Green Leaf Farms Preserve Traditional Geocache
Green Leaf Farms Preserve
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This cache was placed at the request of the Newtown Forest Association. The NFA is believed to be one of the oldest private land trusts in Connecticut, founded in 1924. 66 acres of this property are owned by the NFA. It abuts Huntington State Park.
When this cache was placed in August, the meadow was filled with milkweed, just going to seed. Milkweed is very important for the Monarch Butterfly migration.
From the (visit link) website:
"In March and April the eggs are laid on milkweed plants. They hatch into baby caterpillars, also called the larvae. It takes about four days for the eggs to hatch. Then the baby caterpillar doesn’t do much more than eat the milkweed in order to grow. After about two weeks, the caterpillar will be fully-grown and find a place to attach itself so that it can start the process of metamorphosis. It will attach itself to a stem or a leaf using silk and transform into a chrysalis. Although, from the outside, the 10 days of the chrysalis phase seems to be a time when nothing is happening, it is really a time of rapid change. Within the chrysalis the old body parts of the caterpillar are undergoing a remarkable transformation, called metamorphosis, to become the beautiful parts that make up the butterfly that will emerge. The monarch butterfly will emerge from the pupa and fly away, feeding on flowers and just enjoying the short life it has left, which is only about two to six weeks. This first generation monarch butterfly will then die after laying eggs for generation number two."
This field must be a thing of beauty when all those Monarch pupae emerge as butterflies and fly off. It is a very special place for the NFA to keep natural. The Eagle Scouts are doing the trail blazing project.
Park at the coordinates given, walk down the path marked as NFA property, past the horse barn, through the open gate, and into the meadow. Follow the mowed path north towards the dead tree, turn left and go about 35-40 paces and turn into the woods, you will find a path. (Coordinates are included) Follow your GPS to the cache.
The cache is filled with kid friendly trade items, log book, pencils,TB/Geocoin Storage Bag, extra ziplock baggies and paper towels, in case anything needs one.
From the NFA: Although specific properties may have added restrictions, we do not permit motorized vehicles, hunting, fires,
excavation, dumping or harvesting on any of our properties. Please ensure that all pets are leashed at all times (click for Dog Policy (visit link) ).
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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