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.

Biking Acadia National Park Carriage Roads

Acadia National Park Carriage Roads make for a beautiful bike ride. At least on the level and downhill sections. Had there been any.

I don’t know what made me think that the carriage roads would be an easy ride on fairly level ground.

Maybe it was the description in the park guide that explained that Rockefeller used gentle  grading for the 45 miles of roads so they wouldn’t be too steep for horse drawn carriages. Well, I’m feeling really sorry for those horses.

We started biking, uphill, on the west side of Eagle Lake, continuing, uphill, to the end of Jordan Pond. OK, maybe there were a few short downhill sections. But we were pretty beat by the time we got to the Jordan Pond House even though it had only been about 4 miles. So much for the 11 mile "short" loop we had planned. 

At which point we hopped on one of the park shuttle busses (supported by LL Bean), which fortunately have bike racks. 

The driver told us amusing stories about the terrible driving he had seen while on the job. While we waited at least 5 minutes for the guy who was blocking both lanes of traffic with a SUV and trailer who was trying to back into a parking spot. Or maybe, he was trying to pull out. It wasn't clear which.

The driver dropped us off at the Bubble Pond stop and told us the 2 mile ride back to where we started was all downhill. Which was an exaggeration. But the uphill sections were much shorter. 

It didn’t help that we are out of shape and that I need a new bike. Also new knees.

We felt like those NYC Marathon runners who start off strong and then take the subway in the middle and finish off the run at the end.

The entire time biking we were left in the dust by athletes training for the Tour de France, and by people cruising uphill on e-bikes. 

We wore Loud Bicycle tee shirts to promote Loud Bicycle. No one asked about them.

The scenic bridges are a big thing in Arcadia.

A shameless plug for Loud Bicycle.

Mostly Butterflies and Birds and the Seagull Who Stole My Lunch

Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Monarch Butterflies - all over

Swallowtail - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Not a Monarch - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Bald Eagle - Moose Point State Park

Note: no Moose

Glossy Ibis - Scarborough Marsh

Cormorant - all over

Deer - Several places. Yawn. Didn’t even bother trying to take pictures.

Trolls - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Seal - Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park. Saw it on Shabbos, so no picture. You will have to take my word for it. It was extremely cute. You will have to take my word for that also.

Something With a Dorsal Fin - Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park

Possibly an orca? A porpoise? The trick is, when you see seabirds circling a spot in the ocean, there is usually some predator in the area.

This is the Seagull Who Stole My Lunch - Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park

This is how it went down. First, he landed nearby. He kept hopping closer. We shooed him away. And then! When I was distracted taking pictures of the dorsal fin pictured above, he swooped in from behind and grabbed the wrap right out of my hand! He gobbled down the wrap and left the filling. But the joke was on him! The wrap was low carb.

Porcupine - Somewhere in these bushes. He didn’t hang around to pose.

I’d never seen a porcupine in the wild before!

Barnacles and Mussels - Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park

Second Bull Moose Sighting! - This time at LL Bean