Along with tomatoes and blackberries, we are getting other veggies. On the left are Early Summer Yellow Crookneck Squash. Our beans this year are Kentucky Wonder, the large green pole beans, Provider, the mid-sized bush beans, Masai, the small bush beans, and Blue Coco, the purple pole beans. The small tomato in the picture is Gardener’s Delight. And last are our cucumbers. The round variety is Lemon cucumber and the other is de Bourbonne Cornichon pickling cucumber. Unfortunately, because of a lack of water or inadequate fertilizer, the de Bourbonne did not turn the green it is supposed to be. Click on the image for a larger view.
Tag Archives: Nature
The Shore of Lake Erie
Living in Maine, it is always hard not to think of a body of water that does not terminate at the horizon with land as a lake. But a lake does not look like an ocean. At least, I have never seen such a calm ocean, although these lakes can be violent. The tree in this image was felled by the erosion of the sand banks along the shore. The banks are about twelve to twenty feet tall. The coarse white sand on the beach is actually the remains of clam shells. Click on the image for a larger view.
Summer Skies
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Illusion of Optics
The rocks at Schoodic Point in Acadia National Park. One of the most interesting things about photography is the ability to present the world in a way that a person could not perceive naturally. When a group of objects are in focus, when they appear sharp, it is usually because they are all the same distance from the observer. That does not need to be true for a camera (no Photoshop gimmick here). Click on the image for a larger view.
Reversing Falls
Reversing falls are caused when the water level between one water body and the ocean is different at high and low tide. West Pond on Schoodic Peninsula in Acadia National Park has a reversing falls. This image shows low tide where the land on both sides of the falls, the stream in the foreground, would be submerged at high tide. The trees at the left are on Pond Island, which marks the extent of the high tide. Mt. Desert Island is at the horizon. Click on the image for a larger view.
Sea and Land
Schoodic Point is a quiet section of Acadia National Park. This rocky peninsula cuts into the Gulf of Maine. The water is deep and swells are powerful, even on a calm day. Click on the image for a larger view.
Raspberry Leaves
Raspberry-leaf tea is great all year round. In summer, we mix it with mint or Japanese green tea and serve it cold. In winter, we mix it with camomile and drink it hot. Raspberry-leaf tea is claimed to have various medical benefits, particularly for women.
In July, we harvest the new shoots of our wild raspberry. We air dry the leaves on the branches indoors, and finish by placing the leaves in a dehydrator. The tea is light and sweet. Wild raspberry spreads quickly and is considered a weed, but we value it as a herb and source of soft fruit. We have several varieties. Click on the image for a larger view.
Lake Erie
A kayaker on Lake Erie. Click on the image for a larger view.
June Forest
Our forest takes a richness this time of year that is striking. It was only about a month ago the foliage started to return. But now, the greens are deep. The foliage claims what was empty space. In summer, while most of the world is in light, the forest is in shadow. Click on the image for a larger view.
Wildlife is (not) cute…
Wildlife looks cute, like this harbor seal pup, but they will not think of you as cute. Marine mammals are found along the coast of Maine. If you think an animal is injured or abandoned, call Maine Marine Animal Reporting Hotline at 1-800-532-9551. Do not approach the animal or try to handle it—not only is it illegal to handle marine mammals, but also they will bite. Appearances can be deceiving; mothers can leave their pups on a beach for up to 24 hours. Click on the image for a larger view.
