Summer Ecology Walk July 19th

Event Location: Merryspring Nature Center, Camden/Rockport, Maine

Event Date/Time: Friday, July 19, at 10:00 am

Photo Caption:  Lupine and daisies in early summer

Merryspring Nature Center will host a family Summer Ecology Walk as part of its Free Family Fridays series on Friday, July 19 at 10:00 am.

 

This easy walk through Merryspring’s meadows and forests is a great introduction to the Nature Center for children, families, and people of all ages. Attendees will discover evidence of animals, listen for birds, see blooming wildflowers, and learn about some of the

Late Winter Ecology Walk

Event Location: Merryspring Nature Center, Camden/Rockport, Maine

Event Date/Time: Friday, March 14 at 10am

Photo Caption:  A winter walk at Merryspring

Join us at Merryspring Nature Center on Friday, March 14 at 10am for a free, Late Winter Ecology Walk led by John Fromer.  We will have a fun and educational walk around the fields and forest at Merryspring.  During this one hour walk, we will look for signs of spring birds, animal tracks and discuss the phenology of spring.

Dress for weather and being on trails in snow or wet conditions.  We have a

Wildlife Detectives at Merryspring

Looking for animal signs at Merryspring

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Merryspring Nature Center will host a free family program called "Wildlife Detectives" on Friday, August 3 at 10:00 am.

Guests will use their detective skills to solve some nature mysteries.  Children will look for clues hidden in animal bones and furs. After a short presentation, a brief nature walk will guide guests through the woods to look for evidence of animal activity.

This is an outdoor program. Guests should bring water bottles, wear weather appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes, and be prepared to walk in summer heat for up to one hour.

This event is part of the Free Family Programs series, sponsored Camden Real Estate Company. Admission is free to all.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.

Preserving Alpine Habitat in Maine

Alpine Habitat is only found above the treeline.

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Scientist Caitlin McDonough MacKenzie leads a program on protecting Maine’s alpine plant habitats at Merryspring Nature Center on Tuesday, August 7 at 12:00 pm.

Alpine and subalpine vegetation in Maine is scattered across the highest peaks of the Appalachian Mountain range and along the coast. These islands of alpine and subalpine habitat are further isolated by

management: federal and state agencies and non-government organizations with varying conservation mandates and resources own and manage the scattered pockets of land above treeline across Maine. In this talk, Caitlin speaks about her research to support and inspire cooperative conservation planning above the treeline across Maine’s mountains.

MacKenzie is a David H. Smith Conservation Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Maine. She holds a BA in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard University, an MS in Ecological Planning from the University of Vermont, and a PhD in Biology from Boston University. Caitlin studies the ecological effects of climate change on plant communities.

This lecture is part of the Summer Talk series at Merryspring, sponsored by The First National Bank and RE/MAX Jaret & Cohn. Admission to Tuesday talks is $5, with free admission for members of Merryspring.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.

Opening the Spring Garden

Photo Caption: Merryspring’s perennial garden in May

Rockport/Camden, Maine - Gardener John Fromer leads the first of his perennial gardening demonstration series on opening the spring garden at Merryspring Nature Center on Tuesday, May 29 at 12:00 pm.

Just in time for the gardening season, Fromer’s presentation is all about opening the spring garden. The combination talk and demonstration will address identifying spring plants without blooms, labeling the garden, making maps and photo diaries, managing spring bulbs, and mulching for summer.

This is an outdoor program, so guests should dress appropriately for weather and wear sturdy shoes. A selection of recommended gardening books, tools, and plants will be for sale after the presentation. In the event of rain the program will be moved indoors.

Fromer has been a Maine Master Gardener since 1998 and runs Appleton Ridge Flower and Vegetable Farm with his wife Kathy, also a Maine Master Gardener. Together they grow flowers, vegetables, and herbs in a sustainable and authentic fashion.

This lecture is part of the Spring Talk series at Merryspring, co-sponsored by Camden National Bank and Camden Real Estate Company.

Admission to Tuesday talks is $5, with free admission for members of Merryspring.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.

