Local Natural Wonders - Day 7

Image credit: Deborah Towle, Alltrails.com

Local Natural Wonders, Day 7 - Mast Landing Sanctuary in Freeport, ME

Mast Landing is located along the Haraseeket River estuary with over 100 acres, including trails, a tidal marsh, stream, fields and forested area. It was founded by Maine Audubon in 1967 and is a beautiful area to explore and observe wildlife.

Visit the Maine Audubon website here to learn more about the different trails.

Directions from Maine Audubon website:

From I-295:

1. Take exit 22 to merge onto ME-125 S/ME-136 S/Mallet Dr toward Freeport

2. Turn right onto Main St

3. In about .2 mile turn left onto Bow St

4. After about 1 mile turn left onto Upper Mast Landing Rd

5. The turn-in is about .2 mile up the road on your right. Parking is to the left.

Local Natural Wonders - Day 6

Local Natural Wonders - Day 6- Bijhower Forest Preserve in Phippsburg, ME

The little known  73-acre Bijhouwer (pronounced Bye-how-er) Forest is beautiful and includes one of the northernmost stands of mountain laurel in New England. The laurel blooms in late June and early July. This amazing forest also includes a lovely seasonal waterfall and the “Hundred Foot Rock,” a massive bolder covered with leatherleaf lichen. The trail is approximately 1.3 miles, making it a great, easy hike for children and adults alike. Directions to Bijhouwer Forest Easement 

From the parking area, follow the woods trail to the field. Follow the loop to the left, through the mountain laurel stand and into a conifer forest. Shortly after passing the “Hundred Foot Rock,” the trail continues through the low lands before rising again and then descending to Bijhouwer Falls. From the falls, the trail reenters the field from below the farm pond, returning to the woods road and back to the parking area.

Enjoy!

Local Natural Wonders - Day 5

Local Natural Wonders, Day 4 - Brook Trail on Tumbledown Mtn. in Weld, Maine

Tumbledown Mountain (elevation 3,068 ft) is located in Township 6, next to Weld, Maine. While the views from Tumbledown are pretty spectacular, the most unique feature of this mountain is the pond - technically a “tarn” - located at the top. Many hikers will go for a swim or just dip their feet in the cool water.

Tumbledown offers several different trails to the summit, with varying levels of difficulty. Brook Trail, almost 4 miles out and back, is an easier trail however there is some rock scrambling on the upper part of the trail, so appropriate hiking footwear is highly recommended. It can also be buggy, so be sure to pack insect repellent and don’t forget water! This description is from Maine Trail Finder:

Brook Trail (1.9 miles, Moderate): This trail is the most direct trail to the pond and one of the easier trails in the network. Starting at the Brook Trailhead, the trail follows an old logging road for about a mile. After the road crosses Tumbledown Brook, turn right and follow the trail as it begins to closely parallel the brook. Just before the summit, the Brook Trail is joined from the right by the Parker Ridge Trail and shortly afterwards ends at Tumbledown Pond and the Tumbledown Ridge Trail.

Trail Map

Directions to Tumbledown

Local Natural Wonders - Day 4

Photo: Richard Abram, Alltrails.com

Local Natural Wonders, Day 4 - Morse Mountain to Seawall Beach in Phippsburg, Maine

Morse Mountain to Seawall Beach is part of the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, and you will want to check out their website for certain restrictions before embarking on this gorgeous hike. Morse Mountain is a fun hike to a gorgeous little sandy beach, but you will want to arrive before 10:00am, as the parking lot is small and fills quickly. The trail is 3.8 miles out and back and easily accommodates strollers (it’s even paved on some parts). There are some steeper hills, but total elevation gained is only 433 feet.

Find photos, more information and directions at AllTrails.

Local Natural Wonders - Day 3

Local Natural Wonders, Day 3 - Squirrel Point Lighthouse in Arrowsic, Maine

You will find Squirrel Point Light at the end of a short, easy trail (1.4 miles out and back) in Arrowsic, Maine, 10 miles from downtown Bath. It’s a quick walk and one that is great with younger children, however a stroller will not easily fit on this narrow footpath.

Squirel Light is maintained by the U.S. Coastguard as a navigation aid on the Kennebec River. The Light and trail to the light is surrounded by over 600 acres conserved by Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and The Nature Conservancy, with some trails from Bald Head Preserve connecting to the Squirrel Point Light Trail (look for the signs).

