Strolling up Mount Redington

Canister marked with incorrect 3984' elevation

After getting lost trying to bushwack to Mount Redington from South Crocker a month ago, my friend Sue and I returned to the Carrabassett Valley in Maine to bag this peak. This time we approached the mountain from the opposite side, following old logging roads most of the way. We brought good trail directions, a map and fresh batteries for the GPS - just in case. For directions we used a 2013 trip report at The Pursuit of Life blog which was fairly well detailed and came with good photos, which proved to be quite helpful. There were only a couple spots where the description was not exactly clear, but we never strayed too far off the correct path. Although not a marked trail, I wouldn't exactly call it a bushwack. Trees have clearly been cut on the trail and the summit indicating that this is, or was at one time, a maintained trail. Redington was not always on the 4000 footer list as is evidenced by the marked canister on a tree trunk at the summit (see photo.) Part of the fun for peak baggers is to find this cannister.  The current Rangeley Lakes Region Trail Map has the elevation listed as 4001 feet. Although we were only a mile away from Redington when he hiked the Crockers last month, I am actually glad that we didn't find the correct path to Redington then because this approach was, as The Pursuit of Life blogger wrote, "a delightful hike." The temperature was in the seventies, with a light breeze and foliage colors nearly at their peak.

Fall colors along Caribou Valley Road leading to the parking area

Bear Scat

This hike is relatively flat and goes through open fields and shrub with a final ascent up the mountain that is an easy climb. Although the parking area was full, we saw no one else on the trail the entire day. Everyone must have been hiking either the Crockers or Sugarloaf Mountain off the Appalachian Trail.  Although we didn't see any mammals, we saw lots of moose tracks, a couple fresh piles of bear scat and a group of spruce grouse that didn't seem to mind at all our intrusion.

Spruce Grouse

On the way out we caught a good view of Sugarloaf, a peak to be tackled next year along with five other mountains in Maine to complete the list of sixty-seven 4000 footers in New England.
  

Sugarloaf Mountain and Ski Area

Fairy Moths

The other morning, while walking our dog, I came to the end of the street and was greeted by hundreds of white moths fluttering amongst the tall grasses in the field. They reminded me of fairies. Maybe it was the early morning mist, but I was captivated watching them. Timing is everything, as I have only seen a handful of these moths at a time since. I feel blessed to have witnessed this scene.

Contrary to the title of this post, they are not actually "fairy" moths (which do in fact exist), but chain-spotted geometers. They are typically seen from August to October.

Individually, they may not look like much, but hundreds flying in the air and then stopping to rest had a magical appearance.

Unfortunately I was not able to upload the video so you will need to use a little imagination

It is Officially Fall

Although the weather forecast for the remainder of the week seems like summer with temperatures in the eighties possible this weekend, the autumnal equinox arrived at 2:29 Universal Time September 23 (Actually 10:29 PM EST yesterday September 22). This is when the center of the sun crosses the celestial equator. The sunrise and sunset will occur exactly due east and due west respectively. It is also when the length of the day and night are approximately equal. I was thinking that the next fall moon would be the harvest moon, but apparently that occurred on September 8th as it was the full moon closest to the equinox. However, since we have not yet had a frost, everything is still growing in the garden and my final harvest is yet to come.

Fall is a great time to be outside and experience the season fully. The cool evenings and daytime breezes keep the bugs away and after the first frost they will be practically non-existent. Humidity is usual low which also makes it ideal weather for hiking and biking. Bonfires and hayrides, apple pies and hot cider create wonderful memories waiting to be repeated. What do you love most about fall?

Farmers Markets Stamps Worth Buying

A nice complement to their vintage seed packet stamps released in 2013, the U.S. Postal Service has released the Farmers Markets stamps in recognition of the markets resurgence in this country. These stamps immediately caught my eye so I did not hesitate to purchase a sheet last week.  And yes, I do still send cards and letters through the mail.  For a narrative and pictures on the stamps' design go to http://uspsstamps.com/stories/growing-season. 

  And, here is a simple salad recipe for using the best of summer's produce.

Panzanella 

Ingredients:
4 cups crusty bread cubed
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes or cherry halved
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1 cup diced sweet pepper (red, green, yellow or orange)
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves chopped
vinaigrette dressing
Heat olive then add bread and stir until toasted. In a large bowl mix remaining ingredients.  Add toasted bread and toss with vinaigrette. Serve immediately.

A Trip to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom

Although the temperatures were below seasonal, a trip to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, where time sometimes seems to stand still is always a pleasure. We enjoyed an early dinner at The Parker Pie, Co. in West Glover. You definitely need to be in the know to find it! The Farmer's market made it feel that fall is already here. I picked up some Dandelion Jelly which is surprisingly very sweet and tasty. On Saturday morning we were treated to seeing at least 7 loons on the lake swimming together. At the end of the breeding season, loons will gather in groups prior to migrating to the ocean off the New England coast. 1 Loon Preservation Committee

Tucked away in the back of the Lake Parker Country Store, West Glover

is The Parker Pie Co. with some of the best pizza around

I love the produce and colors of fall at farmers markets this time of year

A misty morning on Lake Memphremagog

Controlling Grubs

This package containing 50 million beneficial nematodes arrived by express delivery last week. There are thousands of species of nematodes, worm-like microscopic organisms; and, while some can damage plants by feeding on their roots and foliage others,are considered "beneficial" because they they will attack and feed upon lawn and garden pests.  Beneficial nematodes can attack a wide variety of soil dwelling pests releasing a bacteria that will multiply and eventually kill their host. The nematodes will then exit the insect body and look for a new victim to infect. I have been using them for years to keep lawn grubs under control.  It is important to select the right kind of nematode to address the particular pest(s) of concern. For lawn grubs the recommended type is of the Hb (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) variety. These nematodes will seek out relatively stationary pests such as grubs. Another variety Steinernema carpocapsae will attack more mobile pests such as fleas and army ants. Because nematodes are alive they need to be refrigerated upon arrival and applied under the right conditions to survive. Ideally the soil should be warm and moist as water facilitates the distribution of the nematodes in the soil. Also, the target pests need to be present at the time of application, or the nematodes will die. To address lawn grubs, late summer, after new beetle larvae have hatched and are actively feeding is the ideal time. They can also be applied in the spring, but the grubs will be larger and more difficult to kill. Also, in the spring, the soil temperature may not be warm enough for the nematodes to thrive.

