Merryspring Summer 2009 Newsletter

The Hawthorn

The Hawthorn Summer 2009 Kitchen Tour 2009: Wednesday, August 5 Save the Date! How would you like to spend a summer’s day strolling into some of the most beautiful kitchens in the area, where chefs from local restaurants will ply you with delectable treats from their menus? The annual Merryspring Kitchen Tour is your chance to do just that—and best of all, the proceeds from this major fundraiser are a significant contribution to Merryspring’s annual budget. Spread the word and bring your friends and visitors!

Masterson Kitchen

This year’s tour features an array of kitchens in eight lovely homes in Camden, Rockport, and Lincolnville. You’ll see a marvelous variety of kitchen appliances, materials, and décor. Fifteen chefs will be on hand throughout the day, preparing delicious finger food. As a bonus, homeowners have invited you to visit a glass-art studio and a woodworking shop. As you tour, you will have two chances to win a door prize, dinner at Francine Bistro! (continued on page 7)

Art, Nature & Design: a Garden Exhibition Sculpture has been integral to the experience of the garden since the dawn of western civilization. This summer Art, Nature & Design will bring sculpture to Merryspring. The brainchild of local sculptress Antje Roitzsch, whose muse and teacher is nature, this exhibition will allow the public to experience several works, all inspired by stages of plant growth. The sculptures will be carefully placed throughout the formal garden, dynamic and ever-changing with light, bloom, and growth. Some pieces will be for sale, with 20 percent of the cost going to support the park. The first piece, Flowering, has been installed in the Children’s Garden and planted with vines of painted-lady scarlet runner beans and morning glory. Ms. Roitzsch explains, “Mother nature will do the rest and collaborate with Flowering. It will look different every week and throughout the season: sprouting, unfolding, blooming, fruiting, seeding, wilting and completely dying off. I can’t wait to witness the journey this sculpture will take. And, eventually the steel itself will rust. I didn’t apply any finish, because the natural patina, the rust, will be a great color.” In keeping with Ms. Roitzsch’s belief that sculpture should be experienced directly, children (and adults) are encouraged to touch and interact with her work. The German word for understanding and comprehending is begreifen, to touch. In following the surface with one’s hand, a deeper understanding and engagement unfolds. The opening of Art, Nature & Design will take place Thursday, July 23 from 4-6pm. The community is invited for an evening stroll through the exhibition garden and light refreshments. Please leave your pets at home; they are not permitted in the gardens. Join the artist for a slide presentation documenting the sculptures’ creation followed by a guided tour of the exhibition on Thursday, August 13 at 5:30pm or Saturday, August 22 at 3:00pm. Mark Wallack, Antje Roitzsch, and Terry Bradshaw install Flowering in the Children’s Garden

Page 2

The Hawthorn

Summer 2009

Inside this issue:

Merryspring Nature Center

Kitchen Tour

1

P.O. Box 893, Camden, ME 04843 Tel: (207) 236-2239 Fax: (207) 230-0663 Email: [email protected] www.merryspring.org

Art, Nature & Design

1

Delightfully Sour Sorrel

2

Call for Nominations

2

Mission Statement

Education Calendar

Merryspring’s mission is to practice, teach, and advocate sound principles of ecology, conservation, and horticulture 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 TuesdayFriday from 9am to 2pm, or by appointment.

Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella), center, seen growing in acid soil amidst Wild Lily-of-the-Valley/Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) and wild low-bush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

Membership Individual $35 Family $50 Business $50-100

Board of Trustees Margaret E. Barclay, President Kathleen Kull, Vice President Patricia B. Algrant, 2nd Vice President Frank Callanan, Secretary Ray Andresen Hildy Ellis Douglas W. Miller James Sady Susan Shaw Carol Woodbury -Witham

Staff Toni Goodridge, Administrative Mgr. Gail Sutton, Buildings & Grounds Mgr. Bill Sutton, Buildings & Grounds Assist.

AmeriCorps Environmental Educator Rachel Potter ©2007—All Rights Reserved

Sign up for our eUpdates at www.merryspring.org to receive the latest news on programs and events. Visit Merryspring’s Facebook page where you can check on upcoming programs and events. Go to http://www.tinyurl.com/ merryspring-facebook/ We hope you’ll become a fan.

