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KLT’s third annual Lyceum, held in March at the Ladd Center in Wayne, explored the connections between landscape painting and conservation. From the earliest settlers’ facing an apparently limitless frontier to the present day, when that wilderness has diminished to an alarming degree, artists have tried to capture Maine’s landscapes. Thanks to their work, we have a record of how things looked and can make educated guesses about how people have related to the land. Our speakers not only offered a glimpse of Maine as artists have viewed it over time, they illustrated the role that art can play in preserving the natural world.

Dr. Martha McNarnara, University of Maine, introduced the broad themes in American landscape painting from the colonial period to the Civil War. We were able to see the conflicting impulses of respect for nature and the desire to tame it, often played out within the same painting. Dr. Donna Cassidy, University of Southern Maine, focused on Marsden Hartley and the Katahdin Region. Even those who haven’t visited Baxter State Park have seen Hartley’s famous paintings of the region - often Mt. Katahdin is identified with Maine at its best and cited as a successful example of conservation. Our final speaker, Maine author Carl Little, offered an overview of contemporary Maine landscape artists. Their work, widely divergent in technique and locale, brings remarkable intelligence, sensitivity and boldness to bear on our incredibly beautiful state and its vulnerability in the face of accelerating development.

The public is welcome to explore the Lyceum theme further on June 11, July 23rd and October 1, as three Maine artists lead outdoor painting workshops on KLT lands - see the field trip schedule for details. In March, 2006 KLT is planning an art exhibit at Slate’s Restaurant in Hallowell featuring some of the paintings done at these workshops. Please join us then, and be prepared to appreciate anew the landscapes we are protecting right here in our own area. Many thanks to the Ladd Recreation Center and the Kennebec Art Association (KVAA) for cosponsoring this year’s series - the collaboration between nature and art worked perfectly! Many more thanks to KVAA, the Ladd Center, and our own KLT volunteers for fabulous refreshments. Finally, KLT deeply appreciates the financial support we received from Gloria, Lincoln and Robert Ladd and the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Humanities Council, for their Community Arts and Humanities Grant. Thank you all for making it possible for us to enhance our appreciation of both art and the natural world.

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On an early morning walk along Nancy’s Bog in Winthrop in May, I was reminded of the good work that the Kennebec Land Trust is doing. My seven year-old daughter Anna was enthralled by the many large and beautiful trilliums in the woods along an old logging road. She was excited enough about the many species of warblers, swallows, and other birds that she recorded them all as we went. I can’t tell you how comforting and gratifying it is to me to know that those trilliums and warblers will always have a home here.

When my wife and I moved back to Maine in 1994, Mt. Pisgah was one of the first places that I took her. Looking out from the fire tower toward Nancy’s Bog, I was amazed how much undeveloped land remained. Now over 700 acres on the mountain, including the bog, are protected by KLT. Our seven year-olds and our 70 year-olds will always have a place to wander and wonder.

In this newsletter, you’ll read about several other KLT properties that will always remain in their natural state, protecting our wildlife and water quality. In the last few years, we have opened new trails so that more people can enjoy our local woods and waters. My dream is that large numbers of our seven year-olds will come to know and love our conserved lands. Our vision for the future of our area depends upon it.

In Trust,
Glenn Hodgkins

It may surprise some of you to know that even as we were wrapping up our $500,000 Kennebec Landscapes capital campaign last year, KLT was quietly negotiating the purchase of a critical 18-acre residential lot in Manchester. This property, located on the Collins Road, was important not only due to its unspoiled hardwood and softwood forest, but because it bordered almost one-half mile of an existing Jamies Pond trail.

KLT moved quickly to save this parcel from development. In order to do so, we needed to borrow the $35,000 purchase price. Our plan was to pre-acquire this property and then sell it to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to add to the Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area. Due to budget constraints, the Department was only able to raise $17,000. In spite of this shortfall, the KLT Board voted to convey the property to IF&W and raise the $18,000 balance. The Friends of Jamies Pond campaign got underway in late May.

The importance of this property and the work of the Kennebec Land Trust was highlighted in a letter we recently received from Roland D. Martin, Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife:

"I want to take this time to personally thank you and the members of the Kennebec Land Trust for your assistance in acquiring the Carlson Lot for inclusion in the Jamies Pond Wildlife Management Area...

