Flowers and Hummingbirds and Ancient Korean Statues

Just because I haven’t been posting as many flower pictures as usual does not mean that I haven’t been taking them. I still take a photo of every single flower, at least according to Bob. And visit as many botanical gardens as I can.

But this post is only about the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Gardens on Mount Desert Island, Maine, more famously known for Acadia National Park.

The gardens are spectacular; it is amazing how many flowers are in bloom given that it is already September. But what kept me there for hours was the abundance of hummingbirds.

Hummingbirds are usually pretty ADHD-ish, but being in this garden was like being in a room full of ADHD kids who are hyped up on sugar. Which technically, I guess these hummingbirds were. 

And I was very much like those hummingbirds, flitting from flower to flower.

A lot of my hummingbird pictures look like this

But here are some others ...

When in motion, their wings were usually a blur and it sounded like jet engines were revving for takeoff.

Bob is ok with flowers up to a point. Past that point, he has his phone. The garden thoughtfully provides seating for bored spouses.

Other Garden Highlights

Tons of butterflies as well as hummingbirds. This monarch is on a plant aptly named Butterfly Bush.

Sample Views

You enter the garden via a gravel path lined with six pairs of antique Korean stone figures

This is the view from where the Rockefeller home once stood

Fun Fact 1: According to garden manager, Erin D., the hummingbirds are loading up on calories in preparation for their winter migration.

Fun Fact 2: We left Acadia National Park today and are currently in Augusta, Maine, on our way home.

I'm a River Birch, and I'm OK

This post is for my kids, and other Monty Python fans.

I'm a River Birch, and I'm OK.

I droop all night, and I photosynthesize all day.

Leave my bark alone and I'll stay that way.

 

Fun Fact 1: Yes, I actually googled, "What do trees do all night?"

Fun Fact 2: Trees actually droop their branches at night. 

Fun Fact 3 : Monty Python may not be politically correct. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the management.

Fun Fact 4: Monty Python may in fact be politically correct, or may not be, depending on your ability to follow the arguments in this American Conservative article - Monty Python in the Politically Correct Crosshairs  

One Day on Mount Desert Island, Maine - Channeling Thomas Cole

Fun Fact: Thomas Cole used to summer on Mount Desert Island, much of which would become Acadia National Park.

Islands and Ferries - Part 1 - Peaks Island

If you draw a straight-ish line from one end of Maine to the other, staying as close as you can to the coast without going down any of the “fingers”, it’s about 300 miles. (The B on the map is our current location - Camden Hills State Park.)

There are over 4,600 islands off that coast!

Many of these islands are tiny and uninhabited, some are connected by bridges to the mainland or each other, and others can only be reached by private boat or ferry.

These Islands just ooze charm.

Casco Bay Lines Ferry to Peaks Island from Portland

Then biked the 3 ½ mile Scenic Loop Road around the island.

About halfway around the island, we walked a trail in the Steele Conservation Area through a jungle to the remains of a huge WWII battery.

Every inch of which has been artistically graffitied. Even the insides of the pitch-black tunnels.

Someone enterprising should set up a kiosk selling spray paint à la Cadillac Ranch in Texas

keepingupwiththeparentalunits.blogspot.com/2022/02/continuing-home-new-mexico-to-oklahoma

Fun Fact Maine has a longer coastline than California! California’s coast is 840 miles long. If you stretch out the coves, inlets, etc of Maine’s coast and remeasured, Maine has over 4,500 miles of coast. When you add in the coastline from Maine’s 4,600+ islands, you now have 7,000 miles!

First Lighthouse and First Bull Moose Sightings! And a Submarine!

Maine Vacation Day 1

When we do not need to make good time, we go “shunpiking” (local roads rather than highways,) so we can get a sense of the place.

So, after fighting traffic through some of the most touristy places on the Maine coast, when I saw a place on the map with the interesting name of Biddeford Pool, on an appealing looking little peninsula, we decided to take a detour.

It was certainly off the beaten track. And by off the beaten track I mean without a Gift Shoppe within at least 15 miles. At the end of the road, after miles of mansions, facing the ocean, was the East Point Sanctuary with views of our first Maine lighthouse.

Wood Island Lighthouse and East Point Sanctuary

Now lighthouses are a dime a dozen, but have you ever seen a Monumental Day Beacon?

Stage Island Monument, one of two nineteenth century Monumental Day Beacons in Maine. A structure for navigating during the day.

Bull Moose Sighting

So what if it was in a Cabella's. Given our track record of seeing bull moose in the wild (never) this may be the only sighting we get.

Submarine

Right at the border between New Hampshire and Maine, we unexpectedly drove past a submarine in a concrete cradle just at the side of the road. Did we just see that?!? We immediately made a U-turn, and went to the USS Albacore Museum. 

Who knew Russian subs were within 12 miles of the US coast during the Cold War?

Normally I am not at all claustrophobic. But I was starting to feel uncomfortable with the stuffiness in there. I cannot imagine living on land inside that sub with 44 other people (crew size), let alone under water with the hot, noisy engines running. These photos were taken with a wide angle lens so the space looks a lot bigger than it is.

Amusing story about how the sub got here. The story starts off - "They waited for the highest tide of the year, and started floating her in. It took longer than they thought it would, and the tide started going out"… For an abridged continuation of the story see USS Albacore/about, starting from the section “In May of 1985” …