Spot and I take a lot of walks. And in the spring, summer, and fall, many of them are in meadows. The closest meadow walk is along the Damariscotta River, above the town of Damariscotta.
This year we had an odd spring. It was very cold! And the snow just did not leave. And then, all of a sudden the crocus came up. And suddenly all of the flowers were in bloom- all at the same time! The meadows went from brown thatch to green in a matter of days. We saw changes daily on our walks.
Wind sweeps up the river from the ocean, keeping the meadows near it cool. On the upper slopes away from it, heat pools near the fir and pine, making several micro climates. Each of them distinct, each with their own plant life.
At the beginning of the month
grass was just peeking through the old browned thatch.
Down by the river the thatch was very brown.
A small b of branch pine needles
and an acorn cap
form a small still life
on the newly emerged grass.
In the shade of the woods
the double leaves of Maianthemum canadense
emerged a bright green.
They glowed against the dried needles that carpet the ground.
The heat from rocks helps promotes early flowering.
The first flowers in the meadow are the violets.
They arrive while snow is still on the ground,
in moist places warmed by the sun.
They are a surprise,
as one walks along,
giving a jolt from the long cold winter and spring.
First are purple ones, then the white.
Next to show are very small anemones.
They are first seen in the upper parts of the meadow,
where it is the warmest.
They form little colonies of white nodding bells, the outsides of the petals are brushed
with purple or raspberry.
They open wide in full sun,
closing when cloudy or cool.
Soon after the anemones appear,
spring arrives with a rush.
The grass gets greener daily.
And taller!
Spot loves new grass!
The maples come out first.
After a hard blow, their flowers litter the ground.
The leaves unfurl next.
Some of the new growth is red.
Other leaves follow suit.
Against a spring sky of blue
they can be magic!
Evergreens start forming new growth.
And within two weeks they have grown,
and are bursting out of their coverings.
With longer, warmer days
the cheerful yellow heads of dandelions
fill the meadows.
Grass heads develop
As the month progresses,
trees left from old farms come into bloom.
An old apple tree is covered in blossoms.
A crab is nearly engulfed by old firs and pines.
Soon forget-me-nots add their blue color to the moist meadows.
While in drier areas the blueberry bushes are in full bloom.
The grass heads turn lavender as they flower.
As the May nears its end
the meadows turn into
meadows of dreams with
dandelion docks with endless wishes.
