will be making more of an effort to get to know and be good to my neighbors -not the ones ringing doorbells or driving down the street, but the ones flitting from flower to flower in the garden or burrowing under a dead log. There is a tiny little complex world of creatures co-existing right in your yard, and the neighborly thing to do is to look out for them.
For more information or any questions, contact Blake Dinius at:
bdinius@plymouthcountyma.gov or call 774-773-3404 via the Plymouth County Extension.
Visit the Plymouth County Extension Facebook page for a schedule of free, guided walks, public lectures, and events.