The Hawthorn

The Hawthorn
Fall 2010

2010 HOLIDAY BAZAAR

You can find a wonderful assortment of unique gifts at
Merryspring’s Annual Holiday Bazaar.
Set for December 2, 4
Mark your calendars now so you won’t miss the Merryspring
Holiday Bazaar on Christmas by the Sea weekend. Always
a special event, the Bazaar gives you an opportunity to dou-
ble your gift-giving, since every purchase of our wonderful
holiday decorations and gifts — many crafted by our talented
volunteers — goes to benefit Merryspring Nature Center.
Members will have first choice of the goodies at the Ross
Center on Thursday, Dec. 2 at the Members Only Sale from 2
p.m. to 7 p.m. The general public is invited to shop on Satur-
day, Dec. 4 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.). If you are not now a member,
we invite you to become one at the Bazaar. Members re-
ceive a 10% discount on all purchases.

Wreaths, evergreen swags, bundles of greens, and centerpieces will be available at the sale, but we strongly encourage
pre-ordering to be sure you get the decorations and color scheme you want. The Merryspring elves are waiting to cre-
ate something just for you! Go to the Holiday Bazaar page of the Merryspring website http://www.merryspring.org
and click on the Bazaar link for a copy of the catalog.
In addition to holiday greenery and books for the gardener or naturalist on your list, we always have an array of unique
gifts that will be available only at Merryspring during the sale. Here are just a few samples to whet your holiday shop-
ping appetite: delicious, homemade jams, preserves, and candy; compounded spice mixes; herbal sachets; paperwhites
in their holiday best; supplies to make your own decorations; pet treats; botanical greeting cards; hand-crafted Della
Robbia wreaths; decoupage boxes; seashell picture frames; ornaments; and much, much more. Happy Shopping!

Enter the Holiday Raffle!