Using Basic Botany to Become a Better Perennial Gardener

Camden, Maine - Gardener John Fromer will lead a presentation on using basic botany to become a better perennial gardener Tuesday, August 1 at 12:00 pm.

Continuing his series, John Fromer gives this talk using basic concepts of biology to better understand the perennial garden.  John will speak about the different ways in which different plant species grow, including root systems, bloom times, life expectancy, pollination methods, and seed generation- and how to use these concepts to better plan and manage the garden.
This is an outdoor program, so guests should dress appropriately for weather and wear sturdy shoes. A selection of recommended gardening books, tools, and plants will be for sale after the presentation.

John Fromer has been a Maine Master Gardener since 1998 and runs Appleton Ridge Flower and Vegetable Farm with his wife Kathy, also a Maine Master Gardener. They grow flowers, vegetables and herbs in a sustainable and authentic fashion.

This lecture is part of the Summer Talk series at Merryspring, sponsored by The First National Bank. Admission to Tuesday talks is $5, with free admission for members of Merryspring.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.

Tree Identification Workshop

Camden, Maine - Merryspring Nature Center will host a free summer tree identification walk on Friday, July 28 at 10:00 am.

Tree identification is fun and easy. This walk will lead families and children through Merryspring’s recently-restored Kitty Todd Arboretum to teach the basics of identifying trees by their leaves and bark.

This is an outdoor program. Guests should bring water bottles, wear weather appropriate clothing, wear sturdy shoes, and be prepared to walk in summer heat for up to one hour.

This program is part of the Free Family Programs series at Merryspring.

Free Family Programs run on select Friday mornings throughout the summer. No sign-up necessary. For more information on this program, please contact Merryspring at 236-2239 or info@merryspring.org.

Spring Plant Sale Set For May 12-13, Merryspring

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Merryspring will hold its Spring Plant Sale on Friday, May 12 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday, May 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Both days are open to the general public, but Merryspring members will receive a 10% discount on all plant purchases. .  Non-members can take advantage of that same discount by becoming members during the event.

Our 2017 plant sale will feature a diverse assortment of annual and perennial plants. We’ll also have a variety of vegetable seedlings from tomatoes to summer squash as well as the ever-popular Petunias for your gardens and flower pots.

Other flowers to be featured this year include classic Zinnias and Cosmos for home bouquets and Torch Tithonia, a favorite of the monarch butterfly.  Our selection of perennial herbs includes Anise Hyssop, Lavender, Sweetgrass and many more.  We will also be selling Merryspring's own Iris cultivar that maybe you've spotted in our circular garden bed as well as some Solomon's Seal for your shady garden borders.

An extra feature this year will be the sale of geraniums and New Guinea impatiens from The Green Thumb, with part of the proceeds going to Merryspring.  A 4.5-inch potted geranium (red, white or pink) is priced at $5.50; a 4-inch pot of New Guinea Impatiens (red, white, pink or purple) goes for $4.50.  These plants can even be pre-ordered for pickup at the Plant Sale by calling the Merryspring office (236-2239).

By purchasing your plants at Merryspring, you are helping to support the upkeep of our public gardens and continuation of our educational programming.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program or any others, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.

Indigo Dyeing at Merryspring March 14

Camden, Rockport, Maine - Textile artist Amelia Poole will lead a talk on natural indigo dyeing at Merryspring Nature Center on Tuesday, March 14 at 12:00 pm.

Indigo has been used as a dye for over 6000 years. Recent excavations in Peru have yielded cloth still remarkably blue from this natural, plant-based dye. Poole will explain her process of indigo dyeing and Japanese shibori design, as well as how to get started at home and a bit of history behind this traditional textile art.

Amelia Poole is a master indigo dyer and shibori artist. She owns and operates Ecouture Textiles, Studio, and Gallery, natural fiber art studio based in Brooksville, ME.
This program is part of the Winter Talk series at Merryspring, sponsored by Allen Insurance & Financial. Tuesday talks are open to the public for $5, with free admittance granted for members of Merryspring.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program or any others, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.

