Category: Nature

Moist Soils Sprout Toxic Mushrooms

Destroying Angel colony at McKeon Reserve By Kevin McKeon, Maine Natural Naturalist The recent rains have made the forest soils a welcome space for mushrooms to flourish. Mushrooms are the spore-spreading reproductive parts of the mycorrhizal networks of creatures living in the forest soils. You’ll see these mycorrhizae all the time—just dig a bit into the soil and you’ll notice tiny white threads called hyphae everywhere. Under your foot is over 300 miles of the stuff! This is the body…
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Lucky Few Snapping Turtles Become Apex Predators

by Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist Ranging from southeastern Canada to northeastern South America, the 40-million-year-old snapping turtle is one four species of snapping turtles, all of which live only in the Americas, and one of nine turtle species living in Maine; two of those species are marine, or sea, turtles. Ashes from ancient Wabanaki fires indicate that turtles were an important source of food, but their longevity and ability to live in poor habitats now make them prone to mercury…
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Photos of the Week: July 8, 2023

The Rhodies Are in Bloom! Access to the five-acre stand of blooms at Harvey Butler Rhododendron Sanctuary is by way of a trail on Upper Oak Street. A new trail with off-street parking is planned, thanks to a collaboration between Three Rivers Land Trust, Sanford Trails and the Native Plant Trust. Until then, park on the shoulder of Oak Street and look for an opening in the woods near the driveway at 570 Oak Street. Photo by Lee Burnett Harvey…
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There’s More to Bike Riding Than Pedaling 

Photo Credit: Laurel Russwurm via Creative Commons by Lawrence Furbish, Sanford Trails Committee chair  You may know how to ride a bike. But do you really? Bicycle riding is a terrific activity for many reasons. First of all, it is fun! How great is it to zip down the street on your road bike or hybrid or pedal along a trail in the woods on your mountain bike. Second, it is great exercise, burns those calories and works your cardiovascular…
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Wild Beauty Sends Roots Deep

By Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist  The Lady Slipper, probably Maine’s best known native orchid, makes its home in many parts of the forests. Maine has four species of Lady Slippers; Pink, Yellow, Showy, and Ram’s Head. Two of these are rare in Maine: the Showy and the Ram’s Head. (The “Ram’s Head” variety is endangered and rare world-wide). Being very beautiful, many folks would like to have some in their home gardens, but they are deep-rooted and next to impossible to successfully…
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