An old wooden fence encloses an open lawn area across the front of the house, constructed originally, I suppose, to keep the chickens and farm animals in their proper area. Some sections have been restored, but the original fence has great age. It is seen in the 1884 painting of the house and probably goes back to the 1850’s. It has trumpet vines covering it in summer which attract humming birds. Many years ago it used to be annually painted with whitewash. There were also several wooden hitching posts in front of it to tie up the horses, as can be seen in the photograph. Some bayberry shrubs spread naturally near the front side of the house. There are a few very old apple trees flourishing on the pond side of the house and fill the May air with blossoms. There is also a mulberry tree of good age which produces a bumper crop of berries all during the month of July, for birds and humans alike. There are several hemlock and fir trees at the rear of the house which are now quite high, providing welcome shade in the summer and greenery in the winter. An ancient wisteria vine is alive and well and blossoms each year. It is an indication of its vigor that a shoot has come up from underneath the kitchen floor through a tiny seam by a supporting post and has a length of 18 inches and many leaves. Birds are all around the house and property. Most of the year one can see partridges close to the house feeding on seeds and berries. Bluejays are always around, as are chickadees and buntings. Yellow grosbeaks come in clusters in early spring. Each year as soon as the buds come out on the oaks a pair or two of Baltimore orioles arrive and sing constantly until their departure about the fourth of July. Towhees are here during the summer and the lower field has hosts of robins. Varieties of humming birds can be seen, also infrequently a scarlet tanager. The old maple tree is host to many woodpeckers, including the downy variety. There are many flickers with their red heads digging worms from the grass. Wren families and yellow finches live close to the house. Friendly catbirds are here during the season. Occasionally a bobwhite can be heard or seen in the yard. Mourning doves and whippoorwills are common and the hoot or screetch of owls can be heard on many nights. Along our northeastern boundary which starts at the shore of South Pond and runs easterly a distance of 1200 feet to Boot Pond Road, there is an area of continuous high ground sloping southward at various degrees for 300 feet or more, making a sort of wooded hillside. It has an abundance of tall white pines which makes a sylvan grove. The ground has become cushion-like by pine needles fallen since early times. It is a pleasant place for quiet and revery. [Illustration]