Be sure to enter the Holiday Raffle (tickets are $1 each or six for $5) for a
chance to win an original sculpture by Lynette Walther fashioned from frag-
ments of vintage china, sea shells, and shoreline treasures ($190 value); a gift
certificate to Lily, Lupine & Fern ($50 value); or a Merryspring signature fresh
balsam wreath decorated with natural materials ($35 value). See the catalog
for details at www.merryspring.org.
Page 2
Merryspring
Nature Center
P.O. Box 893, Camden, ME 04843
Tel: (207) 236-2239
Fax: (207) 230-0663
Email: info@merryspring.org
www.merryspring.org
Mission Statement
Merryspring’s mission is to practice,
teach, and advocate sound principles of
ecology, conservation, and horticulture in
order to protect our natural environment
and to provide natural landscapes and
cultivated areas for public enjoyment.
Hours of Operation
The park is open free of charge from
dawn to dusk every day of the year. Our
offices and library are open Tuesday-
Friday from 9am to 2pm, or by appoint-
ment.
Membership
Individual $35-50
Family $50-100
Business $50-100
Board of Trustees
Ray Andresen, President
Kathleen Kull, Vice President
Richard Ailes, Treasurer
Frank Callanan, Secretary
Rebecca Clapp
Susan Dorr
Cynthia Dunham
Joanne Fagerburg
James Sady
Susan Shaw
Carol Woodbury -Witham
Staff
Toni Goodridge, Administrative Mgr.
Gail Sutton, Buildings & Grounds Mgr.
AmeriCorps Environmental
Educator
Leo Maheu
©2010—All Rights Reserved
Sign up for our eUpdates at
www.merryspring.org to receive
the latest news on programs and
events.
Visit Merryspring’s Facebook
page where you can check on
upcoming programs and events.
Go to http://www.tinyurl.com/
merryspring-facebook/ We hope
you’ll become a fan.
The Hawthorn Fall 2010
A Sincere Thank You! Inside this issue:
By Ray Andresen Holiday Bazaar 1
Holiday Raffle 1
The trustees and staff of Merryspring Nature Center ex-
tend our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who enable Thank You 2
Merryspring to function. All summer long you’ve been
Wish List 2
gardening, mowing, clearing, hosting programs, putting
on events, and helping in the office, library, and gift shop. Hats Off To Volunteers 3
Your contributions of time and talent are cherished and Volunteer Party 4
invaluable. We couldn’t do it without you.
Volunteers Needed 4
Our deepest gratitude goes to Leo Maheu, our 2010
A Year At Merryspring 5
AmeriCorps volunteer, who came here in February from
California to serve as our Environmental Educator. He 2010 Program Highlights 6
quickly assumed the role and put together an exciting, Merry Masquerade 7
interesting, and memorable series of talks, workshops,
Kitchen Tour Roundup 7
and programs for young and old alike (see page 5). Leo
will be leaving us in December, and we wish him well in Merryspring Calendar 8
his next assignment as an AmeriCorps volunteer at the
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells, Maine. Wish List:
Reciprocating Saw – aka ‘Sawzall’
We also are grateful to all of our guest speakers and
workshop leaders who shared their knowledge and exper- Battery charger for riding mower
tise with our members and guests, making Merryspring’s
Used office chair – ,one with a
2010 programs both enjoyable and educational. Our sin-
high back is preferred.
cerest thanks go to the following: Lesia Sochor; Judy
Paolini; Dennis Milliken, The Green Thumb; Patrick Venetian blind slats to use for
Keenan, BioDiversity Research Institute; Nancy Harmon plant labels
Jenkins; Kathy Kandziolka; Barbara Tomlinson, Wild Ha- Small air compressor (a ‘Pancake’
ven; Wendy Andresen; Hammon Buck, Plants Unlimited; compressor) to inflate tires on
John Neff, Maine Appalachian Trail Club; Morten Moess- carts, mowers, wheelbarrows, etc.
wilde, Maine Forest Service; Mark Follansbee,
2 or 3 garden rakes
WormMainea; Dr. David Handley, Cooperative Extension;
Wood burning tool to identify
Diana George Chapin, The Heirloom Garden; Shelley
Johnson, BreathEasy Farm; Leah Titcomb, Chewonki Merryspring tools
Foundation; Doug Fox, Unity College; Richard May, Ever-
may Nursery; Mark Hutchinson, Cooperative Extension;
Maintenance Person Needed
Richard Lenfest; Kathie Gass; Dr. Lois Berg Stack, Coop-
erative Extension; Glenn Jenks; Nancy Glassman; Greg Merryspring needs a mainte-
nance assistant/handyman.
Marley; Lee Schneller; Susan Shaw, Daylily Society; Anne
Perry, Rhododendron Society; Rick Sawyer, Fernwood; We guarantee erratic hours, low
and Wanda Garland, Coastal Senior College. pay, and high appreciation!
We could use a skilled "Jack-of-
Finally, we deeply appreciate the cooperation of the fol-
all-trades," but if you happen to
lowing organizations that serve as our partners in educa-
be a master of one or two, that’s
tion: Aldermere Farm; American Chestnut Foundation –
perfectly acceptable, and we
Maine Chapter; AmeriCorps; Ashwood Waldorf School;
won’t hold it against you. A good
Central Maine Astronomical Society; Coastal Maine Bo-
sense of humor would also be
tanical Gardens; Five Town Communities That Care –
very handy to have.
STAR Program; Knox-Lincoln County Soil & Water Con-
servation District; Maine Conservation Corps; Maine Did we catch your interest? For
Daylily Society; Maine Forest Service; Mid-Coast Audu- more information, please stop in
bon Society; Plants Unlimited; Vesper Hill Foundation; the office and pick up a list of the
and Youthlinks. Without their co-sponsorship or partici- assorted tasks that would be part
pation, many of our events would not be possible. of the job, or call 236-2239,
or email gail@merryspring.org
for more information.
The Hawthorn Fall 2010 Page 3

Hats Off To Our Volunteers!

