Up at Skylands, my home in Maine, summer is also a good time to take care of important outdoor maintenance work.
I'm not at Skylands as much as I would like, so whenever I am there I try to schedule big projects, including the repair work to any stone walkways, steps, and walls that have shifted or moved over time. This year, I asked my longtime stone masons from Luppino Landscaping and Masonry in Mount Kisco, New York, if they would travel to Maine to evaluate the stonework and make any necessary repairs. Thankfully, they said yes, and for the last couple of weeks, they leveled pavers and repointed any deteriorated masonry joints all around the giant structure. Doing this not only restores the integrity of the stone, but also prevents water damage and erosion, and improves the overall appearance of Skylands' stately exterior.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
Skylands was originally built in 1925 by architect Duncan Candler. The home as well as all the carriage roads leading to it are made from local pink granite – a very distinctive color caused by the high potassium feldspar content. Since I purchased the property in 1997, I’ve worked very hard to care for the structure and maintain its historical beauty.
This year, I decided it was due time to give some of the stonework some attention, especially the many walls that surround the great “cracked ice” terrace.
I wanted all the joints to be checked and repointed where necessary. This means replacing the mortar joints between the stones in the walls.
From afar, one can see the spaces where the mortar has deteriorated.
Here’s a closer look. There’s no set schedule for repointing stone, but one should consider maintenance work if the mortar is crumbling or falling out. My walls definitely needed some repair.
Here is another area showing voids in the joints.
I’ve worked with Luppino Landscaping and Masonry for years. In fact, Carmine Luppino and his team, did all the stonework at my Bedford farm.
Alfonso evaluates the joints and decides where he needs to make repairs. Any loose mortar and debris are removed. This is an important step because if any deteriorating mortar is left, the new mortar may not bond properly.
Here’s my French Bulldog puppy Luna Moona watching all the activity.
Chow Chow Emperor Han is also curious.
Here, Alfonso carefully mixes the new mortar. The right mortar mix is crucial for a long-lasting, sturdy structure.
The new mortar is carefully put into the joint cavities of the stone wall and leveled.
Alfonso uses a pointer trowel to properly compact and shape the mortar. Alfonso has been a mason for many years and is extremely knowledgeable and skilled at repointing all kinds of stone and brick work.
This concave jointer tool makes the mortar consistent through the joint and helps to ensure a watertight seal.
Here are some of the areas that are now completely repaired. The joints are filled and match all the other joints perfectly.
Repointing generally takes up to 48-hours to reach about 60-percent of its final strength, but in a week’s time, all the walls will be set and secure.
Regular repointing is the best way to keep a structure strong. This is important especially in Maine, where extreme cold can accelerate wear and tear on the exterior.
After working on the walls, the team moves on to check the pavers. They checked all the footpaths and adjusted any stone that may have shifted over time because of inclement weather and growing roots underneath.
Old stone dust and debris are removed, the area is re-leveled and the paver is repositioned, dropped carefully in place on new stone dust, and checked for level again. If it is not perfectly level, it is removed and stone dust is added or taken away as needed. It is a trial and error process that takes lots of patience. All neighboring pavers are also checked.
The terrace stone is also sealed by my outdoor grounds crew. And now the entire area is done and looking so beautiful once again.
Whenever I go to Skylands, my home in Seal Harbor, Maine, the days are always filled with lots of activities and good quality time with family and friends.
This summer was especially memorable. Aside from all the wonderful meals, I also enjoyed boating, hiking, visiting seals and cormorants, touring nearby gardens, shopping, and of course, spending time at my beloved home. The weather was pleasant. The flowers from my gardens were abundant and beautiful.
Here are more photos from my summer in Maine, enjoy.
I always try to pack as much into my trips as possible. Here I am “emerging from the door” at Skylands.
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.
This is a reproduction of the Moon Gate created by Beatrix Farrand in 1926.
Set within acres of beautiful moss-carpeted woods, the Garden is designed to be at floral peak this time of year.
This frog did not seem to mind me getting up close to capture this photo.
The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden is enclosed by a high pink stucco wall. The wall is capped with orange tiles imported from China.
The Garden contains many Asian structures and statuaries. These are called the Garden Spirits.
On another day, I ventured out to Duck Island where we almost always see seals sunbathing or swimming around the rock pile.
These seals are curious from a distance. I was able to get a few great photos of these beautiful animals as they watched our boat.
Both gray and harbor seals are found on and around Duck Island.
Along the Maine coastline, there are also many cormorants – medium-to-large aquatic birds.
This year, I was asked to christen the Lady Clare, a day excursion boat offered by the Claremont Hotel for trips to Acadia by the Sea, lighthouse tours, and sunset cocktail cruises.
Here I am with the bottle of champagne before the breaking ceremony, when the bottle is broken against the boat’s bow.
At Skylands, my gardeners Mike Harding and Wendy Norling, worked hard in the woodland gardens, planting moss in bare areas along the footpaths.