Delightfully Sour Sorrel by Meg Barclay Have you been throwing out the baby with the bathwater? Perhaps, if you’ve been weeding clumps of sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) from your garden and tossing them in the compost. This delectable, greygreen member of the buckwheat family is a delicious salad green or pot herb. The leaves of this European native, growing in a loose basal rosette, resemble the head of a sheep with a long nose and two little ears near the stem, giving the plant its common name and most identifying feature (see photo). Sheep sorrel has naturalized throughout North America, flourishing in acid soils. The leaves can be collected from early spring to heavy frost, but are best before the plant sends up its slender stalk peppered with tiny reddish flowers. Eaten raw, the tender, vitamin-C-rich greens have a lovely, lemony flavor that can be complemented by tossing with olive oil and cracked pepper. Wild sorrel may also be lightly steamed and served with butter or substituted for the milder, commercial species in recipes for sorrel soup, enhancing the tartness of the dish. Sheep sorrel contains oxalic acid, which should be avoided by those with certain medical conditions, including kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Remember: never eat any plant unless you are sure of its identity. Seek the advice of an experienced wild gatherer. Better yet, join us for our Food for Thought Series programs: Native Perennials and Edibles, (sponsored by Aldermere Farm), Mushrooming, and Fall Foraging (see Education Calendar).

3-4

Geocaching

5

Plant Sale

5

Lawn Be Gone!

6

Bumble Bees

8

Merryspring Needs You: A call for Nominations The Merryspring Board is a dynamic and active group with a wide range of skills related to all aspects of Merryspring: gardening, education, writing, finance, fundraising, natural history, technology, and personnel, to name a few. The board is always seeking to add voices and talents so that Merryspring can better serve our community. Our Nominating Committee is seeking new Trustees from now through September 15th. If you are interested in becoming involved in the operations of Merryspring at a deeper level, please send a letter explaining your interest and a short resume to Nominating Committee, Merryspring, P.O. Box 893, Camden, ME 04843.

Merryspring appreciates the free Internet service provided to it and many other non-profit groups in Maine by Great Works Internet of Kittery, Maine. Give them a try!

The Hawthorn

Summer 2009

Page 3

Late Summer-Fall 2009 Education Calendar FOOD FOR THOUGHT SERIES Held at Merryspring’s Ross Center. Preregistration Required.

Mushrooming with Greg Marley: Sundays, 9-11:30 a.m.—July 19, Aug. 2 & 30, Sept. 13, and Oct. 18; $150 Members/ $175 Non-members (includes a field guide). Acquire the skills to identify and collect common mushrooms of the Maine woods with a noted mycologist. Call 236-2239 to register.

Native Perennials and Edibles with Rebecca Jacobs: Sunday, July 19, 2pm; FREE – Sponsored by Aldermere Farm Learn about hardy native perennials and edibles in this lecture. Contact Aldermere Farm at 236-2730 or [email protected] to register.

Erickson Fields Community Garden Presentation: Saturday, September 12, 9am; FREE – Sponsored by Aldermere Farm A collaborative presentation by a number of groups who have had gardening projects at Erickson Fields Preserve Community Gardens. Contact Aldermere Farm at 236-2739 or [email protected] to register.

Fall Foraging with Arthur Haines: Talk—Saturday, September 19, 7-8pm; $5 Members/$7 Non-members; Workshop— Sunday, Sept. 20, 10am-3pm; $45 Members/$65 Non-members. Learn about the edible, medicinal, and useful wild plants of Maine from this research botanist. Call 236-2239 to register.

WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Space is limited. Call 236-2239 for more information or to pre-register.

A Children’s Exploration of Nature through Drawing with Kathie Gass: 10:30-11:45am - Tues., June 23; Thurs., July 23 & Thurs., Aug. 20; $5 Member family/$8 Non-member family per class. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Explore the blooms and beasts of the Merryspring gardens with Kathie Gass, artist and teacher.

Designing Continuously Blooming Gardens with Lee Schneller Sligh: Friday, July 31, 10am-2pm; $30 Members/ $40 Non-members. Participants may purchase the required text, The Ever Blooming Flower Garden by Lee Schneller Sligh, for $20 (a $5 discount) if they pre-order with registration (10% member discount does not apply). Join a popular author and garden expert for a workshop on garden design. The workshop begins in the classroom and moves out into the garden after lunch.

Turkey Vultures with Barbara Tomlinson of Wild Haven: Friday, August 14, 10-11am; $5 Members/$10 Nonmembers. Children attend free, but must be accompanied by an adult. Children of all ages will enjoy bad jokes and fun facts while seeing this superb glider up close.