I selected Saturday for the first application as the forecast was for rain showers in the afternoon. As soon as it started sprinkling, I divided the package into the number of applications needed to cover our yard, mixed in water and applied with a watering can. Unfortunately, the soaking rain I was looking for never arrived. I then spent the next few hours moving lawns sprinklers around the yard hoping that this was adequate for them to survive. Since the nematodes I purchased arrived in a powder format and are not visible to the naked eye, there is some trust involved that they are living creatures and will do their job.

Having had infestations of grubs in the past, it is fairly easy to recognize the tell-tale signs of lawn damage from grubs. The grass will turn yellow in patches and becomes very easy to pull up by the roots. I prefer to be proactive and treat at the first signs of damage. There is no need to panic, however, if you find a few grubs in your lawn. A healthy lawn should be able to handle several grubs per square foot. If you dig up the grass and find more than ten grubs per square foot, or if you see evidence of damage, along with confirmations that grubs are in the soil, then treatment may be needed. 

I have found that the best approach is multi-faceted. If you have a problem with Japanese Beetle grubs then Milky Spore powder is a terrific organic approach to use as well. It is easy to obtain at local feed stores, and if you purchase the concentrated powder, one application can last up to fifteen years. Once infected with milky spore, the infected grubs will die. When they do, additional spores will be released that can infect other grubs. It is important to note that Milky Spore only affects Japanese Beetle grubs, other beetle larvae will not be impacted. Another approach available to control grubs is a botanical pesticide called Azadirachtin which is derived from the fruits and seeds of the Neem tree. I have tried two products. The first is AzaSol, which is a concentrated powder that has to be  mixed with water prior to application. This is available from Arborjet http://www.azasol.com/. The second product  is  Safer Brand Grub Killer. The later was very easy to use as it comes ready to apply in a liquid form complete with a hose adapter. Since any type of pesticide can also harm nematodes in addition to the target pests, you should not apply them within several weeks of each other. I apply milky spore no more often than every ten years; and, if necessary, azadirachtin in the spring and nematodes in late summer.

Every year the number of beetles (e.g. Japanese, European Chafer, June Bug) will vary, If it is a particularly bad year for beetles in your yard, you will most likely have a problem with grubs later in the summer and fall.  Grubs are part of the food web, being eaten by birds and small mammels. However this web has been disrupted by the introduction of so many non-native species. As their names imply Japanese beetles and European chafer beetles are not native to the United States and Mother Nature may therefore need a little extra help in keeping their populations in check. However, under no circumstances should pesticides containing neonicotinoids (found in many synthetic pesticides) be used. This class of chemicals has been linked to the population decline of bees and other pollinators. Although the U.S. EPA is not set to complete their review of these chemicals until 2019, their use has been severely restricted by a partial ban from the European Union in 2013.

Hiking North Moat Mountain

It was an absolutely picture perfect day to take a hike. North Moat Mountain (3196') is the tallest of the three "Moats" - the other two being South Moat (2770') and Middle Moat (2805'). With lots of boulders, steep slabs and open exposure, I highly recommend this hike if you are looking for a challenge and excellent views in all directions. We completed a 10+ mile loop, starting at Diana's Baths in Bartlett New Hampshire. This is a popular swimming area with a series of waterfalls and is a great place to cool off after a hike. I would rate this hike moderately difficult, but certainly worth the effort!

Views happen quickly as you ascend the Red Ridge Trail

The trail offered lots of cool rocks, boulders and ledges to climb

I was surprised to see blueberries in September

Fantastic Views 

Diana's Baths were busy both at the beginning and the end of the day.

Late Summer Planting and Preserving

Labor Day for many means the end of summer, but this does not have to mean that the gardening season is over. With proper planning September can bring the beginning of a new crop of vegetables. A couple weeks ago, I took the opportunity to clear out a few rows of plants that were past their prime and laid down seeds of radishes, lettuce and mixed greens. With climate change, there is no question that the growing season is getting longer in New England. Therefore, I planted a second planting of green beans in the beginning August; so, now that my first crop is waning, the second crop is just starting to flower, and if a frost holds off, I should have the first pickings soon. Planting in late summer has its advantages over spring. Since the soil is already warm, the seeds will germinate more quickly; and since many annual weeds have already germinated, there will be fewer weeds to compete with the seedlings.

These new seedlings will be ready to eat in a couple weeks

I continue to harvest lots of vegetables and I just finished my last canning project - a batch of pears from our ancient pear tree. The pear tree was part of an orchard that existed before our house was built. I don't know how old it is or what kind of pears it bears, but the fruit is very sweet and resembles a Bartlett. Although the tree has lost most of its branches from wind and storms, it continues to produce fruit year after year, much to everyone's delight.

Ye Olde Pear Tree. Photo Credit: Lee Miller