Category Archives: Plants

Cadillac crowds root of problem for Acadia plants

The ferns, flowers, shrubs and grasses of Cadillac Mountain have a tough enough time surviving the elements, but the biggest threat of all may be the pounding of constant foot traffic on Acadia National Park’s busiest and highest summit. Consulting botanist Jill E. Weber gives us a tour of the research plots atop the peak, explaining the multi-year project to bring back the greenery on Cadillac, after limited success in earlier years with physical barriers, ropes and signs.

Climate change consequences hot topic in Acadia, global news

With the United States planning to pull out of the Paris climate accord and Al Gore’s new movie, climate change is a hot issue this summer. The topic is also sharply in focus at Acadia National Park, where an exhibit at the Sieur de Monts Nature Center explores current and future climate change consequences at […]

If not for Earth Day, imagine a silent spring in Acadia National Park

As millions around the world mark Earth Day, imagine what Acadia National Park would be like without the banning of DDT, the Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts, or any of the other changes since that first massive showing of environmental activism in 1970: No peregrine falcons nesting on the Precipice of Champlain Hazy views […]

Signs of spring in Acadia: Return of peregrine falcons, mud season, and soon, rhodora

The Precipice Trail is closed for peregrine falcon nesting, and the carriage roads, off limits for mud season. And as sure as spring follows winter, colorful rhodora and other plants of Acadia will soon be in bloom. For Jill Weber, a consulting botanist for Acadia National Park, the flowers of spring bring a feast for […]

Hope springs eternal for springtime in Acadia

Deep snow may still cover parts of Acadia National Park as the first day of spring approaches, but surely it can’t be long before birdsong fills the air, flowers and trees bud and the park rouses from its wintry slumber. Springtime in Acadia is an uncrowded paradise, perfect for hikers, birders, plant aficionados, bicyclists, runners, […]

Fragile Cadillac ecology focus of protection efforts by alpine group, others

Cadillac is tough as granite, yet the alpine zone of Acadia National Park’s tallest mountain is fragile as eggshells. With the approximately 3 million visitors a year to the park, and Acadia’s highest peak a must-see stop, it’s a constant battle to protect the bald summit and ridge, and the special Cadillac ecology. One recent […]