FREE PUBLIC EVENTS Bringing Back the American Chestnut with Eric Evans: Thursday, July 9, 6:30-8:30pm. The Breeding Coordinator and Vice President of the Maine Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation will describe the progress in developing a blightresistant American chestnut and lead a tour of the breeding orchard at Merryspring.

Notes on a Lost Flute: a Field Guide to the Wabanaki—Book Signing & Lecture by author Kerry Hardy Thursday, July 16, 7:00pm. Join naturalist and author Kerry Hardy for an in-depth look at the traditional food year of the Wabanaki people, including an exploration of the plants and animals that sustained them throughout the cycle of seasons. Copies of Hardy’s new book, Notes on a Lost Flute: A Field Guide to the Wabanaki, will be available for purchase.

Art, Nature & Design: Exhibition - July 23 to September 30; Opening - Thursday, July 23, 4-6pm; Slide show and Guided Walk—Thursday, August 13, 5:30pm and Saturday, August 22, 3:00pm. This summer the work of sculptress Antje Roitzsch will be exhibited in the gardens. Take a stroll and enjoy how her abstract, organic pieces interact with the forms of nature.

Energy Auditing with Eric Evans: Saturday, October 3, 9-11:30am. Get an in-depth understanding of residential energy audits. Building Performance Analyst Evans will give a brief introduction followed by a complete demonstration energy audit of Merryspring’s Ross Center

All-Hallows Eve Enchanted Forest, co-sponsor Ashwood Waldorf School: Saturday, October 31, Sunset. A chance for wee sprites and goblins to be guided through a jack-o-lantern lit wood filled with fairytale vignettes and to enjoy twilight refreshments in the garden. (continued on page 4)

Page 4

The Hawthorn

Summer 2009

FREE FAMILY PROGRAMS Children must be accompanied by an adult. Workshops are offered if weather permits. In case of rain, please check for cancellation.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES – 2nd Sundays of the month Nature Journaling:

July 12, 1-3pm

Keeping a nature journal is a great way to practice observation skills, and it makes a fun reminder of your trips and adventures. Take a nature walk at Merrysrping and learn some techniques for making your own journal.

Geocaching Festival:

August 9, 12-3pm

Whether you are new to Geocaching or an experienced trekker, this event is sure to please. Visit Merryspring to participate in a mystery trek, to get advice about equipment, and to learn more about this fun family sport.

Fort Building & Fairy Houses:

September 13, 1-3pm

Fall is a great time to spend some time in the woods. Come and build your own secret fortress in the forest or construct a tiny home for forest dwellers. Merryspring will supply building tips and supplies; you supply the creativity.

NATURE EXPLORERS – 4th Sundays of the month Bug Safari:

July 26, 1-3pm

There is a whole world of activity in the soil and air around us – a bug’s world! We will make our own simple bug boxes and then travel through the gardens and forest to search for insects of all shapes and sizes.

Herbariums:

August 23, 1-3pm

Creating an herbarium is a great way to learn to identify plants. Join Merryspring to make your own plant press and learn how to preserve flowers and plants to use in a nature journal – or to start your own herbarium.

Trees:

September 27, 1-3pm

Trees provide us with food, warmth, shelter, shade … and so much more! Come meet the trees in Merryspring’s forest and learn how to identify some of Maine’s common varieties.

2009 SUMMER TALKS Sponsored by

Noon on Tuesdays; bring a bag lunch. Members & Children Free, Others $5 July 7

Midsummer Care and Maintenance of Perennials—Wendy Andresen

July 14

Shade Gardening - Rick Sawyer, Fernwood

July 21

Gardening for the Birds—Joe Gray, Mid-Coast Audubon

July 28

Seed Saving, Neil Lash—Medomak Valley High School

August 4

Gladiolus: Beautiful Summer Bulbs - Paul Cates, Cates Family Glads

August 11

Root Cellaring—Cheryl Wixson, Autumn Crops

August 18

Gardening Goes Vertical: Intensive Raised Bedding Techniques—Shelley Johnson, BreathEasy Farm

Some dates may be subject to change and additional workshops and field trips will be added. Be sure to check our website www.merryspring.org for the latest postings. If you’d like to be sent news of new programs and reminders of upcoming events, send your name and email address to [email protected]. We will never share or sell your email address.

