These have been big nights lately. That’s not just because we’ve been in the first quarter of the moon and it has been particularly dark, but because it is the time of year to see one of the tell-tale signs of spring: salamanders coming out of their hiding spots to seek out small pools where […]
spring 2025
Posted inTimes Record
Stopping for turtles in the road
Spring. Evening. Approaching town in a hurry by car, I lean into the curve that emerges from the woods just before crossing a culvert that spans a tiny stream. Thirty yards ahead a woman with one arm extended scurries across the road. I tap the brakes, slow down to look as she reaches the road’s […]
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Posted inTimes Record
Ducks returning to join winter-braving counterparts a sign of spring
While last week’s and Monday’s snow didn’t make it feel very spring-like, the sounds of birds everywhere you go certainly have. Our backyard is filled with a colorful array of everything from goldfinches to blue birds — a new sighting this season. Their colors and sounds make the gray, dull mornings feel brighter, particularly as […]
Posted inTimes Record
It’s officially spring, and vernalization is upon us
“Vernalized” is one of my favorite words. It is the concept of nature springing forth in spring and doing so particularly strongly when it is held back in dormancy during the winter. This week marked the official beginning of spring — the vernal equinox. It often feels a little disingenuous in Maine where spring really […]