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Editor's Column Notes, Announcements & Reflections Hello!
Spring has officially arrived at the farm. I've mentioned the greenhouses a few times. When I went out to work yesterday morning I put a fleece pullover and wool sweater over my long sleeved shirt, and stuffed my feet into Muck boots. It was 28°. We still had 15" of granular snow that we fall through often early yesterday morning. The tall boots are still necessary. I peeled off the wool sweater when I stepped into the greenhouse. 40° in there by 8 am. After digging grass roots out of the soil, adding some kelp and transplanting onion sets, the pullover joined the sweater on a peg at the door. It was just before 9 am and 60° in the greenhouse. It was 29° outside. The sun is much stronger than it was on Ground Hog's day just a little more than two months ago. It takes no time to warm up inside the greenhouse now. When I took a break to stand in the door and cool off late in the morning I could hear water trickling. The snow is melting fast now. I won't be seeing crocus or daffodills for a few weeks because of the snow sliding off the metal roof. Neighbor Jan has bulbs poking up out of a small bare spot now. By the time the outside temperature hit 50° it was 90° in the greenhouse and my boots were standing empty at the door. I'd much rather be barefoot. I'd need them to get through the mud at the front of the greenhouse door and back onto the snow pack. Mud looks good right now! I'll turn the heat on in the seedling house next week and move the seedlings out of the diningroom. For a couple of hours after dark it's bright enough in the diningroom to land a 747 thanks to grow lights. I won't miss that. So why wait til next week? The night time temps should stay at or above freezing according to the forecast. I'll use a lot less propane keeping the plants warm at night. Steve closed up the barn and hen house last night. On his way back to the house he heard a woodcock. I've been waiting for them. I didn't get home until after the woodcock was down for the evening but that's ok. Just knowing they're back is good enough for me. My sister Melissa and her family came to dinner Sunday. She brought her camera with her so I took the opportunity to raid her memory card. The photo at the top of the page was taken the last day we ice fished on Junior Lake. Melissa got off the snowmobile to walk to the stream and take pictures. I stayed on the snowmobile and waited to see how deep she was going to sink before I decided whether to go or stay put. I should have gone with her. There were six or eight Canada geese around a curve upstream and I missed them! Next time! Have a great week! Robin Follette Editor/Publisher |
Maine Nature NewsApril 8, 2008
Vol.
13, No. 14
 Sunday, March 30 Lakeville (Map 35) Duck Lake Stream Photo Courtesy of Melissa Perley Saturday, April 5
Milford (Map 33)
7:30 A.M.: Saw eight hooded mergansers and a pair of mallards at a little open place in the ice on Otter Stream this morning. I turned away, looked again and there was a big red fox trotting up the stream with a big duck in his mouth! Sorry, couldn't get pictures, it all happened too fast. KJT Sunday, April 6 Lisbon Falls (Map 6) For the most part winter has finally relaxed it grip here in Southern Maine. While there is still snow in the woodlands most of the fields are now bare. Backyards still have snow but more and more bare ground is showing up every day now. The maple sugaring season is coming to a close with not much of a sap run the past few days. From my 18 taps I was able to make just over 2 gals. of syrup which I am thankful for and will share with family and friends in the coming weeks. One night last week around 8:30 pm while boiling down some sap a flock of geese could be heard as they passed overhead headed north. While winter may be fading here in the southern part of the state the same can't be said for the Rangeley Lakes Region. I skied at Saddleback today where over 200" of snow has fallen this season. Except of the temps. being in the high 30°'s the snow is still very deep. Single story homes with metals roofs have snow piles as high as the roof lines. On the way home I passed through the small village of Oquossoc (Map 28) where there is always a good chance of seeing some deer in the late afternoon. A lot of the people in this area feed the deer and there were 9 deer in one person's yard. All of them looked very healthy and well fed.The snow banks along the road are between 6 and 8 fet high in places. SY Monday, April 7 Rangeley (Map 28) We still have 3 feet of snow on the ground. Over the weekend some Canada Geese made it back, and today a killdeer came in. I went out for a cross country ski tour this morning and was surprised to see no deer tracks where in years past I have. Nothing but a few snowshoe hare,coyote and a bobcat had been by. It certainly looks like spring is taking it's time getting here. KB Monday, April 8 Windsor (Map 13) Crocuses are up and blossoming around the south side of our foundation. Others, around the corner just have buds --- they don't get the same amount of direct sunlight so they're behind a bit. This year, since the ground seems to have very little frost, much of the water from melt and rain is sinking right into the ground. It's less noisy than in many years when the water runs in the surface, but it sure is less wet too! With some luck we'll avoid the fast melt and water rushes that cause wash outs and cellar flooding here. So many birds are back: the killdeers, redwing blackbirds, woodpeckers (hairy most especially) and others are busy mating and preparing nests. Last Friday, while it rained, there were probably 200 robins in our north field. Must have been a "get acquainted party," they were singing, calling, and strutting their stuff and now? They seem to be off in their various territories finding their spots for nests. There are occasional insect sightings: we figure that the year will be heavy with them since the ground stayed covered and warm their eggs and larvae probably had good survival rates. PSH Monday, April 8 Talmadge (Map 35) I heard the first woodcock of the year at 7:30 pm. "I know that sound! Hey! They're back!" SF |