Snow at Skylands
Skylands, my well-loved home in Maine, is a winter wonderland.
The recent snowstorms, which covered my Bedford, New York farm under a foot of snow also hit Mount Desert Island. As you know, I don't get to visit my home in Maine as much as I would like during the winter months. Fortunately, Cheryl DuLong, who works at Skylands, is a wonderful photographer, and always keeps me updated by sending images of the property whenever she can. She sent me these beautiful pictures after last Thursday's storm - enjoy.
And, it looks like there won't be much melting there today - temperatures in the area are expected to be in the 20s.
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- This photo was taken the morning after the first of two snowstorms over the last few days. This view is from my basement window looking out at some of the “Rockefeller teeth” that line the edge.
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- This view is from the laundry room window. At the base of the ledge ahead, there is a pool, where Jude and Truman love to look for frogs during summer.
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- Here, you can see more of the “Rockefeller teeth” – big granite stones set on the edge to prevent falls from the 30-foot wall.
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- It’s nearly impossible to tell, but under this snow drift are the steps leading up to the main terrace. The “Bedford Gray” colored boxes protect some of my outdoor urns.
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- This view looks out from what was originally the “pub” window. Many of the trees are tall spruces.
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- This is a view looking down toward the guest house.
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- And here is Aristide Maillol’s ‘La Riviere’ all tucked away for the winter.
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- Just feet from the Lady are these steps to the West Terrace – also covered in a blanket of snow.
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- This frosted leaded window is in the library looking out to the front circle.
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- Here’s another library window view – looking toward the West Terrace on the left.
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- This is a living room window, also partially covered with frost. And, look at all the snow – drifts topped three-feet.
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- This is the West Terrace. Kiwi vines, which are original to the house, climb up the post.
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- This is the same view showing the leaded panes in the living room window.
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- Here is a closeup of a frosted window leading to a second floor bedroom. All the frosted windows are on the north side of the house.
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- Hard to recognize under the snow, but this is my circular driveway in front of Skylands, with the pink granite ledge ahead.
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- This window is at the end of the “dorm”, which was originally used for the housekeeping staff. This area is just above the Skylands kitchen.
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- This is a view from the terrace off of bedroom one – the sun is melting the frost from the window.
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- This view is from bedroom two, looking through the curl of a kiwi vine towards the majestic Seal Harbor and Sutton island beyond.
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- This is one of my favorite spruce trees – I love how it frames this view of Seal Harbor.
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- As the morning progressed, the frost from the windows disappeared.
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- On this window, the sun warmed a space just enough to form a peep hole.
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- It takes a little longer for the frost to melt from the long, narrow leaded windows flanking my front door.
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- Here’s another view of the front circle from a side powder room window.
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- This is one of several huge planters waiting for spring. It sits on the side ledge out in front of the house.
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- Here is frost on the flower room door.
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- This is one of my favorite views – through a leaded window in the dining room to the large “iced” terrace.
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- This is the same view, but closer through the window pane – it’s just as beautiful.
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- Can you see the reflections through this dining room window?
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- This looks out the other dining room window to the pool. Jens Jensen, the landscape architect who worked on Skylands, called this area a meadow because the trees were still quite young during his time here – he would be amazed at how much they’ve grown.
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- This is the same view, through the leaded window pane.
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- I love how the snow sticks to the bark of the trees. This tree can be seen from the windows of the office, the food pantry and kitchen.
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- And here is view from the Living Hall doors looking out onto a portion of the terrace which, on a sunny day, overlooks the sea and Seal Harbor. I love Maine – I can’t wait until my next visit.
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