The Hawthorn

The Hawthorn Summer 2014

The Merryspring Kitchen Tour will take place on Wednesday, August 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year's Tour is bigger and better than ever, inviting you to visit nine beautiful home kitchens in Rockport, Camden, Lincolnville, and Northport five of them with water views. There will be a gourmet tasting from a talented local chef at every stop, with a total of 19 restaurants and caterers participating in this years Tour.

The kitchens in homes that range in style from Federalist to Arts and Crafts to up-to-the-minute contemporary will give you a look at what creative homeowners can do, together with skilled designers, builders, and craftspeo-ple. The chefs at work in each kitchen will give you a wonderful sampling of the remarkable, ever-expanding dining choices available in our Midcoast area.

This years Tour is generously sponsored by EBS Style Solutions and co-sponsored by Camden Real Estate. More than 40 local firms and individuals have also given financial support to the 2014 Tour. In addition, gift certificates to Francine Bistro, Shepherds Pie, and Seabright Pizza have been donated for raffle prizes and a gift basket from Stonewall Kitchen for a door prize.

Tickets for the Tour are on sale now. If you buy your tickets before the day of the Tour, the price is $25 for the whole day. On the day of the Tour, you can purchase a ticket for $35 at any of the kitchens or at the Merryspring office. You can also purchase a ticket for an individual kitchen for $10 each.

To save $10 by purchasing a ticket in advance, please stop in at Merryspring or any of these locations before August 6: Surround-ings, Once a Tree, or Zoot Coffee in Camden; The Market Basket in Rockport; Atlantic Baking Company in Rockland; The Highlands Coffee House in Thomaston; The Good Table in Belfast; and Rising Tide Community Market in Damariscotta. Advance tickets are also available by e-mailing info@merryspring.org or calling 207-236-2239. Tickets will be held at Merryspring for pickup the day of

the Tour.

Merryspring encourages you to bring your friends and houseguests to this popular summertime event, our major fundraiser of the year. All proceeds from the Kitchen Tour support the Nature Center, a non-profit privately owned park and education center in Camden and Rockport. Mer-ryspring has 66 acres of gardens and nature trails open free to the public every day, and it sponsors a year-round pro-gram of nature-themed talks, classes, and workshops.

For more information about the Kitchen Tour, including a preview of the houses and chefs featured this year, please turn to page 7.

Annual Kitchen Tour Bigger and Better

One of nine beautiful kitchens on the Kitchen Tour

C A M D E N R O C K P O R T L I N C O L N V I L L E N O R T H P O R T ~ M A I N E

V I S I T 9 U N I Q U E M I D C O A S T K I T C H E N S A N D E N -J O Y T A S T I N G S F R O M T A L E N T E D A R E A C H E F S

1 0 A M T O 3 P M

A U G U S T 6 , 2 0 1 4

Sponsored by

C a m d e n REAL ESTATE

C O M P A N Y

The Hawthorn Summer 2014 Page 2

Inside this issue: Merryspring Nature Center P.O. Box 893, Camden, ME 04843 Tel: (207) 236-2239 Fax: (207) 230-0663 Email: info@merryspring.org www.merryspring.org

Mission Statement Merrysprings mission is to practice, teach, and advocate sound principles of ecology, conservation, and horti-culture in order to protect our natural environment and to provide natural landscapes and cultivated areas for public enjoyment.

Hours of Operation The park is open free of charge from dawn to dusk every day of the year. Our offices and library are open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by appointment.

Membership Fees

Keeping in Touch You can sign up for our eUpdates at www.merryspring.org to receive the latest news on programs and events. Or you can visit Merrysprings Face-book page, where you can check on upcoming events. Please go to www.tinyurl.com/merryspring-facebook/.

Board of Trustees Ray Andresen, President Glenn Jenks, Vice President Richard Ailes, Treasurer Frank Callanan, Secretary Tom Jackson Kathleen Kull Karin Rector Sarah Rheault Susan Shaw Matthew Speno

Staff Toni Goodridge, Administrative Mgr. Brett Willard, Program Mgr. Cindy Gerry, Garden Mgr. David Cadbury, Property Mgr.