The Hawthorn

Summer 2009

Page 5

Geocaching Gets Kids Outside by Rachel Potter

Geocaching is the term used to describe the outdoor adventure game of hiding and searching for treasure boxes with the assistance of a GPSr (Global Positioning System receiver.) The game—which originated in Oregon in 2000—is played all over the world by people of all ages. Geocaching combines healthy, outdoor activity with the fun and mystery of a treasure hunt and the allure of high-tech gadgetry—which gives it family-wide appeal. To take part in the game, players hide watertight treasure boxes filled with small trinkets (called a “cache”) in parks or along trails and post the site coordinates online along with information about the difficulty of the hike and the hiding spot. Other players can then seek out the cache by entering its coordinates into a GPSr and following the resulting directions. Once the cache is found, players take a trinket from the box and leave one behind in its place. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmbmommy/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Anyone can play the game, and all you need to get started is a handheld GPSr and access to the Internet. There are 839,189 active caches registered worldwide with Geocaching.com, the official Geocaching website, and more than 4200 of those are located in Maine. Many caches are hidden along scenic trails or near important landmarks, and a cache hunt can easily turn into a fun and educational day in the woods. If you are interested in learning more about Geocaching with children, be sure to visit Merryspring on Sunday, August 9th for our free Geocaching Festival. This event is a great opportunity to learn more about the game and the gadgets and to participate in a mystery trek around the park.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/qwrrty/ / CC BY 2.0

Savvy Gardeners Take Home Treasures For over 25 years, the Merryspring Plant Sale has kicked off the growing season with fabulous plants at unbeatable prices. This spring was no exception. Gardeners flocked to Merryspring on May 15th and 16th to enjoy the beautiful weather and find antique dahlias, hardy perennials, specialty vegetable seedlings, ornamental shrubs, and hand-crafted trellises to call their own. This event would not be possible without the generous support of local businesses. Fernwood Gardens & Nursery shared a selection of hard-to-find native and shade plants, The Green Thumb provided a collection of geraniums, and Plants Unlimited donated countless perennials, flowering shrubs, and ornamental trees. We also thank Camden National Bank for contributing financially to the sale. Our heartfelt thanks go to the numerous friends of the park whose generous contributions from their home gardens were the highlight of the sale. We are deeply grateful to Buildings & Grounds Manager Gail Sutton, the organizing force behind the Plant Sale, and to the volunteers, many of whom began work months in advance to make it a success: Ray & Wendy Andresen; Meg Barclay; Callie Black; Judy Block; Frank Callanan; Sue Crane; Jane English; Joanne Fagerburg; Sean Fay; Dorothea Graham; Bonnie Janicki; Kathie Kull; Aileen Lubin; Gail Palmer; Dorothy Magnuson; Doug Miller; Campbell Miller; Carol Robinson; Jim Sady; Susan Shaw; Bart and Pris Wood; Carol Woodbury-Witham; Sue Worden; and Suzanne Wright. We especially appreciate the efforts of Amy Campbell and Rebecca Sawyer-Fay who worked countless hours all spring potting, prepping, and pricing, and of AmeriCorps Environmental Educator Rachel Potter and Caroline Fournier who designed and provided educational children’s activities to complement the horticultural event. Our thanks to you all. If you missed the sale, you are invited to stop by Merryspring, where divisions from our gardens will be available summer-long in the area near the greenhouse.

Page 6

The Hawthorn

Summer 2009

Lawn, Be Gone! By Rebecca Sawyer-Fay Do you really need a lawn? Not long ago, the question would have seemed preposterous. Homeowners simply assumed that every properly landscaped, detached dwelling included at least a patch or two of carefully mown, verdant turf grass. Now, however, traditional lawns have been joined by graceful ornamental grasses, low-growing shrubs, and other alternative ground covers that promise a new, less-static appearance for 21st-century yards. Today, savvy gardeners who doff the turf-grass straight-jacket tend to favor a comprehensive approach to gardening, one that marries the tamed with the untamed. They view fine fescues and zoysias as just one (possible) element in the home landscape. Not infrequently, traditional turf grasses are supplemented (if not outright replaced) by slow-growing native grasses and sedges that can be mowed into pathways and borders. (Warning: Because natives have a lower germination rate and can thus appear sparse, they should not be grown by gardeners expecting the dark-green, velvety appearance of traditional turf grasses). Among the many alternatives to traditional lawns are these: • A garden of low-growing herbs, flowers, and shrubs mulched with small river stones or coarse gravel. Designed to appeal to all the senses, “gravel gardens” are a cook’s dream come true, providing fresh ingredients and inspiration for future meals. A bench set in one corner encourages quiet reflection among scented favorites like the smaller lavenders (Lavendula officinalis ‘Compacta’ or ‘Munstead’), creeping rosemary (Rosmarinua officinalis ‘Prostratus’), and purpleflowered chives (Allium schoenoprasum). Free-draining stones suppress weeds while keeping roots cool (and feet dry). • An outdoor “room” with walls of hardy privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium) and a flagstone floor. For carpeting, Corsican mint (Mentha requienii) or Irish moss (Sagina subulata) fills gaps between pavers. Furnished with pots of colorful verbena or hybrid fuchsias, the airy retreat beckons visitors (including butterflies) on spring afternoons and summer evenings. • A blanket of ground covers. Pachysandra is just the beginning. Hostas, stonecrops, the smaller rhododendrons, and daylilies all fight monotony and send a vibrant invitation to birds and pollinators. In the first three years after planting, most ground covers require faithful watering and weeding. In the long run, though, they reduce landscape maintenance.

