Every visit to Skylands, my home in Seal Harbor, Maine, is filled with memorable activities and quality time spent with family and friends.
This summer, in addition to enjoying countless delicious meals, I spent my days sailing, swimming, entertaining, enjoying local fairs, walking along local beaches, visiting with friends, exploring nearby gardens, shopping, and simply savoring time at my beloved home. The weather was beautiful, and the flowers in my gardens were especially vibrant this year. I hope you saw my photos on my Instagram page @marthastewart48.
Here are more images, enjoy.
Whenever I arrive at Skylands, one of the first things I do is tour the gardens and terraces to see all the wonderful growth since my last visit. Here is a view looking at the house from my large “cracked ice” terrace. So much has grown – the container plants and the kiwi vines, which are original to the home, just thrive here.
I always have agaves up at Skylands. Agaves are exotic, deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and make wonderful container plants. Here are two on the ledge. I planted them last spring, when I came up to Maine for my traditional terrace planting weekend. In the trough below – young sago palms.
The lilies bloomed everywhere at Skylands this summer. The tall, colorful flowers filled my large terrace. this corner is just outside my living room window.
This philodendron is just under the deck off of one of my bedrooms and outside the door to my living room below. Split leaf philodendron plants are loved for their striking, large, glossy foliage and unique splits or holes, which give them a bold, exotic look.
Below the ledge and lying beneath the Western Terrace is the lady – La Riviere by Aristide Maillol. The original terms of the commission were intended to honor Henri Barbusse, noted author and pacifist. Maillol initially conceived the figure as a woman who had been stabbed in the back, falling at the viewer’s feet. However, when funds proved to be insufficient to complete the memorial, Maillol re-conceived the figure as a more timeless theme, the personification of a river. Here, she is surrounded by ferns, tree peonies, Japanese maples, blueberry bushes, and Lady’s Mantle.
We planted so many different kinds of lilies in my cutting garden. Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs and all with large, prominent flowers. The flowers are often fragrant, and come in a wide range of colors.
If you love lilies, don’t forget, they have heavily pollinated stamens, which stain, so before bringing them indoors, it’s important to gently pull the anthers with a tissue, or pinch them off with your fingers.
These lily arrangements are the first one sees upon entering Skylands. They’re on this long table in the foyer – so bright and inviting.
Here is a lovely lily arrangement in my Living Room – all flowers are grown right in my garden. On the wall behind it are bird prints by artist and avid ornithologist, Carrol Sargent Tyson, Jr. Tyson was best known for his coastal landscapes, portraits and natural history paintings of birds. He summered on Mount Desert Island in Maine and was an expert on the island’s bird species. I have a complete set of his famous bird lithographs.
Wildlife love to walk through the woods at Skylands. This wild turkey was seen strolling between the trees on a warm, but quiet afternoon.
This part of the woodland is filled with beautiful moss. Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants that typically form dense green clumps or mats, often in damp or shady locations.
I planted moss along the pine needle footpaths in this area of the woodland.
Here is another beautiful image of the woodland filled with moss. Sometimes, I use moss in my potted plants, but after the season os over, my gardeners return it to the woods, so it can continue to thrive in nature.
On one day, I visited the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden. The garden was designed by the legendary landscape architect, Beatrix Farrand, for John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller in the 1920s.
The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden is rare and blends English garden tradition with Asian-inspired art and design.
This is a Nemesia hybrid, ‘Sunsatia Blood Orange.’ It shows fiery red-orange flowers all season and can grow more than a foot tall and wide at maturity.
These frogs did not seem to mind me getting up close to capture their photo.
If you’re in the area, you can still make it – The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden will be open through September 13th.
I visited the exhibit of the late Emilie Benes Brzezinski in a new personal museum. Emilie is the mother of talk show host, Mika Brzezinski Scarborough. Emilie is best known for her towering sculptures of twisted chainsaw carved tree trunks. Here i am with Mika inside one of these beautiful creations.
Here I am with business executive Doug Newhouse aboard his boat, the Spirit 52 “Yonder.”
He took us on a wonderful ride – did you see my Instagram post @Marthastewart48? Here I am as the boat “heels to the ‘DCK’ edge” at 10 knots! The deck edge is the outermost point of the hull’s edge.
Back home, this is my front circle driveway in front of Skylands. The pink gravel lights up the carriage road.
And here is my handsome Emperor Han – always “on watch.”
On this day, my grandchildren and their friends enjoyed a guided sea kayak tour to the Bar Harbor Oyster Farm. Here are the kayaks ready to go out. The experience was made possible through an auction hosted by Friends of Acadia Annual Benefit and hosted by The Bar Harbor Oyster Company.
The group paddled through Acadia’s coastal waters and learned about sustainable farming, local ecology, and shellfish.
And of course, a trip to Maine is not complete without a ride see the seals that congregate and rest between feedings here at Bunker Ledge – a small island in the mouth of Seal Harbor.
Whenever family, friends, and colleagues travel to interesting places, I encourage them to take plenty of photos and share them when they return.
