Field of Orchids

 It is always a thrill to find a wild orchid, but to find a field of them is truly exciting. 

Above is a Large Purple Fringed Orchis (Platanthera grandiflora).

The Field Guide, "Wild Orchids of the Northeastern United States," by Paul Martin Brown describes them... "widespread throughout the nine-state region, this tall (up to 1m), stately orchid is a summer feature, especially in northern New England.  It usually occurs in small numbers, often as a single plant, but every once in a while a large stand of more than 100 plants in found."

 Here in Harrington, Maine (a small coastal village along the scenic Bold Coast byway of Rt 1) has a park with over 200 in bloom!!!

 The park also has a walking track and, as part of the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium (2014), a large mounted sculpture.

 

Schoodic Sculpture 2014

 "Time and Tides" by Maine sculptor

Roy Patterson

Roy Patterson's website

 If you want to see more of Maine's sculptures, here's a map.

 

Sculpture map

 The Northeastern US is blessed with many wild orchids.  Want to find more? 

 

Available on Amazon.com   You can get a used copy for 1 cent!!!

 Come along "Downeast" and see our beautiful orchids!  You will love them and take the time to look around Harrington....it's a great little village!

 

Harrington, Maine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rara avis in Downeast Maine

 Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus), visiting our feeder here in Harrington, Maine today (7/24/2015).  Checked several sources and think this to be a rarity, but they have been seen in Maine before.

All About Birds Line

Cornell's range map....is this sighting just a stray?  Or is the range changing?  Maine doesn't seem to be on a likely migration route.

This feisty little guy was very aggressive toward the Ruby Throats who are the usual feeder guests.

 I reported the sighting on http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ ...I don't see any previous sightings on their map this far up the Maine Coast.

 

Audubon link

Hummingbirds are amazing and we feel very lucky to host this rare visitor!  

 

US Fish and Wildlife link

Boreal brook at Acadia National Park

What to do with a few hours in Acadia National Park when it is mobbed by tourists....loud, rude, obnoxious tourists buying Chinese made junk souvenirs at the Jordan Pond House gift shop???

My answer is to attach the kit lens to the Nikon and find a spot without people....

Easy enough, just down the entrance road from Jordan Pond is Stanley Brook....scenic, quiet and very photogenic.

Just right for a bit of afternoon rusticating!

 

Rusticate?

Stanley Brook makes it's way from Seal Harbor, through the forest to Jordan Pond.  Some trails cross it, but there are spots where you can enjoy it alone.

 

 

 

 



Acadia's Carriage Roads



You can read all about Acadia's Carriage Roads and stone bridges.  Get a copy on Amazon.com



"Tea and Popovers" was the classic afternoon pastime for the early Acadia Carriage set.  Now crowded with ill-dressed, ill-behaved, ice cream eating, bused in, unpolished masses.....served by an equally rude and unpolished staff of Eastern Europeans....pressganged into an "American Holiday" by unscrupulous employment agencies.  Tantamount to human trafficking, albeit the result of unwillingness of our American youngsters to entertain such summer jobs.

 



The old Jordan Pond House....burned in the late 70's.  Gentile...simple....hot tea...no ice cream...no gluten free popovers...polite staff in white oxford shirts with towels over a forearm!  Anyone else remember?

Interior view.....great in early September with a fire in the fireplace.  Say, "Is that David Rockefeller at the far table?"

Thankfully, if you edit out the crowds....the view is the same!

 

It's a pretty spot...and Acadia is beautiful.  Just plan your visit after the crowds leave for the city.  I'm headed back Downeast to Washington County....."The Way Life Should Be."

Hummingbird Moth

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth  (Hemaris thysbe).

Often mistaken for a hummingbird, this diurnal moth is truly a sight to see.  The photo below was taken at 1/250 sec and the wings are blurry as this moth beats it's wings up to 300 times a second!!! And it can fly up to 37mph!

 

Hummingbird Moth link