2014All Rights Reserved

Kitchen Tour Bigger & Better 1

Presidents Message 2

Summer Ecology Camp 3

Education Calendar 4

Fall Fairy Festival 4

Return of the Bees 5

Daylilies on Display 5

Activities at Merryspring 6

Kitchen Tour Homes & Chefs 7

Kitchen Tour Supporters 7

Merryspring Reservations 8

Individual $35-49

Family $50 99

Business $50-100

Presidents Message By Ray Andresen

As you can see by the articles and photos on these pages, were literally busy as bees at Merryspring this time of year. From Summer Camp to Kitchen Tour to Tuesday Talks to Family Workshops, your Nature Center is a real beehive of activity day in and day out.

And like the new beehives (see page 5) at Merryspring, it takes a lot of worker bees in our case, volunteers to keep the beehive healthy and functioning. Merryspring has a limited budget and staff, so volunteers are vital to our present and future. They help to plant flowers, weed the gardens, mow the grass, tend the trails, assist in pro-grams, serve on committees, and raise funds.

In fact, the upcoming Kitchen Tour, our largest fundraiser of the year, would not happen without the many wonder-ful volunteers who have been working tirelessly since January to put this enormous event together and without the dozens and dozens of volunteers who will be spend-ing part of this coming Wednesday helping Tour-goers enjoy our annual midsummer event.

And were always looking for more volunteers who are willing to give their time and talents to Merryspring. Be-low are just a few opportunities:

Assistance with Free Family Programs every other Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Supervision needed with craft-making and activities.

Ongoing garden maintenance on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Join Garden Manager Cindy Gerry in maintaining Merryspring's showcase an-nual, perennial, shade, and herb gardens.

Weedwacking around the borders of the gardens and other areas.

General trail maintenance and brush clearing.

If youre interested in volunteering and want to get in-volved, please contact Program Manager Brett Willard at education@merryspring.org or call the Merryspring office at 236-2239. Were waiting for you to join our beehive.

Park Etiquette

Merryspring Nature Center is a pri-vate, member-supported non-profit nature park and education center that is open free daily to the general public. For your own enjoyment and safety, and to protect and preserve the park, please follow these simple rules:

Stay on the paths or lawns and do not step in the flower beds.

Leave all plants, flowers, and wildlife undisturbed.

Dispose of trash properly.

Park in designated areas only.

Enjoy your picnic, but no cooking please.

Footwear must be worn at all times.

No admittance from dusk to dawn.

No smoking in the buildings or on the grounds.

No bicycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, or other recreational vehicles are allowed on trails, lawns, or fields.

No hunting or trapping is permit-ted.

No dogs, except service dogs, are allowed anywhere in the park.

Call for Nominations

Merryspring is also looking for some additional candi-dates for its Board of Trustees. We currently have 10 Trustees, but our by-laws allow for up to 17 on the Board so we may have room for YOU.

If you would like to nominate yourself, or you know someone who might be interested in becoming a Merry- spring Trustee, please contact the Merryspring office at 236-2239 or send an email to info@merryspring.com.

For the first time in over four years, children from the Mid-coast area spent a week in July at Merryspring Nature Center attending our rejuvenated summer ecology camp.

Nine Eco-Explorers spent their week at Merryspring going on nature hikes, playing games, singing songs, starting seeds, working in the Childrens Garden, and making art in their own nature journals. The program was designed as an introduction to nature and the basics of ecology. Each day had a theme, with games, stories, snacks, and learning lessons derived from that topic, as well as garden projects. The themes included introductions to ecology, soils, plants, water and watersheds, and wildlife and insects.

The program could not have been possible without a partner-ship with the Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District. KLSWCD and Merryspring have enjoyed a vibrant, supportive, and collaborative relationship over the past few years. When the opportunity arose in late 2013 for both groups to work together on building a summer camp program, Merryspring Program Manager Brett Willard and KLSWCD Education Coor-dinator Rebecca Jacobs leapt at the opportunity and began to plan the initial stages of a camp program. After six months of planning lessons, requesting sponsorships, gathering materials, and reaching out to the community, the two organizations were ready to lead two weeks of Summer Ecology Camps.

