By Will Kies
April 22 is Earth Day. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day was created during the beginning of the modern-day environmental movement as a way to highlight the concerns about the deteriorating natural world in the United States. As planning began for the nation-wide event, which was to occur on many college campuses, the date was chosen because it was a weekday falling between Spring Break and Final Exams, with the hope of maximizing the greatest student participation. Secretly, I think it was to celebrate the beauty of Spring on the Connecticut coastline! Jokes aside, Earth Day and the fact that it comes every year during one of the prettiest and most exciting times of the year to be outside may be just a coincidence, but it is a special gift to acknowledge and celebrate.
As nature awakens from it winter slumber, so much comes back to life so quickly. It can be overwhelming to take it all in and you sure don’t want to miss even the slightest change from day to day. That little new shoot that begins to poke through the soil will soon be inches tall, all in a matter of days – rain and warm temperatures can often accelerate this.
Beside the phenology (the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena) of our natural world throughout this community, there is also an astatic beauty that is Spring. One of the great parts of working at Greenwich Land Trust is getting to drive the backroads, visiting GLT properties from Old Greenwich to Glennville to Banksville and everywhere in between. As I drive around this beautiful town at this time of year, I am always struck by its beauty. The mass planting of daffodils, the many, many shades of green, and all the flowing shrubs and trees are just a few examples of why spring in Greenwich is special.
Earth Day may be a date on the calendar, but this time of year may be the best time to honor and celebrate the beauty of our Town and the nature that surrounds us. Maybe it’s just a stroll through your yard with a morning cup of coffee (my dad calls it his coffee cruise) or it could be a trip to one of our numerous public parks or conservation areas – we all have our favorites! The important piece is to get outside, let the sunshine on your face, and be grateful for the beauty and natural wonderment that surrounds us.
Stay well and get outside,
Will Kies
Executive Director, Greenwich Land Trust
Visit www.GLTrust.orgto learn about our Earth Day celebration – a day of service on Saturday, April 23.