Event Location: Merryspring Nature Center, Camden/Rockport, Maine

Event Date/Time: March 14, 2017. 12:00 – 1:00 pm.

Photo Caption: Photos courtesy Amelia Poole

Merryspring Photo Contest

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Do you have an evocative image of Merryspring Nature Center that beckons one and all? Perhaps the rolling green of the North Meadow, the vibrant colors of the perennial or lily garden. Maybe the Hexagon or a winding trail.  Autumn leaves or spring blossoms?
 
They are looking for a welcoming digital photo or two for the new cover of our brochures. Winner will receive a free family membership for a year and the satisfaction of seeing your work in print.

Please submit images to Toni Goodridge at  info@merryspring.org. Call 236-2239 for more information

Merryspring and Riley School Team Up For New Moon Owl Prowl, Feb 26

Rockport, Maine - Families are invited to explore the Riley School woods on a midwinter’s night to search for everyone’s favorite avian predators on Sunday, February 26 from 6 to 8 pm. After a short introduction and presentation, raptor enthusiast Shelley Spanswick, Riley School’s Todd Martin, and Merryspring’s Brett Willard will guide the group through the woods of the Riley School, looking and listening for owls. Upon returning to campus, hot drinks and light refreshment will welcome and warm guests.

This is an outdoor program for all ages. Guests are advised to bring flashlights, wear warm clothing, waterproof boots, and be prepared to walk in rugged, snowy terrain for over one hour. Shortcuts back to the Riley Campus will be available for those who wish to leave early.

This program is an ongoing  co-operation between Merryspring Nature Center and Riley School. A second owl program will take place at Merryspring later this year. Riley School is an independent, ungraded elementary school educating the whole child in an active, engaging learning environment on 20 acres in Glen Cove. Merryspring is your community nature center, offering year-round nature and horticulture education opportunities on 66 acres of woodland and gardens located just off Route 1 at the end of Conway Road on the Camden/Rockport border.

New Moon Owl Prowl on Sunday, February 26 is at the Riley School

Admission to this program is a suggested donation of $5.

Pre-registration is required, as space is limited to 25 people. Guests should meet in the Art Room on the Riley School campus. To sign up, please contact the Riley School

Start Seeds at Merryspring Saturday March 4

Camden, Rockport, Maine - Gardener Rose Swan will lead a seed starting and garden design workshop at Merryspring Nature Center on Saturday, March 4 from 10 am – 12 pm.

For new gardeners, knowing where to start can be the most daunting task. Swan leads this hands-on workshop designed for beginning gardeners. Participants will learn about designing mixed flower and vegetable gardens, as well as propagating various garden plants from seed, indoors at home.  Focus will be on perennial and annual plants to use in mixed flower and vegetable gardens. Each guest will be able to start seeds and bring them home. A selection of flower and vegetable seeds will be provided, but those interested may bring special varieties from home if they choose.

Swan has gardened for over 13 years in many different growing zones and specializes in mixed flower and vegetable gardens.  She has worked at a number of Midcoast area non-profit organizations and currently lives in Union.

This program is part of the Weekend Workshop series at Merryspring. The cost is $20, with a discounted rate of $15 for members of Merryspring.

Limited space and materials are available. Please pre-register by contacting Merryspring at 236-2239 or info@merryspring.org.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program or any others, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.

Watercolor Classes Begin at Merryspring January 5th, 2017

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Lesia Sochor will begin a new five-week session of intermediate watercolor classes at Merryspring on Thursday, January 5 from 9 a.m. to noon.


A graduate of The Philadelphia College of Art, Sochor is a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher who believes "anyone has the ability to create." While her classes focus on technical skills like edge control, tonal values and composition, she also encourages students to discover personal style and creative interpretation.


Sochor has lived, painted, exhibited and taught in Maine for more than 30 years.  She has been a visiting artist in Maine schools through the Maine Arts Commission, and she co-founded the Art Annex, a school in Belfast for youth and adults. She teaches annual art programs at Waterfall Arts and is currently teaching a teen program at Ironwood in Morrill, Maine.

