THE STRAND LINE - JUNE Wanderings in Maine !

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From the shores of salty Maine to the woodland hills of Connecticut, you are invited to walk, pause and absorb the marvels of nature. From Moon Snails to Opossums, Beach Peas to Skunk Cabbage, we run the gamut through the seasons. Come, share these moments with a Naturalist that finds every excuse to climb the rocks and hit the trails to see how the tide - or night time ramblings - have changed the face of nature. Share your experiences or respond to what is written, drawn or photographed from these walks. Let us walk the tender earth and shoreline to learn and understand the wonders before us. Every new occurance is a question that seeks an answer. Each encounter is a chance to learn. Together we will absorb powerful secrets out in the world of nature. Let us find ourselves, as we forget ourselves.

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On the following pages, let us walk together, at a snail's pace, probing the environment with snail-like tentacles.

Where am I?

Ronnie, your editor, is a biologist by training with varied interests and expertise. Why the title for this page? The "Strand Line" is a line of deposits left at the high tide mark. It's there that you will find stranded animals and plants, plus all the flotsam and jetsam that washes up with the tide. In the section of Maine from which these words flow, the tide rises 9 to 12 feet twice a day. When low, or "out", the secret lives of shoreline animals are exposed. The clues are written in the sand. Rocky crevices hold a microcosm of life forms. So, come walk the Strand Line and discover the mysteries.

My winter home was in the hills of Northwestern Connecticut. There are no tides here, but on snow and mud are written the stories of animal meanderings. We learn to read the "signs" to discover stategies for survival. Plant life tells us stories of seasonal changes. We even take wildflower walks in the cold of winter! Put your boots on and join us! Of course when Spring comes, we shed our caps and mittens to catch the excitement of emerging buds and the renewed activity of animals before heading back to the Maine shoreline.

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l HERMIT CRABS I
I SANDDOLLARS I MOOSE I
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2002
A Sanddollar and a Scapula
Nest Clues
Monarch Butterflies
Sea Urchins
On Being Led
Foxfire
A Snake and an Octopus
2003
Caterpillars, Whales & Stars..
Butterflies & Toad babies...
Metamorphosis & more
Orchids, Bones & Dragonflies
Iris Eyes are smiling..
Monarchs and a whale demise
Caterpillars, a turtle & an odd crab
2004
Shrimp interlude
December contrasts
Beach walks & falcons?
October Finale
Mysterious Sand Trail
Splash of color...
Fall findings..
The wonder of it all...
Fishing 101 in Maine
A squid encounter!
Male happenings...
Amazings...
Butterflies, Clams & Sea Slugs
Clam & Chiton stories...
Butterflies, Beaver & a Turtle..
More amazing happenings..
Alone on the Hermit
Back again in Maine...
2005
Seasons Greetings
Not over yet!
Still in Maine..
Thanksgiving
A Nod to Hodding....
Monarchs in November?
October farewell...
Finally October...
September happenings..
Labor Day..
Monarchs and spiders...
More miracles in nature..
Two characters..
Extreme tides...
Seguin swim & snorkeling...
Back in the nature business...
So long for a while...
Following a porky..
2006
Happy New Year!
Christmas in Maine...
A face on the beach..
Winter arrives!
December already!
Thankfulness......
Beaver at last!
In like a lamb
Out like a lion..
Still October
Turtle demise?
October happenings..
A skunk encounter...
Death and survival...
More color and Ernesto
It's the little things that count..
Color in Nature....
Shipwreck & naked Hermits..
Amazing happenings...
Monarch meal plus....
Moonsnail meal..
Eyecatching flowers and stars!
Fresh water interlude
More July happenings..
Egg-citing news!
After the holiday
Happy 4th!
Moth magic
First beachcombing outing..
The business of clamming..
Early Season Delights
Back in Maine!