January at Skylands and the Surrounding Areas
Temperatures at Skylands, my well-loved home in Seal Harbor, Maine, are expected to be in the 30s today and then plummeting to single digits overnight.
Last week, I shared photos from the recent storm which covered my Bedford, New York farm with snow. The same weather system also hit Seal Harbor, dropping 11-inches of white powder in the area. The same week brought rain and temperatures in the high 40s, melting much of the snow that fell. The weather has been very erratic along the east coast, but Cheryl DuLong, who helps care for my home in Maine, is a wonderful photographer, and always keeps me updated by sending images of the property and the surrounding areas whenever she can.
Here are some of her recent photos, enjoy.
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- This photo looking into the woodland was taken from my back driveway at Skylands not far from my tennis court. The image was captured around 4pm, just as the sun was beginning to set. Skylands is beautiful in every season, but under winter’s glistening snow, it is even more magical.
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- Here is another view into the woodland looking up the hill toward the “lost pools,” where my grandchildren loved to play when they were younger. There is definitely snow on the ground, but with the erratic weather as of late, much of it has already melted away.
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- This photo was taken in my dining room. Here, Cheryl caught the shadows of the window and the kiwi vine on the wall. These vines are original to the property and continue to thrive here at Skylands.
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- Here is my cactus. Do you know, it was only about a foot tall when I purchased it? It’s been trimmed down at least twice over the years. It’s planted in a faux bois container and top-dressed with pine needles. Cheryl likes this plant, especially since it needs very little maintenance – only a bit of water once a month.
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- Here’s the afternoon sun peeking through the trees. This view is from the back porch. On the right, one can see the windows of the dining room, and some of Rockefeller’s guarding “teeth” straight ahead.
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- The next day, Cheryl took photos during a snow squall – a sudden moderately heavy snow fall with blowing snow and strong, gusty surface winds. This vantage point is from the back porch toward the Jens Jensen designed Council Circle and fire pit, where in the summer, we roast marshmallows and tell ghost stories.
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- This is a view from inside through a leaded window in the living room to the terrace and the ocean beyond.
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- Here’s another view looking through the woods toward the ocean. Fortunately, this snow did not accumulate on and weigh down any of the tree branches.
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- Seen from one of the bedroom windows – this view through the tall evergreens, the ocean and Sutton Island. This photo was also taken during the squall. Sutton Island is a small, private island just north of Cranberry Isles, Maine. There are no roads on the island and there is no regular ferry service.
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- Here is my large “cracked ice” terrace facing Seal Harbor. During Memorial Day Weekend every spring, I love to come up here and plant all the giant containers displayed on this terrace – it is a tradition I have kept for many years.
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- Looking over the terrace on this side 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. Under the plywood box on the right is a long planter carved from a single block of granite. I purchased it from Trade Secrets in 2013.
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- Just below this terrace railing are wild Maine blueberry bushes that produce some of the best tasting blueberries I’ve ever had. A bare maple tree stands to the right among many evergreens.
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- These rocks are right outside my Map Room window. Some of the icicles are quite long. Icicles typically form on days when the outdoor air temperature is subfreezing but sunshine warms and melts some snow or ice. While it drips off, a water droplet freezes as it loses its heat to the cold air. 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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- Here is a wide shot of the same rocks. Mountain laurel, evergreens, and cedar trees grow here.
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- And look at this – very clear deer tracks on the snow. Which way did it go?
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- In this photo, more of Rockefeller’s teeth – hand-laid granite blocks indicating the edge of a landing toward the Play House.
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- And more teeth along the front drive that leads to the circle of the house.
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- Outside Skylands, Cheryl took this picture of Seal Harbor from the beach. Thrumcap Island is straight ahead. The island is owned by Acadia National Park, but is managed as part of the Coast of Maine Wildlife Management Area and supports the nesting of many birds each year.
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- Here, Cheryl is on the town dock looking toward the beach. Above it are the Jordan Cliffs and the snow covered Sargent mountain. At 1373 feet, Sargent Mountain is the second highest mountain in Acadia National Park. Seal Harbor Beach is pretty desolate now, but in a few months, this will be crowded with beachgoers once again.
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- This is called Banjo Wall – from above, it is oddly shaped like the instrument.
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- And this is sea smoke, or steam fog, which is formed when very cold air moves over warmer ocean waters. It’s a beautiful view looking toward Islesford, Maine. One never tires of views like this one. I cannot wait until my next visit.
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