July here on the Maine coast is the beginning of high summer when the state starts to earn its reputation as the nation’s “Vacationland.” This year, there were wild weather swings during the month, including a few days of heat wave (80+° F), chilliness (50° +/-) , and fog. But not enough rain — we returned to moderate drought status. Of course, lack of rain meant more sunny days to “Get Out There!”

THE EVERCHANGING ICONS

As usual, we’ll begin with postcards of the four iconic scenes that we monitor monthly for local records::

The far-sighted July view of the Harbor Island summer house from Naskeag Point

The short-sighted view

Fields, bays and the mountains of Mouint Desert Island under a July sun

Summer lushness surrounds the near-mountain called Blue Hill in July

The rockbound shore of Conary Cove reveals itself during a July low tide

IN THE WATER

Maine’s extraordinarily diverse water activities were on full display in July — big and little boats, sail and power boats, commercial and pleasure boats and boats to paddle.

THE WINDJAMMERS

Maine’s coastal cruisers were out there every day in July. Here are a few of them:

*The AMERICAN EAGLE can fly in the fog (but slowly)*

*ANGELIQUE sleeps with only her rigging on*

*When ANGELIQUE goes out, however, she really dresses up*

*Old GRACE BAILEY sleeps while younger MARY DAY gets up for work early*

*Even STEPHEN TABOR gets sailing lessons*

OF SPECIAL NOTE

Some Great Cove visitors, residents and passers-by are worth memorializing.

SIREN, the 1935 racer out of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts and EROS, the US Virgin Islands schooner that charters in New England during the summer

*BOWDOIN, the historic Arctic explorer now a classroom for the Maine Maritime Academy*

FROLIC, a classic Luders 16’, resides in Great Cove’s chop and calm

Luxury yachts pass by in Eggemoggin Reach and get snickered at from small boat sailors

LEARNING THE ROPES AT WBS

The way to have fun while learning to sail is to take a small boat out in a sailing class at the renowned WoodenBoat School:

BUILDING, FISHING AND PADDLING

*Brooklin Boat Yard, shown at work below, operates a distinctive pier and floating docks in Center Harbor*

*Brooklin’s Town Dock is in Nakeag Harbor, home of a small fishing fleet*

Who says all lobster boats look alike?

AND THEN THE PADDLERS

Paddling is harder In the whitewater of the Blue Hill Reverse Falls than the calm off Naskeag Point

IN THE WOODS

Although a bit dry underfoot, the July woods were inviting, especially when sun-spackled.

AT THE PONDS AND STREAMS

Pond waters receded a bit and stream flows slowed a bit during the month.

The Mouth of Patten Stream at high and low tides

*Some ponds are chock-full of Water Lilies*

FEATURED FAUNA

IN THE FIELDS AND TREES

*White-tailed deer doe stands her ground*

Harriet proundly displays her apparently only nestling, David, while father Ozzie looks on (Ospreys)

IN THE WOODS AND WATERS

*Northern Cardinal about to have breakfast*

Herring Gull about to have breakfast

Common Terns about to have breakfast

IN THE MARSHES AND GARDENS

*Painted Turtles have to restafter breakfast — and most other times*

July’s mini-dragons in flight and at rest (12-Spotted and White-Faced Meadowhawk Dragonflies)

July’s mini-darlings in flight (female Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds)

*The month’s hardest workers trophy goes to our bumblenees (Two-Spotted Bumblebee)*

Long-distance migrators need plenty of energizing nectar (Monarch Burtrterflies)

FEATURED FLORA

IN THE WILD

We begin with royaly rising, the matriarch of summer wildflowers, Queen Anne’s Lace:

Some intriguing groupings and singles:

Beach Rose, Beach Rose Hips and the similar Multi-Flora Rose

St. John’s Wort and Steeplebush

Milkkweed, Common Mullein and Hawkweed

Black-Eyed Susan,Ox-Eyed Daisy and dying Star Flower

Tansy and Bunchberry

Tiger Lily and Water Lily

*Indian Pipes (a colorless wildflower, not a fungus) behind a wood fern*

IN THE GARDEN

Blue and White Lavendar

Lanceleaf Coreopsis and Blue Star

*Shasta Daisies gleam like the cap of Mt. Shasta, which they’re named after*

What popped out all over in July? Yes, Poppies

Clematis on the rise,, Allium on the fade

IN THE HOME

*July-blooming Hibiscus are definitely not native Mainers*

Barbara likes to bring her garden and wildflowers inside

SPECIAL EVENTS

INDEPENDENCE DAY

I wasn’t able to attend Brooklin’s famous July 4th celebration this year. However, I knosw that these U.S. and Ukranian flags were flying on that day and I saw a yellow street rod that would qualify for the July 4th parade:

BBY LAUNCHING

From the beginning of the year, I reported on the building of the 47-foot Down East cruiser BREAKTHROUGH at the renowned Brooklin Boat Yard. She was set free in July.

In the paint shop for finishing touches during July

*Thwhack! An exploding bottle of champagne christens BREAKTHROUGH, a well-recorded moment*

*BREAKTHROUGH leaves Center Harbor on her first festive cruise*

THE FULL MOON

Finallly, we look to the night sky. July’s moon was spectacular in all phases. The July full moon traditionally is called The Buck Full Moon because it rises when male deer (bucks) start growing their antlers. That buck stopped here and I heard a neighbor “howl”at it: