Spring

Spring Ep By Mike Stock, Land Manager | Merck Forest & Farmland Center In April, before the canopy wakes up and hides the sky, the forest floor at Merck Forest & Farmland Center does something remarkable. It blooms. In a matter of days, trout lilies push through last year's leaves, bloodroot opens its white petals to morning light, and spring beauty carpets the ground in pale pink. These are spring ephemerals — woodland wildflowers that have evolved to live their entire above

Each week, long before little boots crunch across the gravel to the Caretaker’s Cabin, MFFC staff are already in motion in preparation for our twice-weekly Kits & Cubs program. Our Education Manager (Miss Elena to her PreK charges) begins the process weeks in advance, with a stop at the Manchester Community Library, to hand-pick storybooks that match a theme. Each week focuses on something relevant to the rhythms of the land, like pollinators, hibernation, maple syrup, or eve