Letters from Maine - Dolphin Designs

Hosing with humming birds

2008-07-16T12:53:00.002-04:00

Wouldn't you know it, no camera with me this morning while watering the garden. A humming bird came by and started feeding from some of the flowers. Then, to my huge amusement, she tried to perch on a large hosta leaf to drink the water droplets. Not easy and she kept slipping and rolling off to one side. It was so funny and a struggle not to be disrespectful enough to laugh. She gave up after a while after a few more sips of nectar flew through the spray from the hose to wet her wings and then sat on a branch cleaning up.

Loons, Lupins and Bluebells

2008-06-11T08:11:00.004-04:00

My fledgling garden is looking so beautiful and will only improve as the plants become established and multiply. These wood anemones were donated by my friend Bev.There is so much beauty as the seasons change in Maine. Lilacs do really well here, but have just gone by. Now it is the turn of the wild lupins, lining every roadside in all their blue, pink and wihite glory. The lupin bed in my yard is coming along, but a bit pathetic at the moment. Lupins do not like to be moved and mine are showing it. These were seen near the library in Searsmont.

What I am really happy about is these Spanish Bluebells. They look glorious now and will multiply quickly as the years pass.

Yesterday I went kayaking on Trues Pond. These yellow water lilies (Nuphar microphylla) are just coming into bloom.
This male(?) loon is keeping a very close eye on me.
His behavior alerted me to the proximity of his mate on the nest. Once aware of it, I was careful not to get too close. She is panting in the heat.
This morning this pretty little Eastern (or Red Spotted - Notophthalmus viridescens) was crouching near my garden hose.

More Spring flowers

2008-06-01T09:19:00.004-04:00

My garden continues to delight! This is a treasured Iris Cristata
And here is a lovely dark purple columbine.

Grape hyacinth
The wild English cowslip, Primula Veris.
And some pink violets.
A species tulip
And one of the many ladyslipper orchids growing on my land.

Memorial Weekend

2008-06-01T09:05:00.006-04:00

It was glorious weather Memorial Weekend! It would have been better to have been away on the boat sailing all weekend, but it was good weather to repair Dolphin Dancer's float badly damaged in a storm last fall. The Camden Harbormaster, Steve Pixley, had beached it for us at Steamboat Landing. It was also a perfect spot to watch schooners come and go.

Here is the float, stripped down for a rebuild.

And finished, ready for another few years service.On the way home we were caught up in the Camden Memorial Day parade

And a lonely, but not forgotten, rural cemetery.

Early Morning

2008-05-23T07:21:00.012-04:00

What a glorious morning! Yesterday we enjoyed some much-needed rain. It has clouded up again now, but for a brief moment, just after sunrise, my world was flooded with golden light.

This female hairy woodpecker is a regular visitor to my feeder.

And this beautiful blue jay posed for a photo.

My favorite morning meditation spot. White pine shoots with clouds reflected in the pond.

As always, my cats add beauty and companionship to my world. This is my handsome Solomon, very intelligent and with a built in gene for naughtiness!

And Smokey, who is growing more beautiful every day. When he is awake he is running non-stop, so most photographs are of him asleep!

The trees are leafing out beautifully!

2008-05-20T15:05:00.010-04:00

Reflections in a spring pool.

A glorious Painted Trillium, the first I have ever seen and right in my front yard!

The Camden Hills in full spring beauty.

Views from Muzzy Ridge Road in Searsmont.

Art in driftwood, Trues Pond.

A calm morning on Trues Pond.

Views from Montville.

My new Maine Coon type kitten, Smokey.

Mother's Day Flowers

2008-05-20T14:55:00.004-04:00

Mother's Day was celebrated by photographing flowers. It seemed appropriate. These pansies were a gift from a lovely woman friend.

These next two were taken around the Autozone building in Belfast!
Here wild cherry complements the reflections on Trues Pond.
And these are in my garden.

Floods and more

2008-05-06T07:56:00.018-04:00

A week ago we had 4 1/2" of rain in one day. It caused major damage to roads locally and up north in Aroostook county there was widespread flooding and damage. Trues Pond rose dramatically. My kayak had been left upside down and high and dry before the rain. Fortunately it was tied to a tree.

Even with the muddy water, kayaking was rewarding last Wednesday. This piece of driftwood looks like a bird's head to me.

The flowers in my front yard continue to bring great pleasure.

This beautiful red maple was seen at Ruffingham meadow.

The transplanted fiddleheads are coming up. I miss the huge beds I feasted on at my old house.

This is the view from my screen porch in early morning.

And this is just one of the incredible sunrises. Most mornings now I am rushing out to take a photo while barely awake.

It is so pretty here with more and more flowers every day.

A turtle that fled at my approach peeks out of hiding under water to see if I have left yet.

A brave turtle returns while I sit motionless and watch.

Paddling home and enjoying the view of my house hidden in the trees.

OK, definitely Spring

2008-04-29T15:10:00.007-04:00

Torrential rain today, much needed as it has been dry since the snow really began to melt. This is great for all the new plants put in last fall and ones I have been moving recently.

The daffodils planted in previous years are looking lovely.

This view shows the hills that give Montville its name.

Frank has been working hard with the woodsplitter clearing trees cut down for building last year and getting a good start on next winter's firewood.

It is really exciting seeing what I planted last fall. This pulmonaria is looking lovely.

And the siberian squill which will hopefully spread swiftly each year.

The red maples are in bloom, one of the beautiful sights of spring here in Maine.

Bob Hussey (Solartec) and his son Kevin installed the last two solar panels on Saturday.