Directions from the Squirrel Point Light website:

• From Route 1 in Woolwich, take 127 South (towards Reid State Park) for 4.5 miles, and take a right on Bald Head Road. 

• Drive 2.2 miles to the end of Bald Head Road and park.

• Follow the trail to the bottom of the hill. Cross the bridge over the tidal stream and follow signs to Squirrel Point

The website also includes history and other information about this lighthouse, so be sure to check it out before visiting!

Local Natural Wonders - Day 2

Local Natural Wonders - Day 2 - The Cliff Trail in Harpswell, ME

Today’s Local Wonder is the beautiful Cliff Trail in Harpswell. The trailhead is at the far corner of the back parking lot at the Harpswell Town Office,  263 Mountain Road. The main loop is 2.3 miles and marked in white blazes. The shorter Cut-off Trail is marked in yellow blazes. This is a beautiful, family friendly hike through a magical lush forest which leads to spectacular ocean views from the top of the cliffs.

From the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust website:

This is a rugged trail that includes a shore walk along tidal Strawberry Creek and spectacular views from 150-foot cliffs overlooking Long Reach. Unbroken preserved forest stretches to the east and south of Long Reach. The reach itself is a submerged valley that is now tidal mudflats. Across the Reach is the 90-acre Long Reach Preserve. The island in Long Reach is unnamed.

Fairy house zones were added in celebration and memory of Lindsey Perkins. They provide children and adults alike a place for play and creativity. Please note the Fairy House Ordinances and follow the posted rules when creating your fairy house.

Click here for the town webpage describing the trail.

Click here to get directions from Google Maps.

Local Natural Wonders - Day 1

Image from freeportconservationtrust.org

Local Natural Wonders Day 1 - Florida Lake in Freeport, ME

For the last 100 days we have shared nature connection challenges to help get you outside, enjoying all the natural world has to offer. We are now shifting to a new daily post - Local Natural Wonders in Maine and New Hampshire! Each day for 100 days, we will be sharing a special outdoor place, accessible to the public. Many hiking trails, lakes, waterfalls, and seaside vistas (and more!) will be included, and we hope you will plan to visit some, if not all of these beautiful spots!

Today’s Local Natural Wonder is Florida Lake in Freeport, Maine:

Hidden away in Freeport is Florida Lake (its shape resembles the state of Florida). There is plenty of wildlife, plant life and forested areas surrounding the lake. It’s an easy hike to the lake, followed by trails branching off and encircling this body of water.

Be sure to keep an eye out for the blue Florida Lake sign on Route 125, as it can be easy to miss! Once you turn onto the gravel road from Route 125, you will follow it between two residential properties to the parking area. Bring some insect repellent and enjoy this beautiful walk!

From the Freeport Conservation Trust website: A 167-acre property owned by the Town of Freeport, the large, shallow lake and surrounding wetlands are excellent habitat for waterfowl and a wide variety of birds, as well as beaver, deer and moose. From the parking area a flat path provides easy access to the lake. Hiking trails branch off the gravel path and pass through mature forests and by wetlands and streams. The trails can be very wet: boots and a sense of adventure are recommended. Dogs must be on-leash or under voice command at all times and pet waste must be carried out. Directions:  Take Route 136 north of I-295. At the blinking yellow light, turn right onto Route 125 (Wardtown Road.)  Drive 2.4 miles to a blue sign on the right. Follow the gravel access road over a bridge to the parking area. MAP

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 100!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 100 - Spend 100 Minutes Outside OR Find 100 Nature Items

Today is our 100th day of nature connection challenges! After today we are moving on to a new daily blog post to share - stay tuned!

There are two challenges today - choose one or do both! Challenge #1 is to spend 100 minutes outside doing whatever you like. If this challenge seems to easy for you (maybe you spend hours outdoors anyway), then try the Challenge #2: Find 100 nature items. 100 birds. 100 wild flowers. 100 seashells. 100 oak leaves. 100 squirrels? The choice is yours!

