Category: Nature

Bobcats, Ticks, Bears….Oh My!

Photo: John Henkelman By: John Henkelman, Registered Maine Guide The crisp air of a Maine spring carries the promise of renewal, painting the landscape in fresh greens and the sounds of returning life. Hiking during this season offers a unique intimacy with nature, but it also means sharing the trails with wildlife emerging from winter. Being mindful of potential encounters with bobcats, black bears, and the ever-present ticks is crucial for a safe and enjoyable experience. The snow, for the…

Earth Day Cleanup Plans Announced

Some of the dozens of volunteers who gathered on Earth Day last year to pick up litter on downtown streets Photo: Great Bay Services By Lee Burnett Several local organizations are observing Earth Day, April 22, with litter patrols and a trail improvement project. All events welcome participation. Some events are held on weekends, not Earth Day itself, which falls on a Tuesday this year. The biggest event is a litter patrol of downtown streets next Tuesday organized by Great…

Spring Ice: Hidden Danger Beneath Your Feet 

It’s best to stay off the ice this time of year.  Photo: John Henkelman  By John Henkelman, Registered Maine Guide  If you read my January column, you know ice isn’t as simple as “frozen water equals safe walking.” As winter fades, that equation gets even trickier. Spring ice is unpredictable, and here in the Sanford area, we have an added complication – most of our lakes and ponds are dammed rivers. That means they have current, and current is the…

Take an Outing on the Sanford Trails System

Enjoying the Rail Trail Photo: Melanie Taylor Coombs By Lawrence Furbish, Sanford Trails Committee Chair The Sanford Springvale News recently asked readers to comment on what they loved about Sanford and every one of the submissions mentioned our trails system. Each year the Trails Committee reports to the Mayor and City Council on its activities for the year. Here are some highlights from our 2024 Report. Committee members put in over 540 volunteer hours of service working on the trails.…

Time to Prune Those Apple Trees

SRTC students learn how to prune with Matt McAdam. Photo: McDougal Orchards By Matt McAdam, McDougal Orchards As orchardists, one of the biggest questions we get tends to be, “What do you do all winter?” Most expect answers like taxes, planning for next year, or taking a vacation. All of that is true for the most part. The other answer is maintaining our trees, more specifically, dormant pruning or winter pruning. Pruning is the practice of trimming (a tree, shrub,…