Annual Nature Calendar

For more information about the changing seasons in Newton's parks and conservation areas, buy a copy of the Newton Conservators Almanac . (view excerpts here)

Winter
December	Join the Christmas bird count
January	Get outside on Winter Trails Day
January	Buy a share of farm vegetables and herbs from the Newton Community Farm CSA
February	Great Backyard Bird Count
February 28	Deadline to apply for a Conservators grant
depends on weather	Ice skate at Auburndale Cove (call hotline at 617-796-1536)
depends on weather	Ski at Martin Golf Course, on the Aqueducts, or at Commonwealth Golf Course
March	Watch the American Woodcock's mating display at Nahanton Park. See page 17 of the Almanac for details.
all winter	Enjoy the season

Spring
varies	Conservators spring lecture
March and April	Observe vernal pools at Dolan Pond
Spring	Rent a community garden plot at Nahanton Park
April	Participate in the Charles River Cleanup
April or May	Help clean a park on NewtonServes day
April 1 to Nov	Canoe the Lakes District of the Charles from Norumbega Park or canoe south between Cutler Park and Millenium Park from the rental facility in Nahanton Park
April	Help improve a Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary on Statewide Volunteer Day
late April	Run of the Charles canoe race
late April	Newton Community Farm stand opens
April through June	Join the Conservators for a guided walk
April	Hemlock Gorge spring cleanup
May	Come to the Conservators annual dinner
May	Newton Cemetery tours begin
May	Join the Mass Audubon Bird-a-thon bird count
May	Clean up a state park on Park Serve Day
May 15 to June 15	Watch migrating herring at Watertown Dam
late May	See Rhododendrons in bloom in Ordway Park and Houghton Garden
June	Help improve Cutler Park on National Trails Day
June	Beautify the Charles during National River Cleanup
all spring	Enjoy the season

Summer
early June to mid-August	Swim at Crystal Lake
June through Oct	Shop at the Newton Community Farm stand
July	Look for Eastern Bluebirds nesting in the boxes in the upper gardens at Nahanton Park. See page 45 of the Almanac for details.
July through Oct	Shop at the Farmers Market at Cold Spring Park
June through August	Help remove invasive plants from the Charles River.
mid-Aug 15 to mid-Sept	Observe the nighthawk migration at Nahanton Park
all summer	Enjoy the season

Fall
September	Watch migrating birds at Cutler Park
September	Sign up for fall programs at Newton Community Farm
September	Newton Community Farm Fall Festival
September	Bullough's Pond Fair
early fall	Conservators fall lecture
Sept through Nov	Join us for a guided walk
late September	Help improve a park on National Public Lands Day
October	Crystal Lake Conservancy Paddles & Pumpkins event
October	Hemlock Gorge fall cleanup
October	Coastsweep day
October 31	Deadline to apply for a Conservators grant
late fall	See fall visitors to our rivers and ponds
December	Join the Audubon Christmas bird count
all fall	Enjoy the season