Who needs a lawn? At Merryspring, roses, not turf grass, front a garden cottage (garden designed and maintained by Glen Jenks and Faith Getchell).

• A meadow. Unlike prairies, which are naturally free of trees, meadows require some vigilance to prevent the reemergence of saplings and shrubs. But once established, they yield a lifetime of pleasure. Among a meadow’s tall native grasses and flowers, wildlife abounds, and each season brings fresh surprises. Paths mown through meadows delight children, who play hide-and-seek amid drought-tolerant species. Gardeners should remember, though, that meadows don’t come in cans. They require careful site analysis and plant selection. Hand-in-hand with the new lawn has come a new tolerance. No longer do gardeners reach spontaneously for the weed killer whenever they spot a dandelion or two. They understand that herbicides can take a profound toll on earthworms and insects, which are then eaten by birds, dooming the songsters along with the weeds. Should dandelions or other invaders become simply too obnoxious, today’s gardeners know that a sturdy knife is the best line of defense. And sometimes these caring, if cunning, homeowners have been known to pay Junior a dollar for every dozen weeds pulled, making clear that roots are part of the deal. Merryspring member Rebecca Sawyer-Fay is the author of Gardens Maine Style and Gardens Maine Style: Act II. (Down East Books).

Wish List Clean, 32 oz., plastic containers with lids Clean 1/2 gal. cardboard milk/juice cartons with caps Clear plastic 1-liter bottles with caps IdentiFlyer (audio birdsong dictionary) with cards Bird Calls, no-blow type preferred

Bear Skull Shed deer or moose antlers Orange Construction Cones Vinyl Venetian blinds slats Medium Plant Pots, 1-2 quart

The Hawthorn

Summer 2009

2009 Kitchen Tour: All you need to know

Page 7 (continued from page 1)

Tickets purchased before the day of the Tour cost $25 and will be available from Tuesday, July 21 through Tuesday, August 4, at the Merryspring office or any of these locations: Camden—Once a Tree, Party Fundamentals, Stonewall Kitchen, Surroundings; Rockport—The Market Basket; Belfast—The Good Table; Rockland—Atlantic Baking Company; Waldoboro—The Well-Tempered Kitchen. Tickets bought on tour day are $30 for all eight kitchens, or $10 for an individual kitchen, and may be purchased at Merryspring or any home on the tour. Your “ticket” is a brochure containing information about each kitchen and the chefs, with a map to guide you. The tour route is clearly marked with our yellow signs, and volunteers are on hand at each stop to help you.

This year’s gracious homeowners and generous chefs are: Louise & Dick Cadwgan, with Amalfi on the Water (a.m.) and The Brown Bag (p.m.) Enter a drawing for a door prize at this stop. Win a dinner at Francine Bistro! This kitchen by EBS Style Solutions, our 2009 Tour Sponsor. Debbie & Mark Masterson with Prism Glass Gallery & Café (a.m.) and Blue Sky Cantina (p.m.) The Fraley Family with Natalie’s (a.m.) and Laura Cabot Catering (p.m.) Barbara & John Davidson with Brevetto Kitchen & Wine Bar (a.m.) and 3 Dogs Café (p.m.) Sarah Price & Stephen Florimbi with Paolina’s Way (a.m.) and The Market Basket (p.m.) Stephen Florimbi’s woodworking shop will be on view. Annemarie Ahearn of Salt Water Farm will be cooking all day in her own teaching kitchen. Jill & Michael Roy with Cappy’s Chowder House (a.m.) and Megunticook Market (p.m.) Janet Redfield & Scott Dickerson with Peter Ott’s Fine Food & Tavern (a..m.) and Mid-Coast School of Technology (p.m.) Enter a drawing for a door prize at this stop. Win a dinner at Francine Bistro! Janet Redfield’s glass-art studio will be on view. This kitchen by EBS Style Solutions, our 2009 Tour Sponsor. For more information about our featured chefs, go to the Merryspring website, www.merryspring.org, and click on Kitchen Tour. For more information about ordering tickets, see the website or call the park at 236-2239.