Previously KLT assisted MDIFW by pre-acquiring the 85-acre Norton Lot, for later acquisition through the Land for Maine's Future Program. These two acquisitions are proof positive that the Kennebec Land Trust has lived up to its mission of working cooperatively to protect natural features in Central Maine...

I have been made aware of the impressive list and variety of projects that KLT has engaged. At MDIFW we look forward to more years of cooperative ventures with the Kennebec Land Trust. Once again I want to thank you on behalf of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for your assistance and generous actions in these important acquisitions."

If you haven’t visited Jamies Pond, you owe it to yourself and your family to hike its trails, paddle along its shore, visit its island and simply enjoy the wildlife and solitude of this remarkable 700-acre preserve. And if you want to feel really good about doing your part to protect Jamies Pond, become an official Friend of Jamies Pond. Your gift will help us retire our debt and put us in position to save the next property. Feel free to call me at (207) 622-6204 for further information about this important conservation effort.

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Some months ago, members of the Readfield Conservation Commission brainstormed ideas as to how best to showcase some little-known public land called the Town Forest--a remote, 100-acre area well-suited for hiking and skiing. This land is monitored by the Readfield Conservation Commission and the Kennebec Land Trust, since it is adjacent to KLT’s 100 acre Macdonald Conservation Area. After some discussion, it was decided to have a fun day in the woods - complete with sleigh rides, a cookout, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, information dissemination and, naturally, a marshmallow roast. Also, since the KLT is involved with this parcel of land, a collaboration between these two organization was planned.

Sunday, February 13, 2005 turned out to be the Perfect Day for a woods celebration. The temperature was comfortable, the snow manageable and the sky a brilliant, cobalt blue. A cooking and eating area was created at the site of the old farm. Hot dogs, hot cocoa, cookies, brownies, apples and chips were served to a host of hungry nature enthusiasts. People arrived on skis, snowshoes, sleds and on foot to participate in this free winter event. At least 80 people were in attendance! (Although the horses were unable to come, a huge --c. 190 pound-- Newfoundland dog named Henry became a major attraction for both young and old.)

Our appreciation is extended to the Readfield Blizzard Busters Snowmobile Club, whose members worked hard to groom the trails at this site to make them "user friendly." A big thank you is also extended to the numerous individuals involved in making the fun in the woods happen. Mark February 12, 2006 - for a similar "happening" next year, because of the very successful outcome of this, the first Woods Event.

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I am happy to report that we had a very good work day on Saturday, May 14th (the one non-rainy weekend day of this spring!). We were able to get a great start on some trails in the Tyler Conservation Area. A good turn-out of many enthusiastic neighbors spent their morning getting started on what we hope will become an extensive trail system. More trails and trail work to come in the near future! A heartfelt thanks to all of those who helped on Saturday; in the future we look forward to including many others who were interested but were unable to join us on that day. And please, come and enjoy the trails.

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Thanks to the efforts of Boy Scout Zac Sager of Monmouth, we have a 3-panel information kiosk at the Curtis Homestead Conservation area. The structure, which is similar to those used by the Maine Department of Conservation at many locations around the state, will greatly enhance our efforts to communicate with visitors. Part of the kiosk will be used for posting general information, including a trail map, bird list and important tick warnings (!) A major portion of the kiosk will contain displays on the human and natural history of the land (based on our new brochure design) in addition to background about current educational and research projects.

Zac organized and carried out the construction of the kiosk as the community service part of the requirements for his Eagle Scout rating. He obtained donations of the materials for this approximately $1000 project and completed construction in mid-October of 2004. Donations were received from the following businesses: Russ and Sonia Godbout of By The Board Lumber, Mt. Vernon; Knowles Lumber, Monmouth; Litchfield Lumber, Litchfield; Mariner Lumber, Brunswick; Audette’s Hardware, Winthrop; A&A Hardware, Greene; Portland Glass, Augusta; Red Roof Deli, Leeds; Wilbur’s Antiques, Greene; Morgan’s Auto Sales, Greene; IGA, Greene; and Dave’s Appliance, Winthrop. We thank them all for their help.

Zac also had help from several of his fellow scouts, and others, in the building process. The following people donated a total of 95 hours in the construction of the kiosk: Mike and Jeff Hanscom, Mike Hook, Brian and Mike Farnsworth, Gabe Seder, Kirby and Todd Buchheit, Casey Ballard, and Cindy and Charles Sager. KLT extends many thanks to all of these individuals.

