Notes From the Hinterland
An Enchanting Evening - In the United States, last Sunday was Father’s Day. As longtime readers might recall, our philosophy for special days is to celebrate early, celebrate often. Accordingly, on Saturday, we met our daughter Shannon and her husband Mike in southern Maine at When Pigs Fly Pizzeria in Kittery. Clif and Mike reflected on their beer choices. … Continue reading An Enchanting Evening
A June Night - Mid-June is here. The planting is done, including the row of begonias in the back garden. They provide a welcome splash of red and white to go along with all the green. The begonias will bloom from now until the first hard frost hits. They never get leggy; they always look good. Begonias are not … Continue reading A June Night
One of the Sweetest Months of the Year - In Maine, June is surely one of the sweetest months of the year. Everything is new and green. The days are warm, but not too hot. The nights are cool enough to snuggle under blankets, which I love to do. Right now, as I work at my desk, the window is open, and I can … Continue reading One of the Sweetest Months of the Year
Monday, Monday - Even though Clif and I are retired, we follow a work-week schedule because our eldest daughter Dee, who lives with us, has a traditional forty-hour a-week job. We arrange our schedule to match hers so that we can eat together and go to the movies on Saturday and Sunday. Therefore, after a free and easy … Continue reading Monday, Monday
Almost Summer - In Maine, Spring isn’t quite over, but we are edging ever closer to summer. The view from my living room window shows how the trees are almost in full leaf. Green, green, green is the predominant color in my yard. Minerva, our guard cat, watches over the garden. I always complain that I have one … Continue reading Almost Summer
Done Da Done! And: Ferns, Ferns, Ferns - Garden Report Last week, I did it. Creaky knees and all, I raked the leaves from the last bed. Did I feel good about this accomplishment? You bet I did. Now, onward to compost, wood ash, and fertilizer. Plus, moving things here and there. For me, as I’m sure it is for most gardeners, May … Continue reading Done Da Done! And: Ferns, Ferns, Ferns
The Week that Was: Part II - Somehow, I posted this week’s piece when I was only halfway done. Here is the rest of what I intended to post. On Saturday, I went to a lovely poetry reading at my library. Jeri Theriault was the poet, and as she read, her husband, Philip Carlsen, accompanied her on the cello. This was a … Continue reading The Week that Was: Part II
The Week that Was: The Last Leafy Bed - There is so much going on right now—at least for this homebody (I can’t hold a candle to many of my lovely blogging friends)—that I’m going to touch on several things rather than just focus on one or two the way I usual do. First, the incredible growing ferns that grow so fast I swear … Continue reading The Week that Was: The Last Leafy Bed
May the Fourth, 2026 - Spring, Spring, Spring is here! Is there a sweeter time of year? I don’t think so. Brief, green, frothy, and glorious, Spring compresses her beauty in one short month in Maine. And that month is May. (When I went to college in Indiana, I was astonished by how long Spring lasted. I found the extended … Continue reading May the Fourth, 2026
From Fern to Fern with a Birthday in Between - In central Maine, Spring is slowly showing her pretty face. Soon, Spring will rush through May as though to make up for lost time. But right now all is tender and new. While doing yard work, I came across these little fern heads. While the ferns might not be at their prettiest, they are certainly … Continue reading From Fern to Fern with a Birthday in Between
Notes From the Hinterland 