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
Thanks to Maine’s coastal location, and the wide variety of habitats on offer, we are blessed with hundreds of different birds. Over 460 species have been documented in Maine, with around 330 species seen regularly. Some are residents and others are passing through on their annual migration. Although a small community, Harpswell is a popular… 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
In addition to preserving land, building trails and providing educational programs, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust also supports community and school gardens! In 2005 an anonymous donor set up a fund to provide grants to Harpswell-based community and school gardens. Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT) manages the fund. In 2019 HHLT awarded five grants. Harpswell Community… 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
Most of us have a weak spot for a particular wild creature, one that appeals to us as beautiful, cuddly or endangered. For me it is the Rocky Mountain elk, one of North America’s most impressive mammals. Other people might favor the common loon, a baby bear, or the grey wolf. But some folks become… 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
Soft-shell clams You’ve seen them out there in the coves and bays, just like mailmen in their disregard for the sun, wind, cold and rain. They are bent over double with a short-handled, long-tined rake or hoe in hand, digging up row after row of wet, heavy mud. Their rubber hip boots are covered in… 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