Snow Falls in Maine
The first real snowflakes of the season are always fun to see.
In Bedford, New York this weekend, we're expecting temperatures to be in the low 70s - spring-like for this time of year. The weather has been quite erratic - last week we had our first frost at the farm. There are similar conditions up at Skylands, my home in Seal Harbor, Maine. The forecast calls for abundant sunshine and temperatures in the 60s for the next few days, but earlier this week, the area saw its first snow - about four to five inches covered the area. I don't get to visit my home in Maine as much as I would like during these colder months. Fortunately, Cheryl DuLong, who works at Skylands, always keeps me updated with beautiful images.
Enjoy these photos.
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- We’re still weeks away from the official start of winter, but temperatures in Seal Harbor, Maine, dipped just enough for a snow storm. Cheryl took this photo of the snow on the branches of this cedar tree close to my gate.
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- This is the long back driveway at Skylands. This snow was very wet and heavy with large flakes. This kind of snow starts out light and fluffy, but as the flakes fall, temperatures at the surface become warmer causing the snowflakes to partially melt.
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- These photos were taken early in the morning when everything still appeared very gray.
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- Snow even clung to the thin branches of the witch hazel not far from the back porch.
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- Hard to see the witch hazel underneath the snow. Witch hazel grows as small trees or shrubs with numerous clusters of rich yellow to orange-red flowers.
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- And here are the branches of a maple tree. Many of the tree branches are weighed down.
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- This is the Jens Jensen designed council circle and fire pit, where in the summer, we roast marshmallows and tell ghost stories. Fortunately, the fire pit is already well covered for the season.
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- To protect the large urns on the terrace from the 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 cold season. This view is from the dining room window. The door on the right leads to my Living Hall.
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- This is the same view from inside through a leaded window in the dining room. With the snow cover, it’s hard to see the large “cracked ice” terrace, but one can make out the paved outline.
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- This is just out my front door at Skylands – the circular driveway around the trees is underneath the snow covered ground.
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- The pink granite ledge of the Western Terrace is covered with untouched snow. The glass table that’s usually here in warmer weather is safely stored away.
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- In this view off of Terrace 1, beyond the trees, one can see Sutton’s Island. On this day, the ocean is quiet. It looks very different in summer when it’s filled with boats.
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- This view is off the same terrace looking toward the Cranberries.
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- Looking in this direction, the ocean is on left, and a gorgeous landscape of trees is ahead. The beautiful views are endless standing on Terrace 1.
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- This photo was taken later in the day as the sun started to peek through the cloudy skies. These rocks are right outside my Map Room window. This view looks toward the hill where the “lost pools” are located.
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- From this vantage point, the counsel circle is to the left and Rockefeller’s teeth are to the right – hand-laid granite blocks indicating the edge of a landing.
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- The trees were burdened with the heavy snow through the day. Here is a view as the sun began to set at Skylands. Cheryl took this image as she stood on the back porch looking southwest. Skylands is beautiful in every season, but under winter’s glistening snow, it is even more magical.
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- In the late afternoon, Cheryl walked to the town dock for this image of the setting sun over Seal harbor.
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- This is called Banjo Wall – from above it is oddly shaped like the instrument.
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- Just two days later, the snow was gone, and temperatures rose into the 50s. Here at Skylands, the leaves are already blown off the dense green mats of moss.
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- The leaves are blown onto the carriage road driveway and then collected.
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- Here, one can see Rockefeller’s teeth guarding the edge’s ledge in the distance. What a difference a couple of days make. It may even reach the 60s at Skylands this weekend. What is the weather like where you are?
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