I know that many readers of this column are observant of the natural world around them, and can imagine that you sometimes wonder about signs of wildlife activity that leave parts of the story untold. It might be those unfamiliar tracks along a hiking trail that pique your interest, or a pile of feathers in… Read more
If there is a wild creature with a serious public relations issue, it is the skunk. When I was a kid, the word skunk was used as an insult against dirty, rotten, low-down liars. You have probably come upon a malodorous wetlands plant called skunk cabbage, and not because of its coloration. How many of… Read more
Anne Satterthwaite: Leaving a Legacy for Harpswell
September 6, 2015
By Christine Farrell What an experience to grow up on the coast of Maine. What a charmed life for a child to spend summers on Harpswell Neck or on the Islands. Great, Bailey or Orr’s, that is. Anne Satterthwaite, a Philadelphia health care professional, had such a childhood. Spending summer weeks on Bailey Island, Anne… Read more
For the last few years, 9-year-old Scottie and 7-year-old Elliot Larsen have explored tide pools, mud flats, salt marshes and other habitats, while learning about the animals and plants that live there, thanks to programs offered by Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT). “Especially living in Harpswell, to understand and appreciate our environment is really important,”… Read more
Every spring when the snow on our lawn finally melts, we find a series of tunnels in the dormant grass, along with some woven nests. If we are unlucky, we also find damage to our ornamental and fruit trees, with the bark chewed at the base of the trunk and on exposed roots. The likely… Read more
There is a discernible lift in Deirdre Strachan’s already cheerful voice when the topic of conversation turns to Harpswell, her adopted home and the town she loves. “It’s such a beautiful community, with so much to offer,” she says. Strachan, who moved to Harpswell from Massachusetts in 1998 after a distinguished international career in public… Read more
In an old song titled Lazy Day, there is a phrase, “…Baby, you and me, and the honey bee.” There is a fair amount of truth in that, not only if you love honey, but also if you enjoy flowers and foods that depend upon the exchange of pollen for successful production. By collecting an… Read more
by Jamie Pacheco Spring has arrived here in Southern Maine and most of the snow has melted. In honor of this, Essex and I have started revisiting the slippery and steep, formerly snow-covered trails in Harpswell. On Tuesday afternoon we headed out to give Devil’s Back Trail the once over. This began as a nerve-wracking… Read more
John Berry photo As I write this article in early March, I sit in my office wearing three layers of clothing, including long underwear. For a few minutes this morning, the sun popped through the clouds and my hopes soared, but the winds soon picked up and the temperature plummeted once again. Yet I know… Read more
A mature whitetail buck is a fascinating creature, the subject of a great deal of research, many hours of television programs and millions of printed words in scientific and sporting publications. Much of the focus is upon the headgear a buck develops each year, his antlers or “rack.” The antlers are made of mineral-rich bone,… Read more