In summer, Houghton's pond is a popular swimming destination for people from all around Boston. The parking is free and the views are spectacular. But this Blue Hills Reservation destination is just as popular in winter, when on early mornings after snowfall the cross-country skiers come out in force to blaze new trails around the... Continue Reading →
Blue Hills Reservation includes a number of swamps bordering its ponds and rivers. They provide a critical sponge-like service, absorbing heavy rainfalls and preventing flooding in the bigger bodies of water. All swamps actually represent a snapshot in the natural transition between water and land. Plants, animals, and insects grow and die each year. This... Continue Reading →
According to a 1904 field guide of Blue Hills, the native American name for this pond was Hoosicwhisick. Ralph Houghton, an Englishman, who apparently fought under Cromwell against the king, settled in this spot under the shadow of the Great Blue Hill. His descendants occupied the old homestead until it became a part of the... Continue Reading →
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