Weir Preserve is named for J. Alden Weir, the noted American Impressionist who owned and farmed much of the property in the latter part of the 19th century until his death in 1919. The property then passed to his daughters, one of whom, Cora Weir Burlingham, initiated the preserve with a gift of 37 acres to the Connecticut Chapter of The Nature Conservancy in 1969. Subsequent gifts of land from Eugenia Slaughter in memory of her first husband, George Leary, from Geoffrey and Elizabeth Baker in memory of Anna White, from Roger Geffen, Elsie French, Helen Littauer and Charles M. Lokey have increased the Preserve to 110 acres.
In 2005 ownership of the Preserve was transferred to the Weir Farm Trust, subsequently renamed the Weir Farm Art Alliance, the cooperating association of Weir Farm National Historical Park, Connecticut’s only national park.
Weir Farm National Historical Park is the last unchanged landscape associated with American Impressionism. The Art Alliance is dedicated to the same principles of natural preservation as is TNC and it will be managing conservation and arts education programs for youth and adults in the Preserve.
As usual on New England small farms, the gentler slopes were cleared for pasture and divided up by a network of stonewalls. The steeper and rockier areas were used as woodlots. Some of the ledges were quarried in a small way by splitting out large blocks of granite for foundation stones. The fields along Pelham Lane are now being allowed to revert to woodland and are growing up with red cedar and black birch. In the fall, after the field flowers have bloomed, three fields along the eastern edge of the Preserve are mowed.
The hillsides are notable for dense mountain laurel and bold rock outcrops which overlook swampland along the course of the Comstock Brook. There are many large glacial boulders scattered over these hillsides, and two springs and a small waterfall add to the Preserve’s beauty.
The land supports hickory, red maple, tulip and sassafras trees. There is also striped maple, unusual for this region. Fox, deer, opossum, and raccoons have been seen. Wood ducks and mallards nest in swamp areas. Pileated woodpeckers and ruffed grouse are quite common. Many frogs and salamanders make their home here.
Abigail Maynard has made an extensive study of the vegetation in the Preserve. Specimens of more than 400 species are now lodged in the Wilton High School Herbarium. Her complete report is available in the town and school libraries of Wilton and Ridgefield.
In 2005 ownership of the Preserve was transferred to the Weir Farm Trust, subsequently renamed the Weir Farm Art Alliance, the cooperating association of Weir Farm National Historical Park, Connecticut’s only national park.
Weir Farm National Historical Park is the last unchanged landscape associated with American Impressionism. The Art Alliance is dedicated to the same principles of natural preservation as is TNC and it will be managing conservation and arts education programs for youth and adults in the Preserve.
As usual on New England small farms, the gentler slopes were cleared for pasture and divided up by a network of stonewalls. The steeper and rockier areas were used as woodlots. Some of the ledges were quarried in a small way by splitting out large blocks of granite for foundation stones. The fields along Pelham Lane are now being allowed to revert to woodland and are growing up with red cedar and black birch. In the fall, after the field flowers have bloomed, three fields along the eastern edge of the Preserve are mowed.
The hillsides are notable for dense mountain laurel and bold rock outcrops which overlook swampland along the course of the Comstock Brook. There are many large glacial boulders scattered over these hillsides, and two springs and a small waterfall add to the Preserve’s beauty.
The land supports hickory, red maple, tulip and sassafras trees. There is also striped maple, unusual for this region. Fox, deer, opossum, and raccoons have been seen. Wood ducks and mallards nest in swamp areas. Pileated woodpeckers and ruffed grouse are quite common. Many frogs and salamanders make their home here.
Abigail Maynard has made an extensive study of the vegetation in the Preserve. Specimens of more than 400 species are now lodged in the Wilton High School Herbarium. Her complete report is available in the town and school libraries of Wilton and Ridgefield.
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