Parks & Trails New York

November, already?

Skywatchers (and werewolves), take note, Full moon tonight. The last time a Halloween full moon occurred that was visible for most time zones on Earth was 1944. It’s also a blue moon the second full moon in October.

We know that bicycling is a great way to stay fit and trim, but...really! Happy Halloween - stay safe.

It’s a plant with a spooky name but it doesn’t have anything to do with witches...or with hazel nuts. But witch hazel IS magical. The native shrub has astringent, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Plus, it’s one of the few plants that bloom in late fall. Look for its yellow flowers through November.

What’s a sandwich worth to you? For the price of a monthly grilled cheese or BLT, you can help protect New York’s treasured green spaces all year long. Become a Parks & Trails New York Monthly Supporter today. https://bit.ly/34nh5w7 As our gift to you, the first 20 Monthly Supporters to donate $10 or more//month will get a FREE PTNY reusable ChicoBag--just in time for the NYS #BagBan.

It was a beautiful fall, wasn't it?

Cemeteries are popular themes this time of year as Halloween draws near. But they also offer some of the best-preserved green spaces in urban areas (some are accredited arboretums) and provide an important lens into history (some are designated as National Historic Landmarks). Cultural norms in the U.S. prevent cemeteries from being used to their full potential as public space. But it wasn’t always like that. The great rural cemeteries of the 1800s were built at a time when ...there weren't public parks, art museums, or botanical gardens in cities. People flocked to cemeteries for picnics, to enjoy the sculptures, and even to race carriages. If you visit a cemetery around Halloween appreciate its peace and quiet but remember to respect the memory of the deceased. And look out for spirits! Photo: Albanypostcardproject.com

Exciting news! Amtrak has expanded its carry-on bike program on several routes, including the popular Empire Service and Maple Leaf trains, as well as most northeast regional departures. Now, rather than having to box their bikes, train passengers will be able to store their bikes on new bike racks located near their seats. What a great way to transport bikes for a trip along the Erie Canalway Trail!

Great to see this amazing project moving forward after many years of advocacy, especially on the part of The Adirondack Rail Trail Association. We can't wait to ride the trail when it's complete.

What’s a cup of coffee worth to you? For the price of a monthly cup of joe, you can support New York’s public green spaces all year long. Become a Parks & Trails NY Monthly Supporter today and help protect the outdoor spaces that have been supporting us during this challenging time. https://bit.ly/34nh5w7 Extra bonus: be one of the first 20 Monthly Supporters to donate $10 or more per month and get a FREE PTNY reusable ChicoBag as a gift, just in time for the NYS #BagBan.

What say you, little wooly bear -- will it be a harsh or mild winter? Folklore suggests that the darker the wooly bears are the colder and snowier the winter will be. What are the wooly bears you’ve been seeing predicting? Fun facts: Wooly bears create a natural organic antifreeze which allows them to freeze nearly solid during the winter. In March they thaw, spin a cocoon and emerge as isabella tiger moths, medium size orange-yellow moths with black spots on their wings and body.

The #EmpireStateTrail is coming together, with the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail newly incorporated with signage and trail improvements. "It was pure delight. The linear trail through forests, beside and over rivers and creeks, passed dramatic rock formations, is 22 miles long (so 44 miles, out and back)." -- from our friend, Karen Rubin, from "Going places: NYS’s Empire State Trail comes together: Biking the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail in Hudson Valley"... : Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com