A Light January Snow Over Skylands
Temperatures at Skylands, my home in Seal Harbor, Maine, are expected to be in the mid-30s today with clouds and some light morning snow.
Yesterday, it was much colder - well below 20-degrees Fahrenheit to start and freezing temperatures throughout the day. In the afternoon, a brief snow shower covered everything around my home in glistening white - so clean and pure.
Enjoy these wonderful photos taken by Cheryl DuLong.
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- Here is my large “cracked ice” terrace at Skylands facing Seal Harbor. In this photo – one can see some of the original kiwi vines, now bare, that are still thriving after all these years. To protect the large urns on the terrace from the winter elements, they are covered with plywood boxes. Many of the urns are quite heavy, so it is much easier to cover them during the cold season.
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- These steps from the driveway lead to the “lost pools” where my grandchildren loved to play when they were younger.
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- Here are the two “lost pools” which I found when I acquired the home. These “lost pools” are empty now, but are filled every spring.
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- Here is a view from the front of Skylands on the ledge across from my home. The day started very cold, but by afternoon, temperatures rose into the high 20s.
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- Looking in the other direction, this is the front of Skylands. A circular driveway leads to my front door.
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- In the woodlands near my home sits this oddly shaped rock – looks almost like a comfortable chaise lounge.
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- There are many footpaths that meander through Skylands. This one leads from the driveway to the tennis court. Now covered in a light layer of snow, these footpaths are lined with pine needles in summer.
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- This gazebo by the tennis court is well-used during warmer months. My daughter, Alexis, and her children love to play tennis. A table and chairs are always put out under the gazebo for enjoying refreshments in between tennis game sets.
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- Here is the tennis court – look closely and one can barely see the white court lines beneath the snow.
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- Across the path to the tennis court is this giant natural pink granite rock. The pink coloration is due to the high potassium feldspar content, a mineral commonly found in granite. This pink tinted granite is all over Mt. Desert Island and is definitely one of the things that makes this region so remarkable and beautiful.
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- Behind this stone wall is Aristide Maillol’s ‘La Riviere,’ but don’t worry – she is safe and all tucked away in a shelter for the remainder of winter.
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- This footpath is between the Playhouse and my guest house looking at the Western Terrace, where I love to enjoy and host brunches when I’m there.
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- These snow-covered steps go from the guest house to my home’s back porch – obviously less traveled during this time of year – not one foot print on the steps.
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- Friends who visit and stay in my guest house enjoy this view from the terrace. Through the trees, one can see Thrumcap – the rocky little islands in Seal Harbor, and the great ocean beyond.
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- This is just outside my vegetable and flower garden where we plant several rows of artichokes. We planted them here because it is safe from deer – the bees will arrive en masse to enjoy the blooms, but artichokes are rather prickly, so deer usually don’t bother them.
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- Skylands is beautiful in every season, but under the glistening snow, it is even more magical. This is another look into the woodland with some of “Rockefeller’s Teeth” on the left guarding the road’s edge.
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- This is the small glass greenhouse. There is not enough room in this structure to store all the tropicals that decorate my terrace in summer, so those are all transported back to Bedford and kept in large temperature-controlled hoop houses. On the right – the wood shop and tractor garage.
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- Once the snow stopped, the skies began to clear, but it was still quite cold. Here is my flower garden. In Maine, my vegetable and flower garden are together in one large space completely surrounded by a tall fence.
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- This photo shows the charming Ox Ledge gazebo through the trees.
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- The gazebo opens to this beautiful large, flat overlook garden surrounded by majestic trees and stunning views.
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- From inside the gazebo, one looks out onto the Cranberries, Sutton Island, Dodge Point, Thrumcap, and the ocean beyond. Most of the boats have disappeared from their harbor moorings, but they’ll return again come spring.
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- By early evening, the cloudy skies lit up with light shades of pink as the sun was preparing to set. Thanks for sending these photos of beautiful Skylands, Cheryl. I look forward to my next visit.
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