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  • Home
  • PRESERVE & RESTORE
    • Ecology >
      • RutgersSiteVisit
      • Ponds
      • Reforestation
    • Invasive Species
    • NativePlants
    • Trails Maintenance
    • Clean Ups
    • ScoutProjects
    • noelTaylor
  • ENJOY
    • Calendar
    • Photos
    • GreenHerons
    • Birding
    • Trail Maps
    • coyotes
  • B W Kids
    • Nature Detectives - the latest news
  • History
    • neighborhood
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Chuan-Chu Chou Blog
    • Perspectives on the Park
    • MemberInfo >
      • archive
    • presidentReport-Jan-21
    • Volunteer Spotlight
    • newsletters
    • PastEvents >
      • Halloween-24
      • brightwoodDay-24
      • Halloween-23
      • halloween-22
      • PleinAirPainting
      • brightwoodDay-23
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brightwood park discoveries



Peaceable Kingdom

8/24/2023

 
A few days ago, I saw a coyote along the border fence.  The coyote patiently let me take photos and occasionally opened its mouth to show off its teeth and tongue.  Interestingly, less than 150 feet away there was a deer couple.  The deer and the coyote exchanged eye contact a few times, yet they did not seem to mind being in such a short distance from each other.  Later the coyote decided to move on towards the two-bridges trail.  While watching this, I was reminded of a Bible story card I received when I was little. It was a description of the Garden of Eden and the new heaven and the new earth.

Chuan-Chu's Recent Adventures in the Park

8/22/2023

 
Brightwood park is a place full of wonders and surprises.  Everytime I visit, I enjoy meeting old and new friends and share interesting findings and stories with them.  Some of the wildlives in the park are joining our club by getting used to people being around.  It is easier this year to take photos of them in close proximity.  Some even pose for me, even though I try to convince myself that I live in a fantasy world.

Let me briefly share with you what I saw.  First, the park is like a demonstration garden for mushrooms.  The variety of shape and color is just amazing.  By walking along the trails one can easily spot them.  Duckweed may be annoying to some people, particularly those who come for fishing.  For those who are here to take photos, the weeds provided a perfect background for funny shots of frogs and turtles,

About 6 weeks ago, a blue heron couple moved in and settled down on the central island.  While the female is expecting, the male keeps hunting for fish.  In the past few days, the corner area at the 90 degree turn from the junction of the two ponds to the dam became a favorite spot for the blue heron in both early morning and late afternoon.  Meanwhile the young green herons are learning to catch small fish.

The spider who lives in Rob's Demonstration Garden is now laying back, after stock-piling plenty of food supply.  One bug caught a few days ago is now being dried and waiting to be processed.

The flowers in the pollinator garden are doing quite well.  

Squirrel Apartment?

8/8/2023

 
Once upon a time, there was a  happy squirrel who bought a unit in a bird apartment building!

Green Heron Graduation Ceremony

8/3/2023

 
 Brightwood Park is a place that never runs out of surprises to visitors, even for me who goes around here for 2+ hours everyday on average.  Here is what I saw today.

I attended the graduation commencement for the green heron chicks.  It took roughly 21 days for them from breaking the eggshell to being able to fly freely.  The commencement speaker was a blue heron with a kingfisher, and several other honorable guests including representatives of the clans of deer, turtles, and frogs in attendance.  A pair of ducks served as the marching band. 

The blue heron delivered a speech with passion and soberness.  A green heron chick representing the class flew to the central island and stood still in a tree overlooking the stage, and listened attentively.  The blue heron worked so hard in the speech that he had to extensively clean up the formal and heavy outfit after finishing the job.   

I also encountered the work of a genius architect.  The shape, the pattern, the complexity, and the order of the canopy-like spider web was breathtaking when I examined it in detail.  The work was presented at a top corner on the fence of Rob Lombard's Demonstration Garden.  The best viewing time is between 7:30 and 8:30 AM.  When it gets too warm and bright, the nicely dressed host may step away.       

    Chuan-Chu Chou

    I am a frequent visitor of Brightwood Park and enjoy sharing my discoveries.


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Location

Brightwood Park is on the North end of Prospect Street.  Go past Franklin School and look for the entrance on the left.

What Our Members Are Saying

"I love the work you are doing at Brightwood.  Your efforts have shone a light on the essential elements of the park that we all cherish: its natural beauty and tranquility."

"I have a deep fondness for Brightwood park and would like to see it restored, remain natural and continue to be a site of passive recreation."

"I loved growing up in Brightwood Park !"


"I found Brightwood a few years ago and it's a great place to find wildlife, fish, and enjoy nature. Nice and quiet; good place to un wind and relax. Love it!!!"

​"As a resident for almost thirty years in the Brightwood area of Westfield, I am thrilled to see what is happening to improve and preserve Brightwood park for today and future generations. "


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