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 is my West Terrace, where I always display plants during summer. These planters are new to Skylands this year. They were large terracotta planters we painted Bedford Gray and sent up here to Maine from my farm.
Here is a lovely lily arrangement in my Living Hall – all flowers are grown right in my garden.
I also road aboard the sailing yacht, Rebecca. Here I am at the helm, the steering station of this gorgeous vessel.
Rebecca is a 138-foot luxury sailing yacht built at the prestigious Pendennis shipyard in 1999, designed by the world-renowned yacht designer German Frers.
And here I am with my loyal and gorgeous dogs – out for a refreshing hike around Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park. The pond covers 187 acres and has a maximum depth of 150 feet. I walk around it every time I am in Maine.
And here’s a view that never gets old – looking out to Seal Harbor from Skylands. My trips to Maine are always chock full and so enjoyable. I only wish my time there didn’t go by so fast. What a lovely summer.
I just love my summers at Skylands, my beloved home in Maine.
Every year, I try to spend a few weeks - give or take - at my beautiful refuge in Seal Harbor, Maine. I always have a spectacular time with family and all my dear friends who visit. We all eat very well, feasting at local restaurants, on private yachts, at my home with produce from the farmers’ markets, and of course, my own gardens.
Here are photos, enjoy. And be sure to go to my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48 for more.
It’s been a very busy summer. After a whirlwind trip to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, I went straight to Skylands, my home in Maine. Here I am sitting in the front seat of my 1958 Edsel Roundup station wagon. I use it every time I am in Maine. It was a gift from my daughter, Alexis.
One of the first meals I hosted at Skylands this season was a luncheon for the Friends of Beatrix Farrand Society. This is my dining room, where we set the long table and then three other smaller tables for a total of 22 guests.
Here is one of the smaller faux bois dining tables dressed with brass and ferns.
The place settings include a gorgeous Spode plate, each with a local Bar Harbor scene. I collect them and have been lucky to find and amass stacks of these historical plates.
Here’s Cheryl DuLong who helps me care for Skylands.
Our lunch was so delicious – oysters two ways, Oysters Casino and Oysters Rockefeller. Do you know the difference? Oysters Rockefeller was first created in New Orleans in the early 1900s, named after John D. Rockefeller. Oysters Casino is from the East Coast and is known for its distinctive combination of bacon, peppers, and breadcrumbs. This is Oysters Casino.
Oysters Rockefeller includes a mixture of spinach, breadcrumbs, butter, and a blend of flavorful herbs, baked until the topping forms a crispy crust.
Here’s one plate – everyone loved both kinds.
We also had salad niçoise prepared by Federico, Louis, and German.
Everything was so delicous and fresh with vegetables from my gardens and of course eggs from my wonderful chickens at my Bedford farm.
For dessert, we had fresh peach ice cream served between homemade lemon cookies. And yes, the peaches are from my orchard.
My dear friend and longtime publicist Susan Magrino spent several days with me at Skylands. Here we are “emerging from the door.”
For lunch on another day – tacos by our young chefs “du jour.”
Here is the salsa verde – made fresh.
At Skylands, most of the meals are served casually in my kitchen at this long metal topped table. In the back of this room, I have what I call my “Great Wall of China” where I keep a large collection of all white dishes used for everyday dining.
I am always in awe at how much these plants grow during the warmer months. I dedicate Memorial Day Weekend every year to come up to Maine to usher in the summer season and plant all the decorative urns on my giant terrace.
On this day, I went to Peter Trout’s Tavern & Inn in Southwest Harbor. Here, the various foods are labeled.
We had the crispiest fried chicken served with homemade ranch dressing.
And fried chicken served on brown butter waffles and maple butter.
That night, our supper was lobster and street corn, cooked perfectly.
Along with baked potato, sour cream, and caviar.
During my several week stay at Skylands, nature is enjoyed inside and out. My gardener, Wendy Norling, arranged lovely gladiolas and Coral fountain amaranths, also known as Love Lies A’Bleeding, in my Living Hall. It’s quite the eye catcher.
I always try to visit the local farmers markets whenever I am in Maine. At one vendor, I saw boxes and boxes of sweet, wild blueberries. I also grow wild blueberries at Skylands and they’re the best I’ve ever had.
Recognize these handsome fellas? Phurba and Pasang, two members of my outdoor grounds crew from Bedford came up to Maine for a week to help with some tree maintenance. Here they are enjoying one of their many seafood dinners.
During lunch on the yacht Rebecca, we all enjoyed this beet carpaccio made with beet purée. It was excellent.
We also had fish with asparagus, tomatoes, and microgreens.
Here’s one of the last lunches I made – tomato tart, crab cakes, and fresh beets from my garden served with tartar sauce. It was so, so good.
Here’s a group photo of this year’s Skylands Team. On my last night, I’ve made it a tradition to take everyone out to dinner. We ate at Havana in Bar Harbor.
Summers at Skylands are always among my favorite vacations spent with family and friends. I hope you had a good summer with all your nearest and dearest. I’ll share more from my days at Skylands in my next blog.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
