Winter on The Greenway
Written by Karla Noboa, Volunteer and Programs Coordinator
Winter in Boston is usually cold and snowy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get outside! The Greenway is full of activity even during this slower time of year. While our plants are resting dormant in preparation for the spring, the park transforms into a winter wonderland full of life. Try one of our favorite winter activities on The Greenway this season!
Birding: The Greenway is home to many different bird species that use the park as an urban oasis, which makes it a great place to go birding. Surrounded by buildings, The Greenway is one of the few green spaces in downtown Boston that provides the habitat that birds look for. This leads to a variety of species who stop over or live in the park, so you’re sure to find a good variety of birds anywhere along the park.
Grab your binoculars and take a walk on the park! Some common bird species you’ll find are Rock Pigeons, House Finches, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, American Goldfinches, European Starlings, Common Grackles and American Robins. Did you know that Peregrine Falcons nest in the Custom House Tower? You can grab a glance of these from The Greenway, and maybe even find one in the park!
Winter Plant ID: Though our plants are not in bloom and our trees have lost their leaves, you can still teach yourself a fun skill by practicing tree bark ID. With over 875 trees on The Greenway, you could learn a lot just from looking at what’s on the park! Pay attention to the branches – are they alternate or opposite? Does the bark peel? Is the trunk smooth? These are all questions you can ask while you’re walking the park to get an idea of what is growing around you. Come back in the spring or summer to see these trees in bloom and become a master of what’s growing on The Greenway!
Photo by @kevinbogart via Instagram
Fun in the Snow: The best part of winter is the snow! When it snows on The Greenway, the park is full of fun activities that you can enjoy. Some easy activities are building a snowman, frolicking in our snow-covered lawns, or having a snowball fight with your friends. If you want to try something different, you can keep an eye out for any tracks you find in the snow. You might find tiny footprints leading into the shrubbery or even feather imprints from a bird! Snow also makes for great photography opportunities! If you get some great winter shots, share them with us online or consider becoming one of our Creative Media Arts volunteers!
We hope to see you out on the park on a snowy winter day, enjoying all it has to offer, even when everything is resting until the spring!