One way you might like to engage is to become a citizen scientist. Armed with your smartphone, you can visit several of the trails and preserves in Harpswell and collect data for the Harpswell King Tide project. It’s a fun and easy way to make a difference. As a recent returnee from the west, I… Read more
How has your garden grown? Did the native shrubs you planted during our wet spring survive summer’s heat? Did you remember to water the new plants every week? And how about those vegetables? Are the zucchini and tomatoes pouring in? This is the time of year we celebrate the harvest. The ripe red tomatoes are… Read more
Now that we’ve planted and nurtured our gardens, it’s time to admire the gardening of others. Time spent in gardens has been shown to benefit our mental health. This time with trees, flowers and other plants recharges our psyche, and boosts our general wellness. According to the late Oliver Sacks, neurologist and author, nature has… Read more
Success! A great blue heron caught in Harpswell is now flying around wearing her new solar powered GPS transmitter. This project was made possible by help from HHLT volunteers and Harpswell Coastal Academy teachers and students. Danielle D’Auria, a wildlife biologist with Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, spent weeks scouting the Harpswell area… Read more
Deer or black legged tick Unless you are new to Maine, you probably know that we have some issues with tick-borne disease here. What you may not know, however, is just how serious the tick problem has become for much of our state. I would love to pass along good news to you in this… Read more
As May’s longer days warm the soil, we wait anxiously for the day we can get those new plants and seeds into the garden. The garden centers and nurseries abound with seedlings, each vying for attention. The Harpswell Garden Club maintains the gardens at Harpswell Historic Park on Route 123 in Harpswell Center, and our… Read more
Winter passes slowly for wildlife and for humans, but the longer days tell us that spring is only a few weeks away. Soon your favorite species will emerge from hibernation or return from long migrations to warmer climates. Better weather will trigger the mating season for many creatures and finding a home for rearing their… Read more
By Kyle Rosenberg, local arborist and plant enthusiast While Ole’ Man Winter had his accomplice, Boreas, sweep down from the north with bitter cold this winter, I know that March is closely followed by the budding of spring. As I look out the window at 5:30 p.m. this 28th day of February, it is clear… Read more
Snow-covered garden (Becky Gallery photo) It’s just the beginning of March, spring is still around the corner, and I am itching to get outside to start working in the garden. I love winter, and snow, and the beauty of sea smoke hovering over Casco Bay on a cold winter morning, but I really want to… Read more
by Alicia Pulsifer Heyburn “Go take a hike!” This used to be an aggressive phrase, but now it can be considered a prescription to reduce stress, lower anxiety and create a calming feeling of connectedness. In 1984, American biologist Edward O. Wilson wrote a book titled Biophilia, in which he claimed that humans possess an… Read more