August 19: In the woods

I was up on Ragged Mountain today helping with some boundary work on a property Coastal Mountains Land Trust hopes to conserve. Indian Pipe (or Ghost Plant), a parasitic flower often associated with beech trees and now in bloom, was scattered throughout the forest understory.

Mountain understory--
dropped acorns and ghost plants
haunt last year's beech leaves.

August 18: Tomato

Last cherry tomato

clings to the dying vine.

We make salsa.

Posted with Blogsy

August 17: Loss

Wake from a nightmare--

I almost lose my mother.

Young crow calls all day.

Posted with Blogsy

August 16: Homing

Attended a talk/reading in Belfast by behavioral zoologist Bernd Heinrich, whose most recent (and very interesting) book is The Homing Instinct: Meaning & Mystery in Animal Migration. He read from the book and also talked a bit about the human connection to home.

Talk on homing instinct.
Driving back roads--
geese gathering in mown fields

August 15: Rainbow

We missed the rainbow

Three schooners at anchor

Late, lovely harbor light

 

Posted with Blogsy

August 14: Blueberries

High-bush blueberries--
the mailman steals them
and here's the catbird...

August 13: Flood warnings

Flash flood warning--
heavy rain on the car roof
Mozart interrupted

August 12: Art Opening

We expected rain
at any minute.
She sold every piece.

August 11: Waxwings in the blueberries

My mother's birthday.
Waxwings gorge on blueberries,
a happy flock.

And Mom, you'll appreciate this: later in the day, the blueberries were approached by an acquisitive family of four crows that strutted together right down the driveway for a snack, much to the annoyance of the local Blue Jays.

August 10: Up Mount Battie

We played tourist today. Sailed on the Schooner Surprise this morning out of Camden Harbor with (almost) my whole family, to celebrate my mother's birthday. Then we all enjoyed an al fresco lunch together on the river: lobster rolls and whoopie pies. Later, my husband and I hiked out our front door and up Mount Battie in nearby Camden Hills State Park, making the most of this long, sunny summer Sunday and a rare day off together.

Familiar trails,
same vireo singing--
you still laugh at my stories.

August 9: Sapsucker

Hiked up Beech Hill today with my birder friend Brian, who goes up there almost every day. He pointed out a pattern of sap wells that a sapsucker had made a few weeks ago, and sure enough, a young sapsucker--hard to pick out in its drab juvenile plumage--was there feeding at them. A hummingbird also buzzed by to check them out, as well as many bee-type insects. A veritable community feeding station.

Sapsucker fledgling
sips from its parents' sap wells
surrounded by bees