Stop by the Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library starting June 26, and pick up a Nature Story Walk Passport! Then visit four parks this summer to see the picture books on display along one trail in each park. Stamp your passport as you visit the displays. Collect all four to redeem for a small prize at the Library. This program was created through a partnership of the Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library, the Town of Clifton Park Open Space, Trails & Riverfront Committee, and the Friends of the Library.

From July 13 to July 27, visit Mohawk Landing Nature Preserve, at 640 Riverview Road, Rexford, NY 12148, and look for the display of Stella, Fairy of the Forest.

From July 27 to August 10, visit Garnsey Park, at 1481 NYS Route 146, Rexford, NY 12148, to see the display of Our Big Home: An Earth Poem.

The final week of the program, from August 10 to August 24, visit Veteran’s Memorial Park, at 697 MacElroy Road (next to Elks Lodge), Ballston Lake, NY 12019, to see the display of Miss Maple’s Seeds.

www.cliftonpark.org https://cphlibrary.org/

Pick-your-own season is in full swing at Clifton Park farms, with local venues hosting berry picking. Next month will be the beginning of apple season already! Year-round, a number of farms have on-the-farm markets, such as Predel’s Ranch (59 Garnsey Rd., Rexford, NY 12148, (518) 399-0265); Riverview Orchards (660 Riverview Rd. Rexford, NY 12148, (518) 371-2174); Bowman Orchards (157 Sugar Hill Rd. Rexford, NY 12148, (518) 371-2042). For custom meats, local producers include: Maple Hill Farm, 110 Ashdown Rd. Ballston Lake, NY 12019 (518) 399-4097; and King Crest Farm,  831 Grooms Road, Rexford, NY 12148, (518) 371-5069. Hick’s Fruit Farm is at 160 Sugar Hill Rd., Rexford, NY 12148, (518) 371-5620. A seasonal farm stand is also located at the corner of Grooms Rd. & Moe Rd. intersection.

A weekly farmers’ market, known as the Clifton Park Market, seasonally operates on Mondays, 2 to 5 p.m. at the Shenendehowa United Methodist Church parking lot, 971 NY Route 146, Clifton Park, NY 12065.

For fun farm-themed activities, the Saratoga County Fair is open to the public from July 23 through July 28, 2019, at the Saratoga Fairgrounds & Expo Center, 162 Prospect Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020. www.saratogacountyfair.org

A local volunteer naturalist is continuing a Wildflower Walk series at the Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve on August 20, 2019. The guided walk starts at 5:30 p.m. The Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve main entrance is at the trailhead parking area, midway along Pierce Road (across from Mazzone, 743 Pierce Rd.)

Take a Stewardship Hike with the Open Space, Trails & Riverfront Committee on Wed., July 12, at 1 p.m. at Ushers Road State Forest, partially in Clifton Park, and partially in Halfmoon. Parking lot entrance is off Ushers Road, east of NYS Rte 9. Shady, woods walk: uneven surfaces. Mostly flat terrain. RSVP (518) 371-6054.

Stop by the Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library starting June 26, and pick up a Nature Story Walk Passport! Then visit four parks this summer to see the picture books on display along one trail in each park. Stamp your passport as you visit the displays. Collect all four to redeem for a small prize at the Library. This program was created through a partnership of the Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library, the Town of Clifton Park Open Space, Trails & Riverfront Committee, and the Friends of the Library.

From June 29 through July 13, visit Hayes Nature Park, at 231 Moe Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065, and look for the display of A Tree is Nice.

From July 13 to July 27, visit Mohawk Landing Nature Preserve, at 640 Riverview Road, Rexford, NY 12148, and look for the display of Stella, Fairy of the Forest.

From July 27 to August 10, visit Garnsey Park, at 1481 NYS Route 146, Rexford, NY 12148, to see the display of Our Big Home: An Earth Poem.

The final week of the program, from August 10 to August 24, visit Veteran’s Memorial Park, at 697 MacElroy Road (next to Elks Lodge), Ballston Lake, NY 12019, to see the display of Miss Maple’s Seeds.

www.cliftonpark.org https://cphlibrary.org/

Visitors to Garnsey Park may have observed some fresh trail markers, posts and signage at Garnsey Park this fall!  Eagle Scout candidate Sterling Durfee, Troop 3101, assessed the trail marking conditions as part of his Eagle Scout project work, and worked with the Town to improve the overall trail user experience by calculating the trail loop distances, adding in a trail loop that was previously unmarked, and re-marking four (4), distinctive trail routes, with distinctive colors.

He also replaced the trailhead kiosk sign, building on the work of a previous Eagle Scout Christopher L’Amoreaux, Troop 6, to provide an up-to-date Garnsey Park Trail System Map that is posted at the north end of the parking area.  Information was added to alert hikers and walkers to the potential presence of ticks, poison ivy and stinging nettle.

For more information or to report trail conditions, please call the Town of Clifton Park at (518) 371-6651.

Garnsey Park Trails Map 2018