Maine winter wonderland

A dusting of snow creates a magical scene in the village.

As autumn loosens its grip on Maine in mid-December, the landscape changes from brown to black and white, and back again. Soon the bitter cold will come and with it a permanent white blanket. After several days of cold rain, today brought a lovely dusting of snow to the coastline and village.

A one hour excursion took me not far at all: everywhere I turned, the scenery was being transformed into a lovely snow-laden wonderland. Not long after these photos were taken, the temperature rose and completely melted the crystalline coating. Captured by my camera are the images on this page. There will surely be more to come.

All photos by the author. All rights reserved © 2014. It is illegal to use any of the images without permission.

The snow accentuates the textures and form of the woods.

A still pond reflects the surrounding woods.

A beautiful serpentine tree is made even more striking by snow.

Why this tree is not straight like all the others is a mystery.

Shallow root systems on this granite peninsula create interesting patterns, especially when enhanced by the powdery snow.

Truly a winter wonderland. This scene is in the back yard.

Even the ground cover is more beautiful with snow.

Boughs sag under the weight of the fresh snow.

Walking the short loop around the cottage, each snapshot (above and following) of the snowy woods was more beautiful than the last. I could have stayed out all day.

The lane can be seen through the trees in the back yard. So fortunate to be in this enchanting, quiet refuge.

An old lane gate near the cottage.

A dozen large rhododendron bushes surround and nearly hide the cottage. Even in winter they are beautiful!

When the daylight hours are short, and the stove roars to dispel the cold that seeps into the cottage, the beauty of a snowfall in the woods can brighten spirits. 

There will be many more snowfalls this season. More photos will be added as I capture the images on a walk among the tall pines.

Autumn glory

Maples lead the way as the days grow shorter. Trees stop production of green chlorophyll and as it fades, the yellows, reds and oranges that have been there all spring and summer appear.

All photos © by the author. All rights reserved. It is illegal to use them without permission. 

There is no season in New England that is not beautiful. Yet, when one thinks of when it is at its most alluring, it has to be autumn. Whether one has been in New England or not, the reputation of the dazzling display of red, yellow, orange and purple on the oaks, maples, birches, ashes, butternuts and even the muted yellows on the pines are well known iconic images of America's northeast, seen in innumerable posters, calendars, greeting cards and post card set in the mountains and fishing villages along the craggy Atlantic coast.

Typical granite walls and fall colors of New England

For those who have visited during autumn, and especially for those who live in New England, the march of colors beginning in mid-September and fading by late October is unforgettably spectacular. It is a bittersweet time, as the colors are amazingly beautiful, but herald the nearing bitterly cold winter.

Typical autumn scene along U.S. Highway 1 in Maine

For those of you who have not been to New England in autumn, this post is a tour of some of the glorious colors that can be seen. For those who live, or have lived in New England, this is a celebration of the beautiful place you are from, seen through my camera lens during October in Maine.

As the days shorten, the air is cooler and as it passes over the still relatively warmer (but still very cold) waters of the Gulf of Maine, a fog known as "sea smoke" forms, producing an ethereal quality.

Oranges and reds appear, enhancing nature's palette. 

Shrubs also join the colorful display. Here, bittersweet, which has been in plain sight all summer, stands out in bright yellow. The root and bark is used in herbal medicines, but the berries are poisonous.

A boat leaves for open water in the bright early morning Maine sun.

The large gray pine trunks add contrast to the beautiful maples and ferns.

Ferns also lose chlorophyll and add to the autumn colors for a short while before withering away.

Pine trees also drop needles (their type of leaves) in autumn, but do not shed them all.

All over Maine one can find quiet lanes to wander and enjoy the changing colors.

Clam digging with a lovely autumn backdrop

A beautiful fall carpet.

One of the most stunning effects is bright yellow leaves and
wet, black bark.

Eventually, long sections of woods burst forth in continuous colors, giving a gorgeous scene for passersby to enjoy.

Fog mutes the colors, lending a ghostly cover to a cemetery

What New England autumn post would be complete without a picturesque seaside village nestled in brilliant foliage? This beautiful scene is of Blue Hill, Maine.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Maine in Autumn, and if not a New Englander, come see autumn. It is an amazing experience you will not forget.

Maine summer

Lower Beech Mountain trail, Acadia NP

Last month, a national morning television variety show published the results of a survey, "Favorite place in America". Topping the viewers' list was Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island (and two other nearby locations) in Maine. Acadia (please, there is no "r" in Acadia), tucked just off the Atlantic coast in the northeastern-most corner of the United States, is a destination for lovers of nature, spectacular vistas, rugged coastline and magnificent lush forests with hundreds of miles of hiking and bicycle trails over the granite terrain.

Moonrise over Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park

Although Acadia is Maine's top tourist draw, it exemplifies the rest of the state in microcosm. Wherever I go in Maine, which is usually confined to the coastline of the two easternmost counties ("Down East" as it is known), I find serenity and beauty that matches that of Acadia, but without the often crowded parking lots of Bar Harbor and MDI. It is a respite from the heat of Bangkok (few air conditioners here: nature provides cooling even in summer), and would have received my vote for "favorite place in America".

Following are photos of Down East Maine in the summertime. Maybe you can't get to Maine for a visit, but you can at least enjoy the view from my camera. 

View other photos at my gallery: visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/105909532@N02/ 

All photos © by the author. All rights reserved. Do not use without permission.

Peter's Creek, Blue Hill

Rhododendrons bloom from  mid-May to mid-June.

Lobster boat with Mt. Desert Island in background.

Typical Maine woods in early morning fog

What would any piece on Maine be without lobster? A restaurant in the town of Ellsworth.

Foggy morning, Blue Hill Harbor

Mossy woods in Washington County.

Sunrise on Narraguagus Bay in Washington County.

Night view of Stonington on Deer Isle.

Each day brings a different light on Mt. Desert Island.

A cruise ship in Frenchman's Bay seen through the fog from
Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park.

Penobscot Narrows Bridge, Verona Island, Waldo County.

Spider web and fog droplets in the air.

This tree frog came to the sliding glass door to prey on insects drawn to the interior lights.

Misty morning on Blue Hill Bay.

Many hummingbirds came to the feeder in the woods. Amazing birds.

Sea smoke on a pond in Blue Hill

The beauty of the north woods: ferns and pine.

Lubec, the eastern most town in the United States.

Indian pipe, or ghost plant, a parasitic plant that gets its nourishment from fungi, that in turn get their nourishment from decaying green plants.

Weathered doors of a shed facing the Atlantic.