Range maps seem to disagree about whether American holly lives wild in Connecticut. Perhaps this tree was planted many years ago when this land was in a more cultivated state? Months ago, I had seen a smaller specimen of holly. While it's safe to conjecture that that one (by the main trail) is fairly recent, it was a scrawny little thing. This one, meanwhile, is clearly a vibrant specimen, and it must be happy to take in the spring sun before the canopy leafs out!