2025 · Autumn · Connecticut

Hop Brook Lake, Middlebury, Connecticut In October 2025

πŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸ

Hop Brook LakeΒ extends over three communities inΒ New Haven County, Connecticut. These towns areΒ Middlebury, Naugatuck &Β Waterbury. A dam was built across Hop Brook in Naugatuck, and the resulting lake is known as Hop Brook Lake.

β—Šβ—Šβ—Šβ—Šβ—Š

The Pollinator Garden

Pollinator gardens contain various native or native cultivars that produce nectar and/or pollen. These gardens enhance pollinator occupancy and contribute to maintaining healthy ecosystems by creating optimal pollination conditions.

β—Šβ—Šβ—Šβ—Šβ—Š

Autumn At The Lake

Hop Brook Lake is situated in the midst of a growing suburban area. This makes the 536 acres of undeveloped public land at the lake especially important to the surrounding community. The land is not only managed for recreation, but also for the benefit of the forest, wildlife, and water resources. The forest is comprised of a diverse array of trees, including white pine, maple, oak, hickory, ash, and dogwood.

β—Šβ—Šβ—Šβ—Šβ—Š

Lakeshore Trail

Wildlife is abundant in the area. Bird watchers will find a diversity of species, including hawks, turkeys, waterfowl, and songbirds. White-tailed deer, beaver, squirrels, chipmunks, and many other animals also make their home at Hop Brook Lake.

πŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸπŸƒπŸ‚πŸ

2025 · Connecticut

Veterans Memorial Park, Watertown, Connecticut In August 2025

Since it is my birthday and the weather is beautiful, I walked the loop at Veterans Memorial Park. Summer still has a good grip on Nature. But there are signs that Autumn is near. The temperatures are supposed to be in the 70s for the rest of August and into the first week of September.

When I visited the park, I also got a view of one of the six Seward Johnson statues, which are placed all over Watertown. The town is currently hosting an art exhibition of six life-size Seward Johnson sculptures from August to October 2025 as part of the Watertown Foundation’s centennial celebration.

Another new feature is Noodle, the rock snake. Everyone in town can participate by bringing a painted rock and adding it to the tail end. I’m curious how big Noodle will grow over the next years. Maybe I will capture photos every couple of months and see how far it has come.