Ryan Mesina, our VP of Creative Services at Marquee Brands, enjoys traveling as much as I do. One of his latest trips took him to Kenya, the East African nation renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, abundant wildlife, and rich cultural heritage. While there with friends, Ryan embarked on safari, where he spotted Africa's famed "Big Five" - the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo - the continent's most iconic species. Ryan also visited Lamu Town, the historic port city and island off Kenya's coast. There, he sampled local cuisine, explored charming shops, relaxed on the beach, and sailed aboard a traditional dhow on the Indian Ocean.
Here are some photos from his memorable two-week adventure, enjoy.
A safari day in Africa is structured around the natural activities and movements of wildlife. Early mornings and late afternoons are the prime times for sightings. Ryan and his friends spent more than six to eight hours in a vehicle looking for animals.
Ryan’s group was small – just enough to fill the jeep. They had a knowledgeable guide and a spotter who would sit in the back on “lookout.”
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is an organization that cares for orphaned African elephants and rhinos – sometimes orphaned zebras too. The caretakers wear similar striped coats so young zebras can recognize them without feeling threatened.
This orphaned zebra, Notty, and the orphaned rhinoceros, Tytan, were rescued one week apart and became fast friends in the nursery. Now they are inseparable and always look out for each other.
Here is another young elephant cared for by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, with males reaching up to 13 feet tall and weighing as much as 24,000 pounds. This one has a lot of growing to do.
Ryan road through the Masai Mara Reserve. When entering, he saw these zebras in a formation, where they stand in groups facing different directions. It is part of a cooperative survival strategy that helps protect a herd from predators – “I’ll watch your back, you watch mine.”
Ryan also saw this giraffe walking along one of the dirt roads. Animals are not scared of the safari vehicles because they know they won’t be hurt by them, so they typically allow visitors to get pretty close.
Here is another elephant. On safari, one never knows what animals will be seen – some days, one can spot many; other days, only a few. Ryan was lucky – he saw lots of animals roaming the area.
This is a leopard. Do you know the difference between the cheetah, the leopard, and the jaguar? Cheetahs have solid spots and tear marks, leopards have rosettes without inner dots, and jaguars have larger rosettes with central spots and the strongest build.
Black rhinos are the only species found in Masai Mara. They are slightly smaller but more aggressive compared to white rhino.
African buffalo are abundant in the Masai Mara. They are often seen in large herds near rivers, swamps, and open plains. This large animal is also one of the Big Five and among the most powerful and dangerous animals in the Masai Mara.
The majestic lion is also one of the Big Five. This one is a younger male noted by his still developing mane.
More zebras are spotted. As beautiful as they are, these wild animals are not friendly. In fact, they are often unpredictable, defensive, and aggressive – characteristics shaped by the predatory pressure of their environment.
The gray crowned crane is a large crane species native to Sub-Saharan Africa. Its body plumage is mainly grey and it has white cheeks, a red throat patch, and a stiff golden crown. It is omnivorous and forages for plants, seeds, grain, insects, frogs, worms, snakes, small fish and the eggs of aquatic animals.
Here is a spotted hyena – a very skilled hunter, known to take down prey like wildebeest, zebra, and even large mammals like Cape buffalo.
Ryan and his group were lucky to see this Nile Crocodile. It was massive in size, more than 15 feet long.
And here is a pair of young African hippopotamuses. These animals are semi-aquatic giants, spending most of the day submerged in rivers, lakes, or pools to stay cool and out of the sun.
Another good sighting – this black backed jakhal, one of the most agile, intelligent, and adaptable carnivores in the Masai Mara.
At the end of the day, Ryan and his group enjoyed what’s called a sundowner – a traditional ritual where travelers pause at sunset to enjoy a refreshing drinks and snacks before setting out again in search of wildlife.
Leaving the Masai Mara en route to Lamu, Ryan took this snapshot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world. I climbed Kilimanjaro years ago.
In Lamu Town, Ryan and his friends rented this house called the “Fishbone” House. It was built to pay tribute to the beautiful Swahili architecture and is decorated with natural elements like found whale bones and drift wood.
A dhow is a traditional sailing vessel with a lateen, or triangular sail. Most dhows used in Lamu are made from mango or mahogany wood and can be small like this one, or longer and more ornate. They are built entirely by hand, using methods passed down through generations.
Walking through Lamu Town, Ryan stopped in several quaint shops, which are popular with tourists.
This is a Goldenn Palm Weaver with its mostly orange to red head.
This is The Majlis Hotel on Manda Island in the Lamu Archipelago. Ryan caught beautiful views from this vantage point.
And a beautiful sunset. I’ve been to Africa several times, but I always learn something new when I see photos from others who travel there. Thanks for sharing your images, Ryan.
What did you do this summer? Did you travel? Did you learn about new and interesting places? I always enjoy seeing photos from others taken during their vacations.
This year, my niece, Sophie Herbert Slater, and her beautiful family went on a much-anticipated journey to Great Britain, visiting London, Dorset, Oxford, and Edinburgh, Scotland. During their 17-day adventure, they spent time with friends and relatives, toured the historic Bodleian Library, experienced "The Making of Harry Potter" at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, hiked and biked through the scenic countryside, explored a castle, attended The Fringe, the world's largest performing arts festival, and so much more. It was truly a memorable and fun-packed trip abroad.
