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The Wrack

The Wrack is the Wells Reserve blog.

Why "The Wrack"? In its cycles of ebb and flow, the sea transports a melange of weed, shell, bone, feather, wood, rope, and trash from place to place, then deposits it at the furthest reach of spent surf. This former flotsam is full of interesting stuff for anybody who cares to kneel and take a look. Now and then, the line of wrack reveals a treasure.

  • Venue: Eighteen Months Later

    Beth Geary
    | February 16, 2016 | Filed under: Culture

    A saltwater farm with rustic barn, expansive grounds, and environmental mission made the Wells Reserve at Laudholm our first and only choice for a wedding venue.

  • Remembering June Ficker

    | February 11, 2016 | Filed under: Culture

    We have lost a committed conservationist, a lover of birds and of all things wild, a master bird-bander and masterful birder, an excellent teacher and an enthusiastic life-long learner, and one the greatest friends one could ever have.

  • Certified Interpretive Guides in the Making!

    | February 10, 2016

    Two years ago, Kate and I participated in the National Association of Interpretation's (NAI) 40-hour Certified Interpretive Trainer (CIT) workshop with the intent of facilitating our own Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) workshops at the Reserve. Last week, our vision became reality as twelve talented interpreters from Maine and Massachusetts convened for 32 hours of training with us in Mather Auditorium.

  • Communicate with Impact part I

    | February 10, 2016

    Recently the Coastal Training Program hosted a webinar series on environmental communication by Water Words that Work (WWTW). Space was limited and several of you asked for materials and resources. I'll recap the webinar in two parts.

  • The Peculiar Creature Darwin

    | February 7, 2016

    Uncle Chuck

    Shhh... don't tell anyone about my grand idea...

    ?

    The following was published in the Biddeford-Saco Journal Tribune Sunday edition of 2/7/16 and Making It At Home Thursday?edition, 2/11/2016.

    ?

    On February 12, 1809, two boys were born, one in England, one in Kentucky. Though separated by an ocean they were, by the end of their lives, united in genius, vision, and courage.

  • Wing'd XXXV: Is It On The List?

    | January 30, 2016 | Filed under: Observations

    Dovekies, or little auks, are sea-going plankton consumers who tend to stay to our north. You're most likely to spot one from a boat or, with persistence, through a telescope at a good "sea-watching" site. I've never been so lucky; dovekie's on my wish list.

  • Venue: Proposal on Snowshoes

    Beth Geary
    | January 29, 2016 | Filed under: Culture

    I had been bugging John about getting engaged for months.

  • What Do We Talk About When We Talk About the Weather?

    | January 23, 2016

    Snow blowing past the big barn's double doors, February 5, 2015

    The following was published in the Biddeford-Saco Journal Tribune Sunday edition of 1/24/16 and Making It At Home Thursday?edition, 1/28/2016.

    Always eager to start some new long-term monitoring project, Im now keeping track of the number of conversations I have about the weather. Im planning to henceforth keep tabs on with whom, when, and for how long we chatted. Im already certain one thing will be constant: the changing weather will be discussed in only the most general, equivocal, unchanging terms. You and I will talk about the weather, my friends, but we will say nothing new.

  • The Outlook from January 22

    | January 22, 2016 | Filed under: Observations

    A weekly recap and forecast to help you plan your visit for the week of January 22, 2016.

  • Frost on the Windowpane

    | January 12, 2016
    Jack Frost paints beautifully. We're fortunate he brings his brushes to our hilltop center, where science and art intertwine. See more scenics in our Flickr albu…