July is the beginning of summer here in Down East Maine, no matter what June claims. It’s a time for cheerful clouds to congregate in very blue skies and for day lilies and daisies to to appear in profusion.
Yet, there can be too much of a good thing. This year we had too many bright July days. and not enough dreary wet ones. We’re in a moderate drought; it’s beautiful, yes, but our flower-laced fields need rain.
Our ponds started shrinking in July and our streams flowed slower. Yet, they retained their allure for us and their fish for those that fished there.
Speaking of fish hunters, the three osprey nestlings that I’ve been monitoring grew at a startling pace during July. They watched their mother fly and practiced their own wing flapping. We expect some test flights in August.
Many of us also have been watching — with some concern — the birth and flights of the monarch butterflies that migrate here, lay their eggs, and produce their young in the form of multi-colored caterpillars. In July, migrating monarchs were declared to be endangered by one of the largest international conservation groups.
Fortunately, one of the oldest forms of flying insects was abundant here during the month: dragonflies.
On the other hand, windjammers have made a dramatic comeback in Maine in the form of coastal tourist cruisers. Most begin their multi-day cruises in July, overnighting in safe harbors such as our Great Cove in Brooklin. Among those that visited us during the month were the yellow-hulled American Eagle and the black-hulled J&E Riggin.
On the other side of the peninsula, in our Naskeag Harbor, the lobster fishing season opened in July.
Of course, July is a month for all sorts of recreational boating, including one-person paddlers, fast motorboats, and yachts made to look like fishing trawlers,
But, when it comes to recreational boating in July, the favorites around here seem to be sailboats.
Boats are also being created here in July. The boatbuilding classes of the famed WoodenBoat School in Brooklin are in full swing during the month.
I would be remiss if I didn’t send you postcards of Brooklin’s acclaimed Independence Day celebration, even though the entire event was documented fully in my July 4 post. Here are a few scenes:
Finally, we end with postcards of two of Maine’s many roads less taken.
(All images in this post were taken in Down East Maine during July of 2022.)