The classes will run on January 5, 12, 19 26, and February 2 from 9 a.m. - Noon.  Class size is limited, so pre-registration is required. The cost for the five classes is $190, with a $20 discount for Merryspring members.  To register please call 236-2239 or email us at info@merryspring.org.
Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program contact Merryspring 207-236-2239 or info@merryspring.org

Controlling Mosquitoes with Gardens & Wildlife

Rockport, Camden, Maine - Wildlife researcher Noah Perlut will lead a presentation on a new study of how to control mosquitoes by planting gardens and attracting wildlife at Merryspring Nature Center on Tuesday, February 16 at 12:00 pm.

In addition to being pesky backyard guests, mosquitoes are known vectors of diseases such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis ('Triple E'). In 2013, a study began at the University of New England to reduce human exposure to these diseases by increasing biological control of mosquitoes. The ongoing project analyzes the effect of attracting birds and bats and planting insect-repellent plants on mosquito populations at the UNE campus. Noah will describe how the program was implemented, its infrastructure, and the future of the study.

Dr. Noah Perlut earned his PhD from the University of Vermont in 2007 and is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of New England.  His research focuses on how birds and other wildlife respond to human habitat modification.

This lecture is part of the Winter Talk series at Merryspring, sponsored by Allen Insurance & Financial. Admission to Tuesday talks is $5, with free admission for members of Merryspring.

Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza. For more information on this program or any others, please contact info@merryspring.org or call 207-236-2239.

Merryspring to Host Winter Wassail on December 19

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Families, children, and community members are invited to celebrate the end of a productive harvest and ring in the solstice at the Winter Wassail at Merryspring Nature Center on Saturday, December 19 from 2 – 5 pm.

This free, family-friendly event will feature crafts and children’s games, bonfire, traditional wassail singers, and even roasting chestnuts. At 2:30 pm, local author Liza Gardner Walsh will read from her new book Where Do Fairies Go When It Snows?  At 3:30 pm, a bonfire will welcome the night, along with readings, songs, and performances. Plenty of hot wassail (mulled cider) will be available for drink, as well as campfires to warm up to.

Everybody is welcome to this event, and to lend their talents with a poem or song at the bonfire.

Merryspring is a member-supported, non-profit nature education center and park located at the end of Conway Road just off Rt. 1 by the Hannaford shopping plaza in Camden. To find out more information or find out how to help out, please call Merryspring at 236-2239 or email info@merryspring.org .

Merryspring to Hold Winter Nature Walk December 12

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Merryspring Nature Center will hold a free tour along its interpretive trail on Saturday, December 12 at 11:00 am.

Families, children, and all community members are invited to this free program to explore the woods in early winter. The tour will stop at many of Merryspring’s interesting natural features, including the spring, the vernal pool, ancient apple trees, and more. Along the way, guests will keep an eye out for winter wildlife and learn a little about Merryspring’s history and unique landscape.

This program is offered free to all. No sign up is necessary.  In the event of inclement weather, the event will be canceled. Snowshoes are optional.

Merryspring is a member-supported, non-profit nature education center and park located at the end of Conway Road just off Rt. 1 by the Hannaford shopping plaza in Camden. For more information, contact Merryspring at 236-2239 or info@merryspring.org.

Maine Sea Vegetables‏ at Merryspring

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Seaweed Entrepreneur Micah Woodcock will lead a presentation on Maine's Sea Vegetables at Merryspring Nature Center on Tuesday, September 8 at 12:00 pm.

Seaweeds are not true vascular weeds or plants, but are actually multi-cellular algae. They play an important role in any marine ecosystem, but are also beneficial for humans, for food, medicine, and fertilizer.   Woodcock will speak about the natural nutritional powerhouse in seaweed, describe different seaweed species and their uses, how they are harvested, and how his company operates. He will also have plenty of samples (both dried and fresh) of different seaweed species, provide some recipe ideas, and even do a short cooking demo.

