During her many years on the New Canaan Nature Center Board of Trustees—eight in all, including five as president—Linda Andros puzzled over what to do with the abandoned “Audubon House” structure near the Visitors Center.
Linda Andros
An original building on the well-loved Oenoke Ridge property, the Audubon House was demolished one week ago, thanks to the New Canaan Department of Public Works—something that Andros would have appreciated, according to Nature Center Executive Director Bill Flynn.
“Our idea to rejuvenate this area, it being the Audubon House, was to make this a celebration to birds and bird-watching and make it a native pollinator sanctuary,” Flynn told 50 people gathered Tuesday afternoon at the Nature Center on a clear, sunny day. “And that was something we had an idea before the building was coming down.”
L-R: Bill Flynn and Bill Avery at the “Linda Andros Day” dedication—April 22, 2025 at the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan
Next to Flynn stood a young Winter Hawthorn tree donated by Copia Home & Garden and planted in honor and memory of Andros, a lover of nature, plants and animals.
She died Dec. 12 following a short illness. Andros was 76.
Town officials, representatives from the Nature Center, Conservation Commission and Planet New Canaan, fellow St. Mark’s Episcopalian Church members and clergy, friends and Andros’s husband Bill Avery attended the tree-planting ceremony. First Selectman Dionna Carlson read out a proclamation declaring April 22, 2025 “Linda Andros Day” (text below).
Attendees gather for a tree planting and dedication of “Linda Andros Day”—April 22, 2025 at the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan
Flynn said that Andros ranked among his biggest supporters when he came to the Nature Center and put in for the director position. Andros also was fond of Copia Nursery and its native plants.
“When we were thinking about a place to place Linda’s tree, the fact that she spent probably more hours than she wanted to when she was president of the board talking about the fate of this building and what to do with it, and I know that she would really appreciate that it came down,” Flynn said. “And the first planting that we did, with this Winter Hawthorn, was to rejuvenate this area, an area that she spent a lot of years talking about and debating. So we picked this area on purpose. This is the start. We had people who donated in honor of her to the Nature Center, and those funds will go to the native plants and pollinators that’ll go right here. There’ll be sitting areas and benches, and this will just be a place to sit, watch birds, reflect on nature, which I think is a perfect tribute for Linda.”
First Selectman Dionna Carlson comforts Bill Avery while reading a proclamation for “Linda Andros Day”—April 22, 2025 at the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan
Flynn urged those in attendance to come back and mark the progress of the area “and just remember all she did for the natural world, but probably more importantly, all the how she affected all of your lives.”
In addition to Carlson, those in attendance included Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll, Public Works Director Tiger Mann, Robin Bates Mason, the Rev. Peter Walsh, Chris Schipper, Margot Bright and Beth Sanford.
Carlson, a comforting arm around Avery, read out the following proclamation during the ceremony:
“Whereas the town of New Canaan has benefited greatly from the dedication and service of Linda Andros as she served on the board of New Canaan Nature Center for eight years—five of those years as president, as well as one year as interim executive director, and served on the New Canaan Conservation Commission for 10 years. And whereas Linda Andros consistently demonstrated her love of New Canaan, its natural beauty and worked consistently to protect New Canaan’s environment and further sustainability. And whereas Linda loved to help things grow: plants, animals, people and organizations, and looked forward to Earth Day every year. Now therefore be it resolved that I, Dionna Carlson, first selectman of the Town of New Canaan do hereby proclaim April 22, 2025 to also be Linda Andros Day in memory of Linda and to encourage all citizens to express their gratitude for Linda’s work, making New Canaan a more sustainable and beautiful town. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the official seal of the town of New Canaan to be affixed this 22nd day of April, 2025.”
This is a lovely tribute to a wonderful human being! In addition to Linda’s love of nature, she was an accomplished pianist. She shared her talents at Waveny Care Centers “Village” , leading the hymn singing during the monthly Episcopal worship services. She is greatly missed!
A tree is a fitting tribute to our beloved “Tree Talker”, Linda Andros. Your beauty and inspiration will live in our hearts forever.
Linda was an accomplished master gardener, which drove her efforts on behalf of the Nature Center and environmental committee. She would be so pleased with this well deserved recognition and the use of the Nature Center property. She is sorely missed by her legion of friends, but her legacy will remain in the town, The Nature Center and the gardens she developed and nurtured.