Have fun and thanks for taking on our Nature Connection Challenges! We hope it helped you get outside and find yourself enjoying and connecting with the natural world. In times of stress, in particular, spending time in nature helps promote healing and peace. Making time to be outside daily with the trees, the plants, the insects, the critters, the sun, water, rain, clouds and fresh air can do wonders for your health and well-being.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 99

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 99 - Make Clover Blossom Flour

Today’s challenge involves red and/or white clover blossoms - they are edible and they can be used in baking as a flour! Because clover blossom flour won’t hold up the same way grain flours do, you should only substitute up to 1/4 or 1/3 cup of the flour in your recipe with clover flour. The clover flour adds a different flavor as well as plenty of nutrients.

To make clover flour: gather 2 or more cups of red and/or white clover blossoms (leaves are fine too, but will have a stronger taste). Lay them out to dry for a few hours, not in direct sunlight (the sunlight will deplete some of the nutrients in the blossoms). Once dry, grind the blossoms using a coffee grinder, food processor or use a little elbow grease and grind the blossoms with a mortar and pestle!

Once you have ground the blossoms into a course powder, you can use immediately in baking or store in the freezer for later use. Another option: toss your clover flour into the blender with fruits, veggies and some liquid like milk, juice or water to make a smoothie!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 98

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 98 - Watch the Sunrise or Sunset

Today is the Summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day of the year. It is a great day to celebrate all the sun does for us and soak up some rays. Today, make time to watch the sun rise or set. Watch nature paint the sky with light and be grateful for all the ways that sunlight supports life on our planet.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 97

Nature Connection Challenge Day 97 - Build a Raft and Test It in Water

Today’s challenge is to build a small raft (or make it as big as you like!) out of any material you can find outside or in: popsicle sticks, twigs, leaves, bark, or even an orange peel! Once you have a raft built, go outside to test it in water. If you don’t have access to a stream, pond or other body of water for this, fill a bowl or bucket with water to test your raft. Does it sink? Float? How long does it stay afloat? Have fun!

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 96

Nature Connection Challenge Day 96 - Paint with Mud!

The challenge for today is to paint with mud! Use paint brushes or just do some good ol’ finger painting. Paint on paper, rocks or even yourself. :)

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 95

Nature Connection - Day 95- Bark Rubbings

There is a lot of variation in the bark of different trees. Learning to notice these differences helps us become more nature literate. Today’s challenge is a fun way to learn more about the bark of the trees growing in your area.

Bark rubbing:

1. You’ll need some paper and crayons or oil pastels.

2. Choose an area in your yard or on a trail and locate several different types of trees.

3. Put your paper on the tree bark and gently rub your crayon or pastel over the bark to capture its pattern. See if you can identify the types of trees you are doing the rubbings of.

4. If you do this with a friend or family member, you can trade rubbings and see if you can find which bark pattern goes with which tree.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 94

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 94 - Visit a Body of Water

Nothing says summer like a trip to the beach. Sand under our toes and crashing waves can soothe and energize us. Science tells us that bodies of water produce negative ions in the air. When we breathe in these ions it increases the serotonin in our brains, making us feel energized and relaxed. In a modern world that’s full of stress, taking time to go to the ocean, a lake or waterfall can be just the reset we need.

Today’s challenge is to seek out a body of water to swim in or just sit beside. Invite your breath to deepen, close your eyes for a moment and receive the benefits of water’s healing energy.

Nature Connection Challenge - Day 93

Nature Connection Challenge Day 93 - Make a Nature Table

We challenge you to create a nature table in your home today!

A nature table is a space in your home that brings the outdoors in and honors the earth and the seasons. Some might call it a seasonal table. Once you have decided on a table or space (it could be an area on a bookshelf or a window sill, rather than a table), you can decorate it with special nature objects, a potted plant, a nature book or two that perhaps focuses on the current season, crafts or anything else that seems right for your table. In the photo above, the two books are Flower Fairies of the Spring (which is switched out with the other books each season: Flower Fairies of the Summer, Flower Fairies of the Autumn, and Flower Fairies of the Winter), and The Story of the Root Children.

You may choose to add an item to your table if you are outside and find a feather or a perfect stone that seems to belong on it. You may also wish to change your table with the seasons! A summer table with seashells, a bouquet of flowers and a toy boat on blue fabric, for example, would represent that time in nature quite differently than a winter table with items like pine cones, evergreen twigs, and a book like Animals in Winter.

While this is a lot of fun for children, creating a nature table or space in your home as an adult can be very enjoyable and helps to bring the peaceful, healing energies of the earth indoors.

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