By Susan E Erdman & Brian D Morrison
Named for the abundant native mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), Laurel Ridge Nature Reserve offers a stunning display of natural beauty year-round, particularly along the central ridgeline and west-facing slopes overlooking Lake Whitehall.
Revered as one of the most exquisite native American shrubs, mountain laurel remains vibrant through all seasons. Its large, rhododendron-like leaves stay deep green throughout autumn and winter, while clusters of delicate blossoms blanket the forest from late May to mid-June, creating breathtaking scenery.
Native to the eastern United States, from southern Maine to northern Florida, mountain laurel belongs to the heath family (Ericaceae), alongside rhododendrons, azaleas, huckleberries, and the ghostly Indian pipe.
Mature plants can reach ten feet in height, their gnarled, sprawling branches forming a striking silhouette. A slow grower, mountain laurel typically gains only four feet in height over a decade.
From spectacular fall foliage to the serenity of whispering owls, this place is very special to us. Our commitment to conservation is long-standing and deeply personal.
Susan is a retired MIT director and bioengineering scientist whose work has long embraced a philosophy of interconnectedness, much like the Native American belief that all living things are woven together in one sacred web. She’s led collaborative research teams at MIT, Harvard, and around the world, and now teaches yoga and wellness classes inspired by the same philosophy: caring for ourselves and our earth go hand-in-hand.
Brian is a retired aerospace engineer and entrepreneur with over 120 patents in hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion and sustainable flight. His work in clean energy was always driven by a vision of what’s possible when technology and nature work in harmony. He also served for years as Chairman of the Hopkinton Conservation Commission and contributed to the town’s Master Plan, Open Space Preservation, and Zoning Advisory efforts.
Together, we’ve adopted many retired racing greyhounds, accumulated and protected forested land, and woven our passions into this shared project: Laurel Ridge Nature Reserve. Our hope is to preserve its habitats, protect its biodiversity, and offer a place of quiet connection — for wildlife and for the human spirit.
Majestic residents of Laurel Ridge Nature Reserve include the striking pileated woodpecker, nature’s master carpenter, whose tapping echoes along the ridgeline.
Whispering Owl Trail honors the great horned owl and other eastern owls that thrive in these wooded landscapes.
