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FRIENDS OF TOPSMEAD STATE FOREST
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  • Events
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    • Remembering Topsmead
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    • Topsmead State Forest Map
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Friends of Topsmead State Forest

Discover a hidden treasure in the Litchfield hills of Connecticut
​

Quick Links

> Projects/Volunteer Opportunities
> Visitor Information & Trail Maps 
​(State Forest and Ecology Maps)
> Memorial Tree Program

​> Project Wish List
> CT Dept of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP)
​> Covid-19 Guidelines for State Forests
​
> Frequently Asked Questions
In 1917, Edith Morton Chase received a gift from her father, 16 acres of pristine woods in the Litchfield hills.  Today, Topsmead is a 510 acre state forest, gifted from Ms. Chase in 1972 to the citizens of Connecticut to enjoy and preserve. Her legacy includes diverse landscapes, including bike and nature trails, formal gardens, unique bird habitats, and a meticulously crafted English Tudor style cottage well appointed with her international collection of art and antiques.​ ​...more
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Rear view of Chase Cottage. Drawing by Schell Lewis 1924

Our Mission

Friends of Topsmead State Forest  (FTSF) is a volunteer non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to work with the State of Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) to provide programs and activities to promote, preserve, protect, and maintain the history, heritage and environmental integrity of Topsmead, thereby supporting the wishes of Edith Morton Chase as put forth in her will.
Become a Friend of Topsmead
Your donations to Friends of Topsmead will help preserve Topsmead's past for the future by:
  • Expanding and maintaining the butterfly and cottage gardens
  • Monitoring and maintaining of the songbird nesting boxes
  • Building a boardwalk over the wetlands on the Ecology Trail
  • Cleaning and restoring furniture in the Chase Cottage
  • Hiring a restoration specialist to repair the large painting over the mantle in the Cottage living room
  • Adding benches to the Welcome Center and on certain trails
donate to the preservation of Topsmead
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Chase Cottage aerial view by Awecast
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If you enjoy our newsletter and Topsmead, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. We rely on these funds for our projects and programs.
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Robert Orintas

REMEMBERING TOPSMEAD:

Conversations with Bob Orintas

The Garden at Underhill

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As Spring is slowly unfolding in the Litchfield Hills, it’s nice to think about getting out into the garden. Edith Chase enjoyed her garden at Topsmead. It was located north of the cabin (and later the house we see today) near East Litchfield Road. When on that road you may have noticed an old driveway and small barn that are still visible. The ladies always called that part of the property, “Underhill” presumably because it was downhill from the house.  A small house was built there in 1926 which served as a guest house.

George Wilson, Miss Chase’s chauffeur was the first person to care for the garden. In addition to his driving duties, he was a general handy man, and his wife was the family’s cook.
 > read more

Topsmead Events & Activities

Musing from Top o' the Meadow
by Margaret Hunt

Truly a Cosmic and Magical Month! Summer Solstice at Topsmead
​PLUS a rare celestial event: A Parade of Planets

June 2022 


In the December 2021 Musings, after alerting you to the exact day and moment of the winter solstice and urging you to take a photo of your shadow at noon, I promised to give you the exact day and moment of the summer solstice and remind you to take a photo of your summer solstice shadow at noon.   So true to my word:  summer solstice is Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 5:14 a.m. EDT. 
 
And here is your photo reminder: At noon on Tuesday, June 21, go to Topsmead to the location of your winter solstice shadow photo and take a summer solstice shadow photo.  Then compare your two shadow photos.  The lower angle of the winter solstice sun casts the longest shadow of the year; the higher angle of the summer solstice sun casts the shortest shadow of the year.
 
Three days later, on the morning of June 24, if you get up about 45 minutes before the 5:19am sunrise, you have an astronomical treat in store.  You will be rewarded by a sight called the “parade of planets”—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn in an arc from east to south across the sky with the crescent moon presiding.  A magical, cosmic event!   -read complete Musings essay-
 ​
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The five planets will be visible for a longer duration (almost an hour), on June 24, and Mercury will be easier to spot as it rises in the sky and brightens. Also, the parade will be joined by a guest, a crescent Moon placed between Venus and Mars. skyandtelescope.org
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Early summer panorama of the meadow at Topsmead by Tom Holzel

Ways to Support Topsmead

Donate

Provide or Sponsor an Item on our
Project Wish List!

Plants, mulch, benches, cleaning supplies, etc.
​ see entire list here
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Click HERE to set "Friends of Topsmead State Forest" as your default AmazonSmile charity and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchases to Topsmead.
  • Home
  • Donate
    • Friends of Topsmead General Fund
    • Memorial Tree Fund
  • Events
  • Projects/Volunteer
  • History
    • Remembering Topsmead
  • Membership
  • Contact
  • Musings
  • Visitor Info
    • Topsmead State Forest Map
  • FAQ