Page 4 The Hawthorn Fall 2010

Volunteer Appreciation Party

Merryspring threw an Appreciation Party for its volunteers on Saturday, Sept. 18 in the
Ross Center. About 40 volunteers took part in the festivities, which included a 13-
minute video clip of volunteers past and present tending the gardens, leading work-
shops, working on the trails, and enjoying each other’s company.

Want To Volunteer?
Merryspring is always looking for more volunteers. We can use help with the gar-
dens, with the trails, with the roadway, with the library, and with our fund-raising
events. Right now we are looking for help with the following:
Trimming trees along the roadway
Filling potholes
Crafting items for the Holiday Bazaar
Making plant signs and merchandise tags for the Bazaar

If you’d like to volunteer, please call 236-2239 or stop by the office to find out how and
when you can help.

Can’t do it right now? How about making a New Year’s Resolution to become a Merry
Archie waits patiently as friend Frank Cal-
Volunteer in 2011. Our new Volunteer Booklet, available at the Merryspring office, lanan delivers kitchen supplies. Sadly,
will help you get started. Archie passed away shortly after this photo
was taken.

When gardening season ends, holiday Weeds never sleep.

Snow as high as an elephant’s eye?
craft-making begins.
The Hawthorn Fall 2010 Page 5

My Year at Merryspring
By Leo Maheu
Ten months ago, in the beginning of February, I took my first step inside the
Merryspring building. The snow was beginning to melt, people were slowly
returning from their winter slumbers, and I was introducing myself to the Cam-
den community. It is now the beginning of November, the leaves are beginning
to fall, the wind is chilling our bones, and my term as an AmeriCorps member
at Merryspring Nature Center is coming to a close.
Over the past 10 months, I have been completely immersed in the inner work-
ings of Merryspring. From writing press releases to interacting with the public,
designing program curriculum and educating visitors, I have seen it all. I now
have more experience in the field of managing a non-profit organization than I
could have gotten anywhere else.
Of all I have learned here, the most important knowledge I can take with me is
that Merryspring is not only made up of what it can produce in events, work-
shops, and programming. Merryspring is made up of what occurs behind the
scenes before anything else takes place. The members, volunteers, employees,
and sponsors are what makes this non-profit operate, and without them, Mer-
ryspring would not be as successful as it is today. It takes a dedication to pur-
pose, and a sense of pride in what you are doing, to produce a mission-driven
product for enjoyment throughout the Mid-Coast community.
In addition to each of these important aspects, Merryspring’s programming relies on the donation of time, supplies, and funding to
ensure success. One perfect example of such success is the schedule of Family Activities offered this summer. In total, the events
brought in over 150 visitors to Merryspring, and only a small percent of them had visited before, or were already members. Each
event was offered free of cost to the visiting families, and gave each family an opportunity to get outdoors and participate in a fun-
filled, educational activity together.
The Forts and Fairy Houses Activity was, by far, the most successful program offered this summer. At one point during the event,
I passed by a young girl and her mother searching for the perfect spot for their fairy house. They had come to a few family work-
shops in the past, and as I was walking by the mother smiled at me with recognition. Before I was out of earshot, I heard the
daughter exclaim, “Mom, this is the perfect place for our fairy house, but we have got to get rid of this spider web." Out of curios-
ity, I stopped to hear how the conversation would continue. The mother looked over in my direction, gave me a quick wink, and
then replied to her daughter, “But don’t you think that this web might be useful to a spider in the area? What have we learned
from Leo about habitats?" The daughter then replied, "Oh, yes Mom, you are absolutely right! We can leave it up, and pretend it’s
decoration." The daughter then continued to arrange her fairy house materials, being careful not to disturb the area where she
was building. The mother looked at me with a great smile on her face, and gave another wink. I nodded my head in appreciation,
and returned the happy smile.
The mother reminding her daughter that along with fun activities comes the importance of conservation principles directly illus-
trates Merryspring’s mission carried out through its programming. It is also a small, but important, indication of how the Ameri-
Corps program is able to beneficially impact the Merryspring community, and how it serves an integral role in Merryspring’s
success.
The programming offered here at Merryspring is dependent on the donation of time from volunteers, and supplies and funding
from sponsors and private donors. Without the help of members and the local community, Merryspring would not be able to offer
such engaging, educational programs to the general public at low or no cost. Each donation brings Merryspring one step closer to
accomplishing its mission to “practice, teach and advocate sound principles of ecology, conservation, and horticulture” throughout
the community. Any help you can offer will be reflected in the ongoing education Merryspring will be able to continue providing.
It is with these last few words that I will bid Merryspring farewell in mid-December, and welcome the newest AmeriCorps member
to the community. I have met many wonderful people, and will take with me just as many wonderful memories. I have every con-
fidence that Merryspring will continue to serve as a wonderful resource in the future, and I look forward to returning to visit the
community I have grown to love.
Page 6 The Hawthorn Fall 2010

