Trustees Announce Activities at the Bradley Estate

From The Trustees: The Trustees of Reservations invites you to embrace the wintry month of February with a series of outdoor events taking place at the historic Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate on Washington Street in Canton. On Sunday, February 5 and 12 from 10 am–1 pm, nature lovers and photographers are welcome to explore the natural beauty and aesthetics of the estate’s gardens and wooded trails, cameras in hand. Professional photographers will share techniques for capturing sunsets, snow-covered hills, sky patterns and other natural scenes. Bring your cameras and learn new skills to enhance your photography. Member fee: $15, nonmember fee: $25.

Cross-country skiers are invited to meet on Sunday, February 4 and 12 from 2–4 pm for a ski journey along the Bradley farm fields, followed by hot cocoa and tea in the main house. This event is for experienced skiers looking for a group to ski through the woods with on a snowy afternoon. Member fee: $9, nonmember fee: $15. The estate will also host an animal tracking event for families with children ages 10 and older on Saturday, February 18 from 11 am–2 pm. Families will explore the grounds looking for tracks of animals who find winter shelter on the estate, and take notes and making sketches of all prints spotted. Following the excursion, attendees will warm up at the main house and use field guides to identify the tracks. Members: Free, nonmember fee: $5.

During February school vacation, families with 8–11 year old children can visit the Bradley Estate for games and crafts featuring garden and woodland themes, including indoor games, outdoor scavenger hunts, snowshoeing and snow garden snow art. The estate will be open on Monday, February 20, Tuesday, February 21 and Wednesday, February 22 from 10 am–2 pm, and families can stay for as long as they’d like. Member family fee: $15, nonmember family fee: $25 per day.

To register for these events, please call 508.636.4693 x5003 or email bradley@thetrustees.org , and check the Trustees website for a complete listing of upcoming events.

Full List of Events in February

Chinese New Year Celebration and Art Exhibit: Wed, Feb 1, 6-8PM - The Chinese New Year's celebration is a time of reunions with families and friends, and signals the end of winter and beginning of spring. Mrs. Bradley had a special love of Asian art and planted several trees such as the Dawn Redwood native to China. The holiday runs for a few weeks, and we will celebrate by making DIY (do-it-yourself) colorful, red and gold, Chinese lanterns. Member: Free. Nonmember: $5. Children: Free.

Nature Photography with Pete Sutton: Sun, Feb 5, Sun, Feb 12, 10AM-1PM - Photographers and nature lovers are drawn to the Bradley Estate for its natural beauty and aesthetics. Whether walking the trails, strolling the garden paths, in every direction one sees a photo in the making. Join local professional photographers describe techniques for capturing sunsets, sparkling snow covered hills, sky patterns and other natural scenes in places. Bring your cameras and learn new skills to enhance your own photography. Member: $15; Nonmember: $25

Over the Fields and Through the Woods, Cross-Country Skiing: Sun, Feb 05 to Sun, Feb 12, 2-4PM - Bring your skis and take to the hills! We will meet-up on Sundays in February at 2 pm for an hour and a half ski along and over the Bradley farm fields. Surrounded by big open sky, winter afternoons never looked so good! Then come into the Main House for hot cocoa or tea, and warm up with new friends and neighbors! This is skiing for those who are experienced and just want to have company to ski through the woods with on a snowy afternoon! Member: $9; Nonmember: $15

Forcing Indoor Bulbs to Bloom: Sat, Feb 11, 12Noon-3PM - Jeff Thompson, Bradley's Horticulturist, will discuss and demonstrate how to force tulips, hyacinths, and narcissus' to bloom indoors to brighten up your home during the winter months. Bulbs will be sold at the end of the workshop, and don't forget the chocolate with Valentine's Day around the corner! Member: Free. Nonmember: $10.

Time to Order Seeds! Wed, Feb 15, Thu, Feb 16, 1-3PM - Catalogs have arrived and its time to make those decisions. What should I purchase this year? What should I consider in designing my flower and vegetable gardens? Bring your lists, bring your questions, and we'll share ideas to together make 2017 a banner year for gardening. Member: Free; Nonmember: $5

Family Friendly Winter Animal Tracking: Sat, Feb 18, 11AM-2PM - Dress for the weather, and let's go tracking! With field guides and notebooks in hand, we'll head out for an hour, make drawings of the prints we see, and head back to warm up and identify the tracks we encountered. There are many nooks and crannies that are seldom walked where animals find winter shelter. For adults, and children 10 and above. Member: Free. Nonmember: $5.

What Do Snowmen Do at Night?! Sat, Feb 18, 3-5PM - Do they sing, do they play, do they eat, or do they sleep? Do you know what do snowmen do at night? Let's read Caralyn and Mark Beuhner's "Snowmen at Night" and see if they are right! With flashlights and cocoa in hand, let's go and see! Member: Free. Nonmember: $5.

Vacation Adventures at Bradley: Mon, Feb 20, Tue, Feb 21, Wed, Feb 22, 10AM-2PM - Come with your 8 to 11-year olds to the Bradley Estate for indoor games, outdoor scavenger hunts, snowshoeing and building snow garden snow art. This is a family-friendly place, with games and crafts that build on garden and woodland themes. Parents/ guardians are required to accompany their children. Stay for an hour or four! We'll have plenty to keep you busy. Member Family: $15; Nonmember Family: $25 per day.

To Register: call 508.636.4693 x5003; or email bradley@thetrustees.org.

Photos courtesy of The Trustees