February this year brought freezing Arctic winds down from Canada to create the coldest days we have ever had during the year’s second month. The icy air swooped over our warmer (but still cold) coastal waters and created “sea smoke” that rose from the waters, “sea mist” that crystalized on boats and coastal trees, and “sea ice” that rose and fell with the tides.
But February, being our most fickle month, gave us a wide variety of weather — unusually warm and sunny days, dank and foggy ones, and gray and snowy ones.
At times, our woods became crystalized, our larger streams became ice-caked, and our small brooks became solid.
Nonetheless, our fellow winter mammals seemed to glory in the February weather. Their coats remained sleek, their eyes were clear, and (unfortunately) their appetites for more easily-obtained garden plants and bushes increased.
On the waterfront, February means Atlantic scallop fishing. A good number of our lobster fishing vessels converted to scallop dredgers and braved the varying weather, tying up at the Brooklin Town Dock when they had to. Of course, many other fishing and recreational vessels continued taking their winter vacations “on the hard” during the month.
Despite its weather, February is the proud host of Valentine’s Day when we see hearts everywhere and get candy and flowers delivered by strange romantics.
Finally, February is the last month in which we can enjoy the sometimes sensational moods of winter sunsets. This February, we had a celestial bonus: the moon appeared at dawn on several days and was caught by the sun’s early light.
(All images in this post were taken in Down East Maine during February 2023.)