January at Skylands and in the Surrounding Areas

February 1, 2018

January at Skylands and in the Surrounding Areas

We're expecting cloudy skies today at my Bedford, New York farm. Temperatures will be in the upper 30s to low 40s, so we won't be getting any snow, but it looks like we will get some rain this afternoon.

There has also been a lot of precipitation up at Skylands, my home on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. The area has gotten quite a bit of snow this winter, but also a lot of flooding rains followed by sub-zero temperatures which have left ponds and trails frozen. In fact, many Maine residents have been seen ice skating through the forest trees and across marshy land at Acadia National Park - a rare treat this year. Cheryl Dulong, who works at Skylands, keeps me updated by sending photographs whenever she can. Recently, she sent me this selection of beautiful winter images - enjoy.

How is the weather where you live? Share your observations with me in the comments section below.

: This photo looking into the woodland was taken from my back porch. On the left is my Counsel Circle, where in the summer we roast marshmallows and tell ghost stories. Straight ahead through the trees, you can see some “Rockefeller Teeth”.

: Here is a view coming in the back driveway leading to the back porch entrance. Skylands is beautiful in every season, but under winter’s glistening snow, it is even more magical.

: The road leads to the back of the house – all shoveled and cleared.

: The trees always look so pretty covered in snow. In this area are lots of hemlock, cedar and spruce trees.

: Can you see the stunning reflection in the window? This is my dining room window, and sometimes you can see this gorgeous reflection of Seal Harbor.

: Here is my expansive terrace under a blanket of white. To protect the large urns on the terrace from the winter elements, they are covered with plywood boxes – the urns are three to four hundred pounds each, so it is much easier to cover them during the colder months.

: Here is another view of the snow covered terrace looking out over Seal Harbor. Under the plywood box on the right is a long planter carved from a single block of granite. I purchased it from Trade Secrets in 2013.

: This year, we did quite a bit of cloud pruning, so the tall trees did not obstruct the wonderful views of the water. Cloud pruning is a Japanese method of training trees and shrubs into shapes resembling clouds. This spruce tree was one of the ones that got pruned.

: On my West Terrace are many of the original kiwi vines which cover the pergola. During summer, I enjoy many lunches on the West Terrace – I’m looking forward to the warmer season already!

: In the winter, we keep the sphinxes indoors in the living room, so they are protected from the elements.

: This is hoarfrost on one of the bedroom storm windows. Hoarfrost is a deposit of ice crystals on objects exposed to the air.

: This week, the area got about seven or eight inches of new snow, but it is sometimes hard to tell the true snow accumulation from the drifts.

: These steps lead to the Blueberry Terrace which is just below the West Terrace. The Blueberry Terrace is filled with wild Maine blueberry bushes.

: These blueberry bushes I planted just below the wild berries and near the “Lady”.

: And here is Aristide Maillol’s ‘La Riviere’ – all tucked away for the winter in her glass and copper house.

: Outside Skylands on Sergeant Drive, Cheryl saw a wall covered in icicles. Icicles typically form on days when the outdoor air temperature is subfreezing but sunshine warms and melts some snow or ice. As it drips off, a water droplet freezes as it loses its heat to the cold air.

: This is Little Harbor Brook looking beyond to the ocean. This year because of the sub-zero temperatures, there has been lots of freezing, especially at Acadia National Park.

: Here is the opposite side looking at Little Harbor Brook.

: Here’s a view looking out to Northeast Harbor and Bear Island in the distance.

: This is the Northeast Harbor Fleet Dock. Past the dock is lots of sea smoke, or steam fog, which is formed when very cold air moves over warmer water.

: Here is an otter at The Tarn. The Tarn is a shallow, weedy “pond” located within Acadia National Park. River otters are relatively common throughout Maine in ponds, lakes, rivers, streams and along the coast. They’re excellent swimmers, and their eyes are adapted to see food in murky and dark water.

: This is Great Meadow, which is not supposed to have water like this – right now it is so frozen, area residents have been ice skating here and having a wonderful time.