White Pine Film Event in Hartford

 

New Hampshire virgin white pines

 If you look at a forested hillside almost anywhere in the northeast, you'll probably see eastern white pines poking up through the canopy and towering over the surrounding trees. We tend to take those pines for granted; they're just part of the natural landscape.

King's Pine

But 400 years ago, stands of huge, primeval New England white pines were highly valued by the English Crown, the finest being axe-marked as the “King’s pines”. They were sorely needed for ship masts, and were the primary motivation in sending colonists to these shores, eventually sparking the American Revolution. Their importance didn't wane post-revolution; on the contrary, they were integral to the building of much of the eastern United States through the following century. It's a cogent story.

And that story is told in "Eastern White Pine - the Tree Rooted in American History", our one-hour documentary film that uses vintage images, current footage, and soaring aerial views to tell the 4-century tale of the pine's critical contribution to America's founding and history. You may be surprised to learn how the white pine is woven through the fabric of this country's formation.

Today, the white pine still is economically important, but it's much appreciated for its ecological role too. A number of wildlife species are dependent on pines; some are described in the film, from birds to bears.

On Saturday, December 10, 2022, the film will be shown at Real Art Ways theater in Hartford, CT, at 3pm, sponsored by Connecticut Valley Garden Club and Trinity College. Admission is free, and includes pine-influenced snacks and tea to warm you on this winter day. 

Prior to the film, at 1pm, there will be a pine forest walk nearby. A Q&A session follows the film. Details are available here. 

It'll be an interesting day. We hope to see you there!

 

 

Beaver Pond Wildlife Part 5 film in Hartford

 

 

Reserve a seat at Real Art Ways theater in Hartford, CT, for the November 30, 2022 screening of "Beaver Pond Wildlife: Part 5 - Fall to Winter", the final segment of the Really Wild Wednesdays: Eager Ecological Engineers program, which begins at 7pm. Admission is free.

The 5-part film series documents wild animal and plant life above and below water at typical northeast beaver ponds over a year's time span. 

 

In Part 5, we'll see the dramatic change of colors from summer greens to autumn's fiery reds and glowing golds, as the bounty of summer quickly wanes. All wildlife is now focused on the priority of surviving the coming winter. Some have migrated to warmer climes, or soon will be. Some are preparing to hibernate. Others are stockpiling as much food as they can to ensure they'll have enough to survive until spring.

Some of the scenes we'll see include: 

-birds such as hawks and falcons, bluebirds, chickadees, cedar waxwings, and others, dealing with the first snowfall;

-beavers in their ice-covered pond; harvesting trees; working on lodges and food caches.

-otters in the snow, and eating fish on the ice; 

-a muskrat finding food, on and below the ice; 

-actual sounds of beavers vocalizing in an icy lodge;

-the history of our beaver populations; 

-the overall ecology of beaver pond habitats, and the benefits they provide to a wide range of plant and animal species;

-and so much more!

 

As always, there will be a Q&A session following the film.

Thank you to Professor Susan A. Masino of Trinity College for organizing this series, which is part of the Frederick Law Olmsted 200th birthday celebration.

 

More info at the Real Art Ways "Events" page. Registration is strongly advised, as seating is limited.