Sign Up  /  Login

The Frog Pond LbNA #49989

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Aug 26, 2009
Location:
City:Lexington
County:Middlesex
State:Massachusetts
Boxes:1
Planted by:The Field Mice
Found by: Arf!
Last found:May 18, 2015
Status:FFFFaa
Last edited:Nov 17, 2015
Clues

Start at Buckman Tavern in Lexington MA, which is located on 1 Bedford Street on the Lexington Common. Buckman Tavern is best known as the headquarters of the Lexington Minutemen. There, on April 19th, 1775, in the early hours of the morning several dozen minutemen waited for the British to approach Lexington. Just before sunrise they heard news that the British were approaching for sure. Leaving the safety of Buckman Tavern they were led by Captain John Parker to stand in two long lines on the common. There were around seventy-two colonists there, ready to fight for the freedom of the 13 states from the King of England. Following the arrival of the British a single shot was fired, by which side we do not know, and the American Revolution began.

Proceed on the sidewalk away from the center on Bedford Street. On the way you will pass a memorial on your right that is dedicated “to the Lexington Minutemen who were on the green in the early morning engagement, April 19th, 1775.” The inscription says, “These men gave everything dear in life, yea and life itself in support of the common cause.”

Continue along the sidewalk, until you locate the bike path. Go left on the bike path, again, away from the center. Walk along the bike path for about 5-10 minutes. During the summer months it is full of people, walking their dogs and riding their bikes. It used to be a railroad, built in 1846, that provided both passenger and freight service. In 1981 it stopped being a railroad and in 1993 it became a bike path that is well known today.

After a while you will pass a stone bench and a small memorial to the bike path on your right. About 50 feet ahead there is a small trail opening. It is a boardwalk made of wooden planks and at the entrance there is a short sign that says: “Entrance. Town of Lexington Conservation Land.”

Take the boardwalk all the way to the end, where it opens into a large pond and meadow. We like to call this hidden place “The Frog Pond,” because if you look closely out over the water you will see hundreds of frogeyes peeking out. They are just about everywhere. Once you see one they all start appearing to your eyes. You just have to look. They are so very still. Occasionally there are some huge frogs croaking, and what a sound they make! We like to come here and try to catch the frogs, but they are really, really fast! It’s easier to try and catch the swarms of tadpoles during May, June and early July. It’s nice to stop a minute and enjoy the beauty of the pond.

Continue along the path that hugs the pond. Always keep the pond on your right. To the left there is a huge meadow of milkweed, and its fun to pick their big pods in the summertime.

Cross over a medium-sized wooden bridge that brings you to the other side of the pond. Continue staying on the path, with the pond on your right and cross over another two bridges.

You will then come to a long bridge, longer than the other three. It doesn’t actually go over any water. Before the first railroad tie and under the bridge on the left side you will find The Frog Pond Letterbox. Please re-hide it carefully and out of sight, as many people and dogs may cross the bridge.