Micah Woodcock is the owner and operator of Atlantic Holdfast Seaweed Company in Penobscot Bay, Maine.

This talk is part of the Summer Talk Series at Merryspring, co-sponsored by Camden National Bank and Goodridge-Lermond Tree Service.  Tuesday Talks are open to the public for $5, with free admittance for Merryspring members.

Merryspring is a member-supported, non-profit nature education center and park located at the end of Conway Road just off Rt. 1 by the Hannaford shopping plaza in Camden. For more information, call Merryspring at 236-2239 or email info@merryspring.org .

Tending the Perennial Garden in Late August‏

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Wendy Andresen will lead another installment of her "Tending the Perennial Garden" lecture series at Merryspring Nature Center on Tuesday, August 25 at 12:00 noon.

Late summer may seem like down time for gardeners, but there still is plenty to do. Wendy will teach guests how to make the most of their late August gardens by emphasizing management methods such as weeding, proper watering, deadheading, and cutting back browned or yellowed plants to encourage new growth. Attendees may also bring a small envelope to take home any seeds from Merryspring perennials that have completed their cycle. As always, Tracey DiSabato-Aust's seminal gardening volume The Well-Tended Perennial Garden will serve as a reference for this talk, copies of which, among other gardening books and tools, will be for sale after the talk.

This is an outdoor program. Guests should wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes.

Andresen owned and operated her own gardening business in Connecticut before relocating to Camden.  Wendy volunteers her time at Merryspring maintaining the park’s perennial beds.

This talk is part of the Summer Talk Series at Merryspring, co-sponsored by Camden National Bank and Goodridge-Lermond Tree Service.  Tuesday Talks are open to the public for $5, with free admittance for Merryspring members.

Tending the Perennial Garden in Mid-July‏

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Gardener Wendy Andresen will present the third installment of her Tending the Perennial Garden lecture series at Merryspring Nature Center on Tuesday, July 14 at 12:00 noon.

As the summer days get hotter, the perennial garden needs more attention.  Wendy will continue to demonstrate techniques and tips for helping perennial gardens thrive throughout the summer. By July, many plants are past their first bloom. Wendy will emphasize the importance of cutting back bloomed-out flowers such as peonies and irises to encourage continual growth.  This program will be an interactive tour of Merryspring's perennial beds, with questions encouraged. Copies of the reference for this series, Tracy DiSabato-Aust's The Well-Tended Perennial Garden, will be for sale, as well as other gardening and nature books, tools, and plants.

Participants for this talk should meet outside at Merryspring's Hexagon at noon. Guests are reminded to wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing to this event. This talk is part of a continuing series, with a new installment occurring once every three weeks between June and October.

After owning and managing a garden design and maintenance business in Connecticut, Wendy and her husband Ray moved to Camden in 2006. Wendy currently serves as a volunteer at Merryspring, where she maintains the park's perennial beds.

This talk is part of the Summer Talk Series at Merryspring, co-sponsored by Camden National Bank and Goodridge-Lermond Tree Service.  Tuesday Talks are open to the public for $5, with free admittance for Merryspring members.

Merryspring is a member-supported, non-profit nature education center and park located at the end of Conway Road just off Rt. 1 by the Hannaford shopping plaza in Camden. For more information, call Merryspring at 236-2239 or email info@merryspring.org .

Nature Walk at Merryspring‏

Camden/Rockport, Maine - Merryspring Nature Center will present a free nature walk for families and children on Thursday, July 9 at 11:00 am.

Join Program Manager Brett Willard on this free tour of the Merryspring grounds. Guests will learn about some of the unique natural and man-made features of the park, including the spring, the American Chestnut Orchard, the vernal pool, and more. Along the way, Brett will point out some tips to identify trees, show off some interesting wildflowers, and seek other surprises on the trail.

This program is part of the Free Family Programs series at Merryspring sponsored by Jaret & Cohn Real Estate.

Admission is free for everybody. No registration is required. Guests should wear weather-appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes, and sunscreen.

For more information on this or other programs, please contact Merryspring at 236-2239 or info@merryspring.org