The Hawthorn Summer 2014 Page 3

Summer Camp Fun at Merryspring By Brett Willard

Learning about animal tracks A lesson on honey bees with Dave and Holly Edwards

Documenting the end of each day with Nature Journals

Brett Willard and Rebecca Jacobs with the nine Eco-Explorers

Learning how the 3 Sisters plants grow together

The Hawthorn Summer 2014 Page 4

2014 Events Calendar

August 5

August 12

August 19

August 26

September 2

September 9

September 16

September 23

September 30

October 7

SUMMER Tuesday Talks Co-Sponsored by Camden National Bank and Jaret & Cohn

Fall Fairy Festival

Families are invited to Merrysprings Fall Fairy Festival on Saturday, September 6, from 1-3 p.m. Children can make a variety of fairy-inspired crafts as well as build fairy houses in the woods. Author Liza Gardner Walsh will be on hand to sign copies of her books, Fairy House Handbook and Fairy Garden Handbook. Enter a raffle for a signed copy of either book. Free to all.

Family Workshops Free on Thursdays from 1-3 p.m.

August 14 Bug Safari Whats the buzz? Bugs! Search the meadows and gardens of Merryspring for insects and spiders. Learn to identify your finds. August 28 Build a Nature Journal Create your own nature journal. Learn about your surroundings through observation and art.

Weekend Workshops

Camden Naturalists Group Nature Walk 10 a.m.12 p.m. Free to all.

Fall Migration Birding Workshop with Glenn Jenks. 810 a.m. Free for members / $5 non-members.

Extending the Season with Greenhouses Workshop with Fred Griego. Time and fee to be determined.

Nature Photography Workshop with Kelsey Floyd. 9 a.m.5 p.m. $40 members / $50 non-members

August 9

September 27

October 4

October 18

Morning Meditation Classes with Sarah Roe Fridays, August 1, 8, 16, 910 a.m. $10 members / $15 non-members

Sign-up required

Tending the Perennial Garden, Early August Wendy Andresen

Invasive Plants Hildy Ellis

NO TALK (Summer Ecology Camp week)

Tending the Perennial Garden, Late August Wendy Andresen

Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage Sanna McKim

Climate Change & Maine Species Andy Whitman

Tending the Perennial Garden, Mid-September Wendy Andresen

Earth, Life, and Symbiosis Alder Stone Fuller

Wild Turkeys of Maine Christopher Lage

Tending the Perennial Garden in October Wendy Andresen

The Hawthorn Summer 2014 Page 5

For the first time in two years, Merryspring Nature Center is once again home to Langstroth-style beehives.

The new hives, situated in an easily observed spot just off trail #6, were installed in late June by local beekeepers Holly and Dave Edwards after volunteers dis-covered a swarm of honeybees on the ground near Merrysprings American Chestnut orchard. After the wild swarm was captured, the bees were moved into a new hive that included bees from the established colonies at Aldermere Farm. The bees accepted their new queen from the swarm, and they have be-gun to build their operation in their new home at Merryspring.

To celebrate the return of the bees, Merryspring held an official bee-ginning party on July 12 with Holly and Dave, our new resident beekeepers, elaborating on beekeeping basics and equipment, the social lives of bees, different jobs among bees, and how the queen rules her colony. Program Manager Brett Willard also gave a short presentation on the importance of pollinators, includ-ing native pollinators such as butterflies, moths, flies, and native bees.

Bees Return to Merryspring

Clockwise from left: Beekeepers Holly and Dave Edwards entertain on-lookers during an open hive demonstration; the captured swarm is moved into a new hive; New Langstroth-style beehives nestled by a white pine off trail #6; swarming bees begin to build fresh comb on a screen of the new hive.

