August here in Vacationland can be the ultimate experience for lovers of outdoor activities. This year, however, it was a mixed blessing. We had more beautiful days than usual — cool, sunny, big blue sky days — which was wonderful. But that meant less rain; which meant comtinued severe drought here on the coast. Nonetheless, this August was one of the most beautiful that we’ve had.
As usual, we begin our “Wish You Were Here” Postcards with the four iconic scenes that we monitor monthly in these Postcards. They’re the view across Blue Hill and Jericho Bays to Mount Desert Island; the Harbor House in Brooklin’s Naskeag Harbor; the old red boat house in Blue Hill’s Conary Cove, and a long view of the small mountain called Blue Hill, with a bonus image of that Hill from Blue Hill Bay:
The wooded trails were dry, even where they were moss-covered. Nonetheless, walking along a dappled trail among tall trees with bird song and the scent of balsam fir and spruce in the air is one of the real — in the literal sense — pleasures of life for some of us.
The ponds were lower and the stream flows lighter. The mouth of Patten Stream at low tide was rock-strewn. But wildlife in and around the waters was abundant.
As you see above and will see below, our field grasses and sedges were browning and fall wildflowers of yellow, white and purple were pervasive. Some fallow fields received their fall mowing in August, others will be mowed in Spetember or even October.
On the fauna front, our white-tailed deer and wild turkeys strolled in August’s long grasses. Common yellow throat warblers hid among alder leaves, while our herring gulls seemed to have wanted to be seen. Dragon flies landed lightly here and there and bees and butterflies were everywhere. (But, curiously, I saw only a few monarch caterpillars.) Painted turtles and toads made what might be their last appearances of the year.
Flora-wise, August was spectacular, although the dryness caused some early berry production and color changing. As for the trees, the standouts included the mountain ashes berrying-out, plum trees turning purple early, sugar maples also turning, and hydrangia trees giving it everything they had.
The viburnum bushes turned red early and the beach roses (Rosa rugosa) produced hips while many continued to flower through August.
Standout August wildflowers included Queen Anne’s lace; butter-and-eggs; primrose and tansy; bull (spear) thistle and fleabane; black-eyed susans; fragrant water lilies; sea lavender; star flower leaves turning silver, and Indian (ghost) pipes that looked like porcelain, and golden rod.
In the gardens, there was spectacular beauty where the watering hose or sprinkler could reach. Among the best were liatris (blazing star); butterfly weed; gladiolas; clematis vine; tiger lilies, and the last of the poppies.
The waterfront always is a big part of Down East Maine. We begin there with views of Brooklin’s picturesque harbors: the mostly working waterfront at Naskeag Harbor; the mostly pleasure boating Center Harbor (which includes the revowned Brooklin Boat Yard), and the sometimes-harbor of Great Cove, which fills up with fascinating vessels for major events, such as the August Eggemoggin Reach Regata.
Naskeag Harbor
Center Harbor
Brooklin Boat Yard at Center Harbor
Great Cove Before the Regata
During the Regata
Great Cove attracts some fascinating vessels, including the sleek GRAYLIN, a sardine carrier converted into a luxury yacht; FRAYA, a chunky, sea-going catamaran, and many classic windjammers that take tourists on multi-day journeys along the Down East coast.
Schooner Grace Bailey (Upper Right)
Angelique
American Eagle
Stephen Taber
On the working waterfront, the fishing vessels seem to have been having a reasonably good lobster season. The lopbster boats are quite varied, reflecting the ways and means of their captains/owners. Here are a few of the August regulars in Naskeag Harbor:
On the educational waterfront, the world-famous WoodenBoat School is in session at Great Cove all summer, teaching how to build and sail small boats, as well as other marine-oriented subjects. The Cove is alive with WBS sailboats during August:
Finally, there was the August full moon. It is most commonly called the Sturgeon Full Moon, the name given it by Native Americans who fished for those fish in August. She rose red over Jericho Bay, became white after slipping through our atmosphere, probed Naskeag Harbor with a glitter path, and later slimmed down to a crescent and began to grow again. She was about half full last night:
(All images in this post were taken in Down East Maine during August of 2025.)