Kitchen Tour Sponsor and Supporters The Kitchen Tour is enormously grateful for the generosity of our sponsor, EBS Style Solutions in Camden, Rockland, and Belfast, and for the support of the following local businesses. We ask that you help us thank them with your patronage. Special thanks to Chez Michel restaurant of Lincolnville Beach for allowing shuttle parking in their lot. 17-90 Lighting Showroom A. E. Sampson & Son, Ltd. Agren Appliance & Television Atlantic Baking Co. Atlantic Design Center Bayview Gallery Beckstrom Architecture & Planning Bench Dogs Bernhard & Priestley Architecture Brown Appliance & Mattress Chatfield Design Classical Wood Floors Cold Mountain Builder, Inc. Cornerstone Kitchens Crestwood Kitchens & Bath Design Center Distinctive Tile & Design

Dream Kitchen Studio by Mathew’s Brothers*

Lincolnville Family Dentistry

Phi Home Designs, LLC

Logan Woodbridge, Inc.

ProSource Installations, Inc.*

Lorraine Construction

Qualey Granite & Quartz

Maine Coast Construction

Rockers Dry Stone Work Scholz & Barclay Architecture

John Gillespie, Architect

Dominic Paul Mercadante Architecture*

The Good Table

Metaphor Bronze Tileworks

Peter T. Gross Architects, P.A.

Midcoast Marble & Granite

Handle It!

Morningstar Marble and Granite

Holland & Foley Architecture, LLC

John Morris Architects

Kelsey’s Appliance Village

New View Interiors

Dennis J. King Masonry, Inc.

Northport Bath, Inc.

Landmark Construction, Inc.

David E. Olivas, D.D.s.

Landscape Services

Oliver Builders, Inc.

Landworks Design

Once a Tree

Laurel Wood Floors

Optimum Performance*

Liberty Cabinet & Design

Party Fundamentals

Eldredge Lumber & Hardware, Inc. Francine Bistro* Freshwater Stone

Schelble Bros., Inc. Silverio Architecture & Design Stancioff Building & Design, Inc. The Store Surroundings Treekeepers, LLC* Viking, Inc. The Well Tempered Kitchen Windsor Chairmakers*

* Thank you very much for your extra support.

P.O. Box 893 Camden, ME 04843

Bumble Bees: Great Native Pollinators Mild-mannered bumble bees (genus Bombus), easily recognized by their plump and furry physique, are the only North American members of the bee family (Apidae) to have developed social living. A bumble bee community begins in the spring when a fertilized female, or queen, awakes from her winter-long slumber inside a cozy cavity. She flies across the countryside for hours until she finds a protected hole, perhaps an abandoned mouse nest, stone wall, or foundation. There she begins a colony.

Bumble bee on Rosa rugosa

The queen lays eggs and, when the larvae emerge, feeds them on honey she has made herself. Once the first brood, all sterile female workers, is old enough to assume the task of gathering food, the queen devotes herself to laying and incubating more eggs and defending the nest against intruders. As fall approaches, the queen lays eggs which develop into a swarm of fertile females and males. The males die soon after mating, and the workers and old queen die by mid-autumn. The fertilized new queens leave the nest and disperse, each seeking a solitary hibernation site, and the entire colony is abandoned.

Surprisingly little is known about the natural history of the bumble bee in North America. As honeybee die-offs continue to plague beekeepers, it is more important than ever to fully understand this important pollinator of agricultural and wild plants, including Maine blueberries, to protect its future. Athena Anderson, a doctoral student at the University of Georgia, is researching bumble bee nesting sites. She is enlisting the public to help her collect data and has asked Merryspring members for their assistance. If you observe a bumble bee nest, please take the time to fill out her survey by clicking on the bumble bee link at the Merryspring website www.merryspring.org. To learn more about bumble bees, other native bees, and how you can make your property bee-friendly, read the University of Maine’s fact sheet “Understanding Native Bees, the Great Pollinators: Enhancing their Habitat in Maine”; http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/7153.htm.