Zac reports that he learned many things as he worked through the project. “It takes a long time to plan a project and carry it out well, so start early. Always, always, always have a backup plan to your backup plan.” And finally, “Finishing something large that you start brings great satisfaction.” We greatly appreciate Zac’s willingness to take on this project for the Curtis Homestead and the Kennebec Land Trust, and we’re very pleased indeed with the results. Well done, Zac.

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May 2005 will be remembered for its rainy weather. The lakes are spilling over shorelines, and flashboards and woodland streams are running full with spectacular waterfalls, wide flood plains, and the daily symphony of song birds. This weather is challenging for Maine’s farmers and gardeners, but in some ways I have not minded the deluge. Cool weather has kept the black flies at bay, and the spring wildflowers and shrubs are glorious (the shadbushes were the stars of the Kennebec County shrub show!)

I usually find myself debating between gardening and botanizing on my days at home in May. Since the rains have kept me from the garden, I have been free to take to the woods. On May 21st I led a morning wildflower walk at the New England Forestry Foundation’s (NEFF) Alien Whitney Memorial Forest, where we work closely with NEFF stewards Doug Ide and Garry Hinkley. KLT Board member Bob Mohlar and his wife Joan and I had the opportunity to talk about KLT’s conservation work and our bordering lands - Gannett Woods surrounding Shedd Pond, and Wyman Forest. Listed below are the common spring wildflower and shrubs that we identified that day and others that I have seen often on KLT lands this month.

If you are a beginner to plant identification, there are a number of books that I would recommend: Newcomb's Guide to Wildflowers, and all of Marilyn Dwelleys guides: Spring Wildflowers, Summer and Fall Wildflowers and Trees and Shrubs. Happy summer - hope to see you in the field!

bird on the wing (Polygala paucifolia)	painted trillium (Trilluim undulatum)
blue bead lily (Clintonia borealis)	rhodora (Rhodora canadensis)
bluets (Houstonia caerulea)	red trillium (Trilluim erectum)
dooryard violet (Viola septentrionalis)	shadbush (Amelanchier spp.)
Dapne (Daphne mezereum)	Solomon's seal (Polygonatum pubescens)
dwarf gingseng (Panax trifolius)	starflower (Trientalis borealis)
goldthread (Aoptis trisfolia)	trout lily (Erythronium americanum)
flase Solomon's seal (Maianthemum racemosum)	white avens (Geum canadense)
fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis)	wild oats or little merry bells (Uvularia sessilifolia)
foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia)	Canada mayflower (Maianthemun canadense)
Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)	windflower (Amemone quinquefolia)
hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides)	yellow crowfoot (Ranunculus abortivus)
trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens)

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Many thanks from all of us at the Kennebec Land Trust to KLT Adivsory Board Members Mort and Barbara Libby for funding the design work and printing of the Curtis Homestead brochure. Our appreciation also goes to the dedicated staff and LPK (Libby, Perszyk, Kathman): Rick Conner, Senior Design Director, and Melanie Fairchild, Brand Account Leader. Brochures are now available at the Curtis Homestead Conservation Area in Leeds, our Winthrop office and the Leeds Town Office.

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I believe it was Sunday May 8, a gray, drizzly, cool afternoon. On reaching the Torsey Pond Nature Preserve shoreline, we were astonished at the number of tree swallows flying low or skimming the surface between the marsh and bog islands and over the open water as far as the eye could see. Wouldn't dare claim an accurate number, but from a sector count would guess 1000 to 1200 birds, maybe more. Two days later with blue skies and warm sun there were only a handful out there. Had they been attracted to an insect hatching? Tim Sniffen, Readfield Conservation Commission

On a fine May 7th morning at Nancy's Bog the following species were seen or heard; many warblers (black throated green, black and white, black throated blue, yellow rumped, chestnut sided, pine, yellow, common yellow throat, ovenbird), swallows (rough winged, barn and tree), blue headed vireo, rose breasted grosbeak, Canada goose & yellow bellied sapsucker. Jennifer McLean, Steward & Glen Hodgkins, KLT President

On a spring walk at the Walter W. and Alice b. Reynolds Forest, one can see flowers unfolding, skunk cabbage, an abandoned cellar hole far in the forest, two or three dams/mill sites that once were typical of the economic power of Maine (well, maybe Massachusetts then) ... a moose spine by the edge of the brook, beaver sculptures and the allure of the water from pools to falls. The walk can take from about 45 minutes to two hours, depending on if you have time to let your imagination and your senses run free. George Viles, Steward

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