Daylily Display Garden In Full Color this Time of Year

A delightful addition to the beauties of Merryspring, the Maine Daylily Society Display Garden is in full color now and is worth a visit. Planted and cared for by members of the Maine Daylily Society, the Display Garden contains a growing collection of daylilies, both historic and up-to-date. Cultivars blooming in the garden range from very early to very late. There are sweet miniature flowers on dainty little plants. And then there is Hemerocallis 'Autumn Minaret', over six feet tall. Unusual forms and spiders dance among the more formal round and ruffled daylilies. Colors run the gamut from near-white through dark black purple. Some are selfs, with predominant colors: yellows, pinks, rose, scarlet, orange. Gilt edges might frame the color with metallic gold. There could be a picotee edge and eye of a different color, pur-ple on a cream self for instance. The texture of the petals run from satiny smooth to corduroy, crepe, or velvet. Diamond-dusted surfaces sparkle brilliantly in the sunlight. Polychromes especially carry this on petals blended with colors, peach and pale yellow blushed rose.

Above photo by Antje Roitzsch, others by Holly Edwards

The Hawthorn Summer 2014 Page 6

Its Been Another Busy Year at Merryspring

Foraging with Tom Seymour

Tending the Perennial Garden with Wendy Andresen

Tree Identification with Doug Johnson

Family Nature Walk

Weve had a tremendous variety of interesting programs and workshops at Merryspring this year, events that have attracted hundreds of members and visitors, both young and old from here and away. In addition to the six events pictured here, Mer-ryspring packed em in for talks on wolves, sedges, weed identification, a birding tour of Maine, and the states biggest trees.

18th Century Herbs with Betsy Ann Golon

Garden Planning Workshop with Liz Stanley

1 NANCE & JIM BROWN, 11 HIGH STREET, ROCKPORT CHEF (10:00 AM TO 12:30 PM): FOG Bar & Caf, Rockland CHEF (12:30 PM TO 3:00 PM): The Market Basket, Rockport See wonderful work from Windsor Chairmakers at this stop.

2 BETSY HENSHAW, 24 CENTRAL STREET, ROCKPORT CHEF (10:00 AM TO 12:30 PM): 40 Paper Italian Bistro & Bar, Camden CHEF (12:30 PM TO 3:00 PM): Salt Water Farm Caf & Market, Rockport Raffle at this stop--win a dinner at Francine Bistro, Seabright Pizza,or Shepherd's Pie.

3 RENE MATHEWS & DAN NEUMANN, 9 CEDAR STREET, CAMDEN CHEF (10:00 AM TO 12:30 PM): Comida Latin Kitchen, Camden CHEF (12:30 PM TO 3:00 PM): The Highlands Coffee House, Thomaston See artist Dan Neumann's studio at this stop.

4 SUE & MIKE KANDZIOLKA, 20 CURTIS AVENUE, CAMDEN CHEF (10:00 AM TO 12:30 PM): Blue Sky Cantina, Rockport CHEF (12:30 PM TO 3:00 PM): Laugh Loud, Smile Big Cupcakes, W. Rockport Door prize at this stop--win a gift basket from Stonewall Kitchen.

Special Treat: Bixby Bars at EBS

Be sure to stop at EBS Style Solutions on Limerock St. in Camden between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for a special tasting of Bixby Bars,

premium organic chocolate from Bixby & Company in Rockland.

The Hawthorn Summer 2014 Page 7

Kitchen Tour Information

Kitchen Tour Supporters Generous contributions from Supporters of the Kitchen Tour, many of whom have their excellent services and products on display in the kitchens, are an invaluable source of support for Merryspring. Please help us thank these supporters with your patronage.

Thank you very much for your extra support.

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C A BI N E T S

Bench Dogs Inc., Rockland EBS Style Solutions, Camden Hammond Lumber Company, Bangor J W Custom Woodworking, Warren Viking Lumber, Inc., Belfast

D E SI G N / D E C O R AT I N G

Chatfield Design, Rockport Cornerstone Kitchens, Northport-Dream Kitchen Studio, Rockland-Interiors by Janis Stone, Belfast Margo Moore Interiors, Camden-New View Studio, Rockport

F I N I S H E S/ MA SO N R Y

Distinctive Tile & Design, Rockland-Freshwater Stone, Orland Morningstar Stone and Tile, Topsham Smith & May, Inc.Hearth & Patio Showroom, W. Rockport