This common flicker has appeared recently, the first I have seen.

Is it Summer or Spring??

2008-04-24T18:26:00.016-04:00

We have had a few days of temperatures up to 75F, amazing for this time of the year. The loons have been calling day and night and the spring peepers are deafening! The glory of spring in Maine.

This sunrise was prelude to a hot and sunny day.

Even in this hot weather the snow has persisted in the shady spots. This photo was taken April 21st near my home.

The squirrels love to torment the cats who are confined indoors.

Creating a garden around my new home last fall consisted of hurredly hacking holes in the frozen ground and shoving bulbs and perennials into the soil. It is wonderful to see everything start to come to life such as these Early Snow Glories.

The daffodils started to explode into bloom yesterday, such a joyful sign of spring.

This morning started cool with this gentle misty light. The red maples are just starting to spread the pink haze of their flowers across the forests.

This is the view from my office.

Here is Solomon enjoying the early morning sun in the screen porch.

A wealth of wildlife

2008-04-21T07:24:00.013-04:00

A few truly wonderful warm sunny days filled with yard work, house work and some wonderful kayaking breaks.

This four-toed salamander was among several found under logs while tidying up the yard.

These common loons can be heard calling out on the pond day and night.

Large numbers of painted turtles are to be seen basking on logs at the edge of the pond. Their numbers do not seem to have suffered from the pond almost completely drying out last summer due to a leaking dam.

This bald eagle allowed me quite close in my kayak.

At one time there were four eagles soaring overhead.

This beautiful osprey circled and offered excellent views. It is wonderful to have them back with their plaintive cries.

Goose River Paddle

2008-04-17T07:29:00.008-04:00

Yesterday dawned cool and clear and soon warmed up into the 60's!!!!!!! So wonderful after that long winter. In celebration I joined the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition for a paddle on the Goose River, starting in Swanville. For more information about events, please e-mail: cloechunn@yahoo.com.

There were seven boats, eight paddlers and one dog. The river started out moving fast, deep, twisty and narrow. Gradually it widened into a still sleeping beaver swamp with dams that had fortunately not yet been rebuilt, making paddling easier.
A strong headwind countered the helpful current and as the river opened out paddling became quite hard work and the stiff breeze chilled the warm air.

Where the river opened out into a small pond a glimpse of winter returned with a sheet of ice to be paddled around.

A variety of wild ducks, geese, loons and ospreys were seen. Chloe is much more of a bird expert than I and identified several more species.

After 2 hours of hard paddling I was more than ready for the haulout at Smart Road and was delighted that Skip and Cloe had left 2 vehicles and a trailer. We managed to cram boats, people and dog into these (not sure how).

What a wonderful start to my paddling season. yesterday my boat launch on Trues Pond was still surrounded by ice, but could well be open by now.

The ospreys are back

2008-04-15T17:24:00.003-04:00

Yet another stunningly gorgeous day, warm and sunny and signs of spring everywhere. The loons are calling out on the pond as I write, a wonderful sound.

While down by the water I heard the call of an osprey for the first time this year and it flew close over me. Pure Maine magic.

All around the house spring bulbs are bursting into flower.

The Loons are Back!

2008-04-13T07:08:00.002-04:00

A pair of loons announced their arrival back on Trues Pond yesterday with loud trumpeting calls echoing the length of the pond. It is wonderful to see them!

Glorious Spring!

2008-04-12T07:01:00.009-04:00

After such a long winter it is so wonderful to see all the signs of spring! I heard that parts of Maine have had over 200" of snow this winter. Here in the Mid-Coast area we have had snow cover since November, although it is melting fast now.

The lakes make a loud whispering sound as they melt. In fall they crackle as they freeze, graduating to loud booms as the ice thickens and shifts. Everywhere now is the sound of rushing water as the snow melts.

It is the first spring in my new home and exciting to see where I planted bulbs last fall.

Everyone is enjoying the warm weather, the wild animals and my feline family.

A Cloudy Day

2008-04-07T10:05:00.012-04:00

Even a cloudy and dull day in Maine has a great beauty, starting with a vivid sunrise.

No sign of otters today at the spot that I named Otter Cove long ago, just art in black and white.

The cliff in front of the house is stark and impressive in this light.

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Spring is coming

2008-04-04T15:16:00.029-04:00

A week ago it would be hard to see that Spring might ever come with 2-3' of snow around the house and a blizzard raging outside! But today it is raining and the snow is finally beginning to melt. Saturday, March 29th was the annual St George River Race, certainly a sign that Spring is supposed to be coming. The race starts in Searsmont and continues to Rte 105 in Appleton. The river was not high this year as most lakes were still frozen and snow melt not well advanced. It was below freezing though and a brief, but impressive, snow squall added to the sense of adventure. A good place to view the race is from the bridge at Robbins Lumber on Ghent Road in Searsmont and at the finish line in Appleton. For more photos go to St George River Race.

The last week has seen progress with ice retreating and beginning to break up on some lakes. Lake St George is beginning to break up in places, but for the most part is still a great frozen expanse.

The blueberry barrens are showing the glorious reds and purples before they break into leaf. The open rocky ground soaks up the sun's warmth and snow melts swiftly here.

These glorious ice formations occur when the river drops overnight and freezing temperature prevail.

Trues Pond opens earlier than the bigger and deeper lakes, giving the wildlife access to much needed open water.

The geese now arriving are really appreciating it as are year round residents such as this curious otter seen April 3rd.

With snow rapidly melting around and the shell-shocked spring bulbs beginning to poke their noses above ground I am really looking forward to the first spring in my new home.

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