Winter at Skylands

January 23, 2017

We're expecting a nor'easter here in Bedford today, with high gusty winds. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 30s, so we won't be getting any snow, but there will be lots and lots of rain.

These last few weeks have also been warmer than usual up at Skylands, my home on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. As many of you know, I love Maine - it is truly a magical place and I always wish I could spend more time there. Cheryl Dulong, who works at Skylands, keeps me updated by sending photographs of the property and the surrounding areas whenever she can. She sent me this selection of beautiful winter images over the last few weeks - enjoy.

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

: This is a view looking out from Terrace One. Sutton Island is in the forefront with Cranberry Island behind it. Sutton Island is a small, private island south of where I am on Mount Desert. One never tires of seeing this view.

: Also from the terrace, this photo shows Bear Island, a little island located just off Northeast Harbor, Maine and south of Mount Desert. The big spruce tree on the right is one of my favorites at Skylands. When out at sea, we can see the very top of the tree.

: Here is another beautiful view through the branches – Sutton Island and Bear Island are two of the five Cranberry Isles; the others are Great Cranberry Island, Ilesford or Little Cranberry Island, and Baker Island.

: Here is my cracked ice terrace seen from above on Terrace One. 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. The mounds of brush on the sides cover the various flower beds.

: The “cracked ice” on my terrace floor is covered in moss.

: During a brief tour around the area, Cheryl captured this view from the town dock in Seal Harbor looking across to Thrum Cap Island.

: Seal Harbor Beach is all tucked away for the winter. The floats are pulled out of the water and placed high on the beach.

: One float is left in the water.

: This is called Banjo Wall – from above it is oddly shaped like the instrument.

: This is taken from Seal Harbor Beach at high tide on a very cold and windy day. The other side of Thrum Cap Island is seen ahead.

: Sea smoke or frost smoke, is fog which is formed when very cold air moves over warmer water.

: Here is the famous Thunder Hole. When the tide is right, there is big splash action.

: When the right size wave rolls into the inlet, it creates a deep thunderous sound.

: Water may splash into the air as high as 40-feet with a roar!

: Don’t worry, Cheryl took this from a safe distance.

: The water looks so creamy white after the wave hits.

: This view looks up from the main driveway into the woodland – such a spectacular sunset.

: Here is another view into the woodlands of firs and spruces.

: This is a sunset view from Overlook Garden. The garden is on the property of an old house I bought over the summer, right near Skylands.

: This is the Seal Harbor Village Green. During the holiday season, this tree is lit to commemorate all the residents who died during the year.

: Cheryl came upon this ice formation near Stanley Brook. Look carefully – it’s shaped like a fish.

: And here’s a twig frozen on its end, with the fresh water of the brook flowing around it.

: This is Skylands looking out toward Rockefeller’s teeth, the council circle and fire pit, where in the summer, we roast marshmallows and tell ghost stories.

: This is a pretty view from inside looking through the leaded window of the dining room.

: Inside, a beautiful cactus in a faux bois planter located in the Living Hall. When I bought these cactus plants about five or six years ago, they were just 10 to 12 inches tall – they just keep growing. They used to sit on the window seat but they grew too tall.

: Here is 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.