2010 Programs Draw Gardeners,

Painters, and Fort Builders
Merryspring’s educational programs and workshops in 2010 attracted more
than 1,500 attendees, ranging from garden enthusiasts to budding artists
to young builders of forts and fairy houses.

Wendy Andresen demonstrates her pruning

technique at one of many Perennial Garden A well-attended holiday craft- Satisfaction at the Fort Building and Fairy
Maintenance workshops. making workshop on Nov. 2. House workshop.

Lesia Sochor’s watercolor class in progress at the Ross Mark Hutchinson of Maine’s Cooperative Extension
Center. leads a Tuesday Talk on “Soil Health In Plain English.”

All Hallows Eve

Part of Merryspring’s mission is to “provide natural landscapes and cultivated
areas for public enjoyment.”
On Halloween, however, the park was converted into a supernatural forest
inhabited by hundreds of costumed creatures. They were there for the All
Hallow’s Eve celebration sponsored by the Ashwood Waldorf School and Mer-
ryspring Nature Center. This annual conclave of sprites and spirits drew more
than 600 children and adults to Merryspring for a few hours of merriment, in-
cluding an enchanted walk through the woods and stories around a campfire.
The Hawthorn Fall 2010 Page 7

Merry Masquerade
Fiends and friends (and an Arab Sheikh) turned out for the Merry
Masquerade sponsored by Merryspring on October 30 at the High
Mountain Hall in Camden.

Kitchen Tour Draws More Than 500

One of the highlights along the Mid-Coast each summer is Merryspring’s Kitchen Tour, our single biggest fundraiser and a memo-
rable day for all involved. But it takes weeks of preparation and perseverance to pull it all together, and for that we are indebted
to Meg Barclay and her 2010 Kitchen Tour Committee of Susan Dorr, Dorothea Graham, Kathie Kull, Edie Kyle, and Harrah Lord.
This year’s Kitchen Tour was another resounding success, with more than 500 attendees sampling the culinary skills of local chefs
while admiring the craftsmanship and design skills exhibited in eight beautiful kitchens.

Merryspring is very grateful to all who contributed to the success of our tour. Our deepest gratitude goes to the gracious home-
owners, without whom there would be no tour: Mary and Keith Collins; Marsha and Vic Steinglass; Judy and Andy Burgess; Joshua
Grodzins; Martha Coolidge and Sam Rowse; Susan G. Taylor; Elinor Klivans; and Rhonda Ryznar and Richard Rovner.

