West Bethel
by Lorrie Hoeh
It’s lady-slipper time! One morning recently Jake and I were hiking through the woods between Paradise Road and the golf course and we saw several lady-slippers in bud, and they will probably be in full bloom in a week. That is, if it doesn’t snow in the meantime. We also saw painted trillium in all their glory.
Sunday morning Mike asked me to choose where to take our Sunday walk, it being Mother’s Day. So I decided on the forest road. We parked the car in a friend’s driveway and trekked on our old stomping grounds. There, also, we saw lots of lady-slippers almost ready to burst forth and clusters of painted trillium here and there. We caught the tail end of the trailing arbutus (Mayflower) bloom, as well. Spring is trying mightily to progress, near-freezing temperatures and high winds to the contrary notwithstanding. It was very comfortable to tread familiar ground once again.
May is warbler month, and we have been hearing oven-birds, black-throated green warblers, worm-eating warblers, and others not yet identified. Also heard an indigo bunting on Peter Grover Road one morning. In my ramblings I found an interesting-looking mushroom, the gyromitra, or false morel. The book says it is fatal if eaten raw, but quite tasty if properly cooked. It can also be safely consumed if dried first. We think we will pass on this one and stick to the less exotic fungi.
Jennifer from Andover reports goldfinches having visited all winter, along with purple finches and hairy and downy woodpeckers. She believes they are all nesting nearby her home, as are the sapsuckers. It sounds as if she has a wildlife bonanza.
We received the following note from Christine Trefethen this week:
“It’s that time of year again when I prepare for the Trek Across Maine by riding many miles on my bike and by raising funds to support the important work of the American Lung Association. Many of you have supported my ride in the past, and I hope that you will choose to do so again this year. Please visit my Web page to make a secure online donation or send a check made out to ALA/Maine to me at PO Box 667, Bethel, ME 04217. As always, thank you so much for your sup-port.”
Chris does the Trek Across Maine every year, and I urge you to support her with a contribution. You can Google “Trek Across Maine,” click on “Pledge,” type in Christine’s name, and follow direc-tions to pledge.
Debby Luxton wrote that the Pleasant Valley Bible Church is having a fellowship dinner this Fri-day evening with some special guests. Karen and Steve McNally will be singing and giving a talk. In addition, Pastor Ken Wagstaff from Andover will come to share his experiences in Haiti. He ac-tually arrived there on the day of the earthquake. There will be some enjoyable activities, as well as a few door prizes. The public is invited, with supper starting at 6 p.m. For more information, you can call 836-3006 or 836-2828. There are also plans being made for Mollyockett Day and Vacation Bi-ble School for August.
According to Debby, a sure sign of spring, along with lilacs and apple blossoms, is seeing Ed Swain and his tractor in the area, roto-tilling gardens. Let’s hope he doesn’t get snowed on!
Debby also reports that there are new neighbors in West Bethel. Priscilla and Trevor Gilbert and their daughter, Chloe, are living at the end of the road at Mountain View Circle, and are very happy to be there in a neighborhood they love. We extend a hearty “Welcome!” to the Gilbert family.
We enjoyed Grandparents’ Day at Gould Academy last week, sharing some meals with our grand-daughter, Molly Siegel, and attending class with her. Then on Thursday evening we attended the Gould performance of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” which was a rousing suc-cess. It was a most enjoyable show, with all the performers doing a super job, including our Molly.
On Friday night we were treated to yet another great show, “The Pirates of Penzance,” perfomed by Mount Blue High School students. Our granddaughter, Louisa Stancioff, played one of the Major General’s daughters, and she sang beautifully, as did her cousin, Molly, in her show. Thank you to both our girls for sharing their talents.
After a 34 degree start to Monday morning, the sun finally came out that afternoon. We are hop-ing for a return to spring weather by this weekend. Meanwhile I will be busy planting some ferns, chives, and lily-of-the-valley that my neighbor, Jan Hale, very kindly shared with me. I look for-ward to hearing from you: dhoeh@megalink.net; 824-2917.