We turn the clocks back this weekend, so we can't deny it any longer: winter really is coming. Last November, we had 16 inches of snow in the Portland area! With these shorter days and colder temperatures, our thoughts inevitably turn to keeping warm. But those thoughts clash with news …
Andy's Note
Andy’s Note: Almost infinite
I've had the good fortune to crisscross the state to its four corners over the past few weeks. A combination of both professional and personal travel, interspersed with great hikes and enjoyable paddling, was a delightful reminder of all of the bountiful treasures of wildlife and habitat in this …
Andy’s Note: A Lovely Look at Loons on the Lake
The stars aligned for me the weekend of July 20. About 1,300 of you will recognize that date because you volunteer for Maine Audubon's Annual Loon Count. Those of you who keep careful journals will recall it as a weekend with record high temperatures in the forecast. For me, it was marked on my …
Andy’s Note: “Camp” is a surefire shortcut to a smile
Camp. If you live in Maine, or spend at least part of your summertime in this magnificent state, the word “camp” is a surefire shortcut to a smile. Furthermore, that smile likely has roots back to some of the finest memories of your childhood. In Maine, the word camp has two distinct meanings. …
Andy’s Note: June is the month of flora, fauna, and daylight
Who doesn't love June? Most of us fell in love with June during our youth. With the end of the school year and nearly 16 hours of daylight in Maine, we could pack nearly twice as much outdoors activity into a day than we could during the December solstice – and be much warmer doing it. As an …
Andy’s Note: Spring Has Sprung — Statewide!
Happy May, friends. Can you feel it? The excitement is palpable! May energizes me. Whether I head out the door at dawn, noon, or dusk, I can't escape noticing the rising crescendo of nature. This is the season when careful attention to my surroundings is rewarded with delightful discoveries of …
Andy’s Note: Glacial Reflections
Happy April, friends. All the melting ice around us has me thinking about glaciers this month. You could make the case that glaciers deserve much of the credit for what makes Maine, Maine. The last glacial remnants were gone from Maine about 11,000 years ago -- a tick in time compared to the age …
Andy’s Note: Get Distracted by Nature
Happy February, friends. Last month, I described the challenge of emerging from a warm bed on a January morning and rallying myself to thrust my body into the cold and darkness that accompany a January morning run. I noted that my indisposition quickly evaporates as it's displaced by the delights …
Andy’s Note: The Frenzy of Fall
Happy October, friends. There's a unique kind of energy in the air as humans and animals alike prepare for the change of seasons. You can feel it on early fall walks in the woods, and along the trails at Gilsland Farm. If you venture into our Visitor Centers, either in Falmouth or Holden, you'll …