Peter T. Gross Architects, PA, Camden Priestley & Associates Architecture, Rockport Scholz & Barclay Architecture, Camden Silverio Architecture & Design, Lincolnville

B U I L D E R S

Cold Mountain Builders, Inc., Belfast McCormick & Associates Builders, W. Rockport O B & Sons, Inc., Rockport Ober & Barrett Builders, Inc., Rockport Omni Construction, Inc., Thomaston Phi Home Designs, Rockport Village Cabinet & Remodeling Co., Camden

F R I E N D S O F T H E T O U R

Carol A. Witham Advanced Health & Fitness, Rockport David E. Olivas, DDS, Rockport Francine Bistro, Camden Seabright Pizza, Camden Shepherds Pie, Rockport Stonewall Kitchen, Camden The Good Table, Belfast Union Hall, Rockp0rt

A P P L I A N C E S

Agren Appliance & Television, Topsham Kelseys Appliance & Sleep Center, W. Rockport

A R C H I T E C T S

Christopher Glass Architect, Camden Dominic Paul Mercadante Architecture, Belfast John Edward Gillespie, Architect,

Camden

L A N D SC A P E A R C H I T E C T U R E / D E S I G N / I N ST AL L A T I O N

Lee Schneller Fine Gardens, S. Thomaston TREEKEEPERS LLCJohnson's Arboriculture, Camden

P L U M BE R S / P L U M BI N G F I X T U R E S

Brad Daggett Plumbing & Heating Inc., Cushing L I G H T I N G

17-90 Lighting Showroom, W. Rockport Greg Day Lighting, Bath Lighting Concepts, Lewiston S P E C I AL AP P O I N T M E N T S

Handle It!, Portland Rockport Steel, Rockport Windsor Chairmakers, Lincolnville

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5 RICKEY CELENTANO & DYKE MESSLER, 138 MOUNTAIN ARROW DRIVE, CAMDEN CHEF (10:00 AM TO 12:30 PM): Hartstone Inn, Camden CHEF (12:30 PM TO 3:00 PM): Cappy's Bakery, Camden Visit exquisite new estate on the slope of Mount Battie at this stop.

6 KAREN & ROB BRACE, HARBOR ROAD, CAMDEN CHEF (10:00 AM TO 12:30 PM): Laura Cabot Catering, Waldoboro CHEF (12:30 PM TO 3:00 PM): Vincent's at the Whitehall Inn, Camden Enjoy a wonderful view of Camdens outer harbor at this stop.

7 LINSEY LOW, 9 DUCKTRAP ROAD, LINCOLNVILLE CHEF (10:00 AM TO 12:30 PM): The Lobster Pound, Lincolnville CHEF (12:30 PM TO 3:00 PM): Inn at Sunrise Point, Lincolnville See a charming, lovingly cared for 200-year-old home at this stop.

8 ADELE & DAVE AMES, 22 ATLANTIC HIGHWAY, NORTHPORT CHEF (10:00 AM TO 12:30 PM): The Whale's Tooth Pub & Restaurant, Lincolnville CHEF (12:30 PM TO 3:00 PM): French & Brawn Marketplace, Camden See the familys many beachcombing treasures at this stop.

9 JEAN & KEN NOLAN, 48 CATCHING COVE ROAD, NORTHPORT CHEF (10:00 AM TO 12:30 PM): Delvino's Grill & Pasta House, Belfast CHEF (12:30 PM TO 3:00 PM): The Conscious Kitchen Catering, Camden Enjoy another superb view of Penobscot Bay at this stop.

This years gracious hosts and talented chefs are:

P.O. Box 893 Camden, ME 04843

Reserve Merryspring for Your Event Remember to think of Merryspring when you or your friends are planning a wedding, memorial service, meeting, or party. Conveniently located near Route 1 in Camden and Rockport, Merryspring offers a secluded, quiet location for your event. Stunning gardens and an outdoor hexagon are perfect for small ceremonies. A well-tended lawn bordered by flower beds filled with spectacular color from June through Septem-ber will accommodate a tent for up to 200 guests. And the meeting room inside the Ross Center can accommodate up to 50 people.