Found in the Fells
Click here for Botanical Surveys of the Fells


Welcome to this website. The Fells are the Middlesex Fells, over two thousand five hundred acres of forest, craggy hilltops, lakes, ponds and streams about five miles north of downtown Boston but still well inside the route 128 ring-road. Not many large cities, anywhere in the world, have such an area of wildness within the urban area. 

One purpose of this website is to inform any prospective hiker, casual walker or biker, if you slow down every now and then, what to look for, what to expect to see, any given month of the year. Just click on the month of choice in the list below.  From time to time I lead nature hikes. Look for postings lower down this page, or at at www.fells.org  the website of the Friends of the Middlesex Fells where you can join the Friends and then get a free map, and see listings of organized hikes on geology, birds, plants, animals etc. 

I have also been part of a team surveying the plants of the Fells. For details on this click on the link above. That page also gives news of latest plant sightings and invites your participation.

Thirdly, I photograph the wildflowers in the Middlesex Fells, both for their beauty shown in the flower gallery pages linked below; and also as a photo record of new plant findings, especially when a voucher record was not possible. 

I hope this website might develop into more of a communal site where others also report their findings of the nature of the Fells. What have you found in the Fells? Do let us know.  bryanthamlin@gmail.com   And of course Facebook is a good way to do that. 

f  Visit the Friends of the Fells Facebook page by typing "Friends of the Fells" in your search box and find out what's happening on a near daily basis in the Fells.

Bryan Hamlin

                         
Columbine

The enduring nature of the Fells
My new powerpoint presentation

at the
Annual Meeting of the Friends

 Wednesday, May 15th

7:00 pm
 
Winchester Public Library




Wild Columbine  Aquilegia canadensis
photo taken in the Fells, May 2003

                                      

                                                                          

Here is a list of months linking you to a description, plus photos, of what can be found in the Fells each month of the year.

Click on the month of your choice for what to look for in the Fells at that time.

January
February
March 
April

May

June

July

August

September
October
November
December


Fells Native Flower Gallery

  click here  for flowers in March, April and May and here  for flowers in June & July, 

and here  for August through November.

       

   
PLS 

mike 2
                      

              
  Pink Lady Slipper, Cypripedium acaule    
Order your copy of this 80 page comprehensive survey
of the plants of the Fells by sending a check for $10 to

Friends of the Fells, 235 West Foster Street, Melrose MA, 02176.

Or, e-mail me at bryanthamlin@gmail.com

 

The Middlesex Fells is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) which also has a page about the Fells on its website at: www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/fells.htm