Letters From Maine

No air conditioning and hot weather conspired to send me to Maine for a few days. I took the bus to Boston and hitched a ride with a friend to a lake in Somerset County, Maine. It was still pretty humid up there, especially during the Bill episode, but lovely nonetheless.

White Baneberry, Actaea pachypoda


Also known as Doll's Eyes, the 'bane' tells us not to eat the berries.


The blue berries of Yellow Clintonia (in flower) or Blue Bead, Clintonia borealis.


Obviously an Aster, but what kind? I thought maybe Eurybia divaricata or macropylla.


Distinguishing it are all purple flowers above the white ray, slender leaves, and one-foot tall.


I think the stems of Jewelweed, Impatiens capensis, glow in Maine yet elsewhere maybe not.

Speaking of Impatiens, artist and friend Shawn built this woodland garden this summer near his cabin. The tower in back is made of wine corks, most of the garden of impatiens.

Epiphytic-like mosses and lichens cover this spruce tree on the lake. Click on it for greater detail.


The trunk of the spruce above.

A 7-year old clear cut. Remaining Hemlocks keep new growth from occurring under their canopy. Much of the new growth is Aspen, also known locally as Popple.

Cow-grazed fields are full of Goldenrod because cows won't eat it, enabling its spread and giving it a bad name. Add to this that many people still think Goldenrod is allergy-causing Ragweed, and let the hating begin.

Lawn webs in morning with dew.

A more permanent web on the Haircap Moss. See the spider in the funnel hole under the hemlock seedling?

A foggy morning on the lake.


Elegant, no?


Another angle.

As far as I can tell, this is Pickerelweed, Pontederia cordata. Pickerelweed seems to have varying characteristics. Maybe someone out there can ID this more effectively.