Here are some photos and Sophie's own captions - thanks for sharing, Sophie! And go to Nonfiction Nut @bydanslater on Substack for more!
This is the part of the famous River Thames, the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the River Severn. The River Thames Uber boat is a great way to see London and its many iconic sites.
While we didn’t go on the London Eye, we enjoyed seeing it from the boat.
My family and I spent the first five days staying at my Aunt Heather and Uncle Mark Mays in Putney, London. We loved exploring nearby Richmond.
It was fun to wander through this iconic Richmond square that’s become so recognizable thanks to Ted Lasso.
Here is Dan, standing in front of the apartment building he lived in while studying abroad in London in 1999. It’s just south of Regent’s Park. The park was beautiful, but very dry due to drought.
Recognize this former power station from Pink Floyd’s 1977 Album, Animals? The Battersea Power Station was one of London’s most imposing structures in its day.
We all loved our visit to the Warner Bros. Studio tour of “The Making of Harry Potter,” in Leavesden, which is north west of London. It was unbelievable to see the artistry and vision that went into creating this timeless series. Here is Felix in front of the Hogwarts train.
Recognize this greenhouse from the 2nd Harry Potter film? We loved the greenhouse and thought my Aunt Martha would, too.
This is just a fraction of the massive Hogwarts model.
So many of London’s museums are free to the public. While we will have to return to visit them all, we managed to spend a morning at the impressive Museum of Natural History. Here is a tiny snapshot of the extensive mineral and gem collection.
Despite the 100-degree Fahrenheit day, we walked from the Museum of Natural History to the beautiful Princess Diana Playground in Kensington Gardens. The children adored this pirate ship and created fun games with other kids.
We had a splendid beach day with Laurence Booth-Clibborn, who is also Martha’s godson. We climbed up to the top of the Hardy Monument before spending the afternoon fossil hunting and swimming on the Jurassic Coast. You might remember Laurence’s beautiful wedding photos from May.
Traffic stopped for this goose procession.
Julia met us with a delightful picnic, which we enjoyed on the rocky shore.
The next day, we hiked up the cliffs towards White Nothe. The view was stunning.
The cliffs of White Nothe are made of chalk, which is a type of limestone.
After our beautiful adventure in Dorset, we spent one day exploring Oxford. We were in awe of the majestic architecture of the Radcliffe Camera, the earliest example in England of a circular library.
We also enjoyed a visit to the Bodleian and Weston Libraries, including this special exhibit about the precious roles pets have played in human’s lives throughout history.
Here’s Silas inside the Bodleian library, which was founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley. it is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and holds more than 13 million printed items.
Here are Silas and Felix across from the Sheldonian Theater.
Next, we spent two nights “glamping” in a bell tent at the YHA hostel in Hawkshead in the Lake District.
The architecture and landscape all through the area is stunning! This is St. Michaels & All Angels Church.
We hiked about 12 miles to and through Grizedale Forest. It is made up of many hills, tarns, and footpaths – all managed by Forestry England.
Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit was inspired by her time in the Lake District. We took public footpaths through many beautiful sheep pastures.
Next, we drove to Callander, Scotland by way of Stirling Castle. We loved their incredible castle kitchen exhibit.
Here’s a view from inside the castle.
During our full day in Callander, which is situated just south of the Highlands, we took a 28 mile bike ride through stunning scenery like this.
Dan loved this book exchange inside an old telephone booth, located near Rob Roy McGregor’s grave in Balquhidder.
Here is one of many highland cattle we saw on our journey.
The drive through the highlands to Fort Williams was also magnificent!
Here I am with Silas and Felix before we set out on our hike up Ben Nevis.
During our full day in Fort Williams, we hiked up Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the United Kingdom. We were so fortunate when the clouds cleared and were rewarded with this stunning view.
We made some sandwiches with an assortments of provisions purchased at the Ben Nevis Holiday campground store and then enjoyed exploring the ruins of the meteorological station that operated at the peak from 1883 until 1904.
The trail, which is a little over six miles each way, was certainly mixed terrain! Here is Felix near the summit.
Here’s a view from the summit.
Silas realized that he was the highest person in the UK when he was atop this emergency shelter at the summit.
We saw the most vibrant rainbow after our trek from the Ben Nevis Holiday campgrounds, where we also rented a caravan.
We spend the final three days of our trip in Edinburgh, where The Fringe Festival was in its final week. This is Felix and me atop the monument tower built for Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson in the early 1800s. The 143-step ascent offers rewarding views of this historic city.
We had the privilege of seeing dozens of performers on the streets of Edinburgh. We especially loved the playing of guitarist and composer, Bartek Dabrowski.
We walked about 30 miles during our time in Edinburgh. Seeing a city on foot offered the chance to pop into so many fascinating shops, including The Gently Mad, a stunning antiquarian book and bookbinding store.
And, in addition to the street performances, we saw an incredible performance by Afrique en Cirque and a fun show by 360AllStars. The performances take place in venues throughout Scotland, including the university’s Assembly Hall. It was a very full two and a half weeks, and we enjoyed every minute.
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