From the Director’s Desk

by Rob Terry, Executive Director

In a just a few days, the sun will pass the equator as it shifts from the southern towards the northern hemisphere. Day and night will be nearly equal in length, and spring will begin. While we await the official changing of the season, evidence of the transition already abounds on the farm and in the woods. Early season lambs and piglets are nestled in the barn, huddled together to stay warm. The incubator is full of eggs, and with them the promise of chicks to come. On warmer days, the sap is running and our sugar makers are busy in the Sap House stoking the fire and drawing off thick, sweet maple syrup.

Spring is a time of rejuvenation, with many phenological milestones to look forward to including the arrival of red-winged blackbirds, the symphonic croaking of awakening frogs, the budding and later leafing-out of the trees, and the greening of pastures and hay-fields. This season of emergence is evidence of the persistence of life. Having survived dormancy and darkness, the farm and forest come alive replacing the greys and whites of winter with a variety of vibrant hues too diverse to name. Spring ephemerals will pioneer this transition in the woods. As May draws near trout lilies, Dutchman’s breeches, spring beauties, blood root, trillium and more will emerge from the forest floor taking advantage of the fleeting moment before the leaves erupt and the forest canopy prevents the sun’s rays from reaching the ground.

While we may lack the elegant choreography of nature’s seasonal transition, Merck Forest & Farmland Center staff and volunteers are also preparing for warmer days ahead. In this issue of the Ridgeline, we’ll be sharing our plans for the future looking both at, and beyond, the coming field season. Contained in the following pages, you will find new faces, invitations, plans for the future, and scenes from around the property. With a calendar full of events and workshops, a full schedule of summer camps, 35 miles of trail to meander, and 3,200 acres to explore, we know that you’ll find something to love.

See you on the mountain soon!