Special thanks goes out to the chefs who served up their culinary delights in the kitchens: Amalfi on the Water; Blue Sky Cantina;
Brevetto Kitchen & Wine Bar; Cappy’s Chowder House; Courses Catering; Elinor Klivans; Farmers Fare; Laura Cabot Catering; The
Market Basket; Megunticook Market; Paolina’s Way; Primo; Prism Glass Gallery & Café; Thomaston Café; and Trillium Caterers.
We would also like to express our appreciation to EBS Style Solutions, our business sponsor, Francine Bistro, provider of the door
prizes, and the other businesses, designers and craftspeople who supported the tour: 17-90 Lighting Showroom; A.E. Sampson &
Son, LTD; Agren Appliance & Television; A.M. Plumbing & Heating, Inc.; Ann Kearsley Design; Barnes Custom Window Treatments;
Beckstrom Architecture & Planning; Bench Dogs, Inc.; Benjamin Leavitt Metalworker; Bernhard & Priestley Architecture; Bingham
Lumber; BrightBuilt Furniture/Cabinetry; Brown Appliance & Mattress; Cayouette Flooring, Inc.; Chatfield Design; Christopher
Glass, Architect; Cold Mountain Builders; Cornerstone Kitchens; Crestwood Kitchens; David C. Olivas, DDS; DayMatero Studio; Den-
nis J. King Masonry, Inc.; Distinctive Tile & Design; Dominic Paul Mercadante Architectcture; Don Dickel Floors; Dream Kitchen Stu-
dio by Mathews Brothers; Fixtures …Designer Plumbing Showroom; Erickson’s Antique Stoves; G2+1 LLC; Gilberte Interiors, Inc.;
Freshwater Stone; Harbor Builders Associates; Hearth & Patio @ Smith & May, Inc.; John Gillespie, Architect; Kaplan Thompson
Architects; Kelsey’s Appliance Village; Keystone Masonry; Landmark Construction; Landscape Services; Landworks Design; Lee
Schneller Fine Gardens, Inc.; Lincolnville Family Dentistry; Maguire Construction, Inc.; Maine Coast Construction; Maine Soapstone
Co.; Margo Moore Interiors; Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design; Mid-Coast Masonry; Mishka Plumbing & Heating; New View
Interiors; North Atlantic Painting Co.; Northport Bath & Maine Shower Door; Oliver Builders, Inc.; Olson’s Classic Painting, Inc.;
Once a Tree; Optimum Performance Personal Training; Party Fundamentals; Peter T. Gross Architects, P.A.; Pen-Bay Glass, Inc.; Phi
Home Designs; ReVision Energy; Rockport Mechanical, Inc.; Rockport Steel; Scholz & Barclay Architecture; Seasons Downeast De-
signs; Silverio Architecture & Design; Stonescape Masonry; Sukeforth Builders, Inc.; The Good Table; The Store; The Well Tempered
Kitchen; Treekeepers LLC/Johnson’s Arboriculture; Viking Lumber; Village Cabinet & Remodeling Co.; Windsor Chairmakers; and
Zoulamis Fine Woodworking.
 P.O. Box 893
Camden, ME 04843

Make Your Own Merryspring Calendar

Looking for a new gift idea for the holidays? How about a Merryspring
Calendar? You can even make your own Merryspring Calendar. At Mer-
ryspring's new custom calendar-building website, you can get started on
your holiday shopping by personalizing a full-color, 11"x17" wall calen-
dar for family and friends. Use your own digital photographs, personal
dates, captions, and design. Or, if you prefer, you can order our stan-
dard Merryspring Calendar, which features 13 beautiful photos from
your favorite Nature Center. Or you can choose from an assortment of
other Merryspring images, or even select from a gallery of stock photos.
All calendars will contain our logo, showing your support for Mer-
ryspring. These calendars are fun to make, sure to be a hit, and for each
The 2011 Merryspring Calendar features a wide selec-
one purchased, Merryspring will receive up to 50% of the proceeds. tion of colorful photos from your Nature Center.

To begin, all you need do is go to our calendar website www.calendarlink.org/merryspring create a user name and password, and
log in. You then will be on the 'Design' page where you choose a standard or custom calendar, and full-page or framed calendar.
If you choose 'standard', you make no other choices and will receive a calendar with photos chosen by Merryspring. The title page
will say "Merryspring Nature Center." If you choose 'custom', you then click 'next step' and follow instructions for choosing a cover
photo and title, the images and captions you want for each month, special captions for five days per month, and other features.
After you place your order, the calendar(s) will be shipped to your home. For each calendar sold, Merryspring will receive up to
$10. These calendars make wonderful gifts, and we encourage you to make several and share them with your friends and family.
And please tell others about this great new gift idea from Merryspring.