Ever pulled up a “weed” only to realize it was a flower you’ve been nurturing for months? You’re not alone. In this practical and lighthearted piece, Sue Dunn shares her favorite shortcut for taking the guesswork out of gardening—and saving plants in the process.

In the Mahoosuc Region, forests live not just through four seasons, but through constant transition. As early conifers give way to a rich mix of hardwoods, soil, climate, and time reshape the landscape—creating the dynamic Northern Hardwood-Conifer forest we see today.

A single flicker of light outside the window becomes a quiet call to wonder—and a reminder of what we stand to lose. In this lyrical and informative piece, Sara Wright explores the magic of fireflies and the simple steps we can take to help them thrive.

A simple backyard birdhouse became the stage for a delightful drama as a pair of House Wrens built a nest, fed their young, and finally sent a hesitant fledgling into the world—right before our eyes.

Bob O’Brien and Michaela Casey help to expand Albany Township’s conservation footprint Bob O'Brien, Michaela Casey, Kirk Siegel, and Ruthie Clements (Sebago Clean Waters) at the closing of the Flint Farm Addition, June 2026. Bob O’Brien and Michaela Casey have loved Albany Township’s rugged forest landscape since they first visited Picnic Hill Road in 1987. Across the years, they have made the land their home – maintaining an expansive garden, tapping trees for maple syrup, a

Northern white cedar, or arborvitae, is a quiet but essential tree of our region’s wetlands and seepage forests. Known as the “Tree of Life,” it has a long history of medicinal use, remarkable longevity, and ecological importance. Though often overlooked, this resilient conifer thrives where others cannot, shaping both habitat and landscape across northern New England.

Each Saturday afternoon, families gather at the Habitat For All Garden at Valentine Farm for Story Time—where nature stories spark curiosity and hands-on activities bring the outdoors to life. Designed for young children and their caregivers, this weekly program invites exploration, creativity, and shared discovery in a welcoming garden setting.

From deep purple to pale yellow, wild violets create a living tapestry across fields and forests each spring. Hardy, adaptable, and beloved by pollinators, these humble wildflowers offer both beauty and ecological richness—thriving quietly beneath our feet while supporting a vibrant web of life.

Discover how bloodroot, a native Maine wildflower, adapts to pollination challenges, drought, and climate shifts through self-pollination and ant seed dispersal.

From the windswept summit of Old Spec Mountain to the shaded cacao farms of the Dominican Republic, the Bicknell’s Thrush connects people, places, and purpose. This rare migratory bird reveals how conservation depends not only on science, but on partnerships that support both ecosystems and the communities who depend on them.

Neither fully evergreen nor entirely bare, the eastern larch defies expectations. Known as tamarack, this unique Northwoods tree sheds its needles each fall, only to return in spring with a soft, luminous green—thriving in swamps, enduring extreme cold, and quietly shaping the forests of Maine.

A close encounter in the garden reveals the hidden lives of American toads—quiet neighbors whose trills, habits, and resilience mark the arrival of spring in Maine.

From Mississippi gardens to Maine forests, migratory birds weave invisible threads across continents—reminding us that even the smallest travelers connect distant landscapes in profound and beautiful ways.

Beneath winter’s quiet snow lies a hidden world preparing for spring. As vernal pools reawaken, wood frogs and salamanders emerge from months of brumation to begin one of nature’s most remarkable seasonal migrations. These temporary, fish-free waters are vital to the health and balance of forest ecosystems.

White and black spruce may be less common than red spruce in the Mahoosuc Region, but each plays a distinct role in shaping the northern forest. From windswept ridgelines to quiet bogs, these hardy species reveal their identities through scent, structure, and survival strategies. Learning to distinguish them offers a deeper understanding of the boreal landscape at its southern edge.

Spring bird songs are building across Maine. Discover what chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers reveal about nesting season and migration.

Red spruce are able to outcompete other species on poor soils and harsh climate. Seeing the Forest Through its Trees Part VI By Larry Ely Much of northern Maine and New Hampshire is covered by a spruce-fir forest type, and after looking at balsam fir, this series looks at three common spruce species occurring in our region. Red spruce (Picea rubens) is the one most commonly found at lower elevations within the spruce-northern hardwoods forest type as well as within the more

Creating backyard wildlife habitat invites frogs, birds, and pollinators—and deepens our connection to the living world around us.

A new Maine Big Night Survey Site on Hunts Corner Road in Albany Township protects migrating salamanders and frogs through local citizen science.

Winter in the Mahoosuc Region isn’t idle—discover how wildlife and plants survive, adapt, and even flourish despite the cold and snow.