Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Learning to identify and admire alpine flowers is an acquired taste, par-
ticularly because of the effort required get to the areas where the flour-
ish. Most “blooms” occur in early spring, often when there are still large
patches of snow at altitude. This is also the time of year when blackflies
are most voracious.
Still, the clusters of tiny white diapensia blooms, particularly on
Katahdin, are spectacular. Nearby, bright pink lapland rosebay and
Alpine azalea also thrive.
Mountain sandwort, wine-leaf cinquefoil await intrepid hikers in early
July on many of Acadia's summits. Later, as blueberries ripen, the single-
stalked orange wood lilies provide interesting contrast.
WISE WORDS:
Alpine vegetation, including lichens,
mosses and sedges, is fragile. Heavy bootsteps damage
plants and also foster erosion. Staying on the marked
trail minimizes damage and limits adverse impacts to
a small area.
Wild Berries
Maine's most famous wild berry is the
blueberry
, which grows on vast
open barrens and rocky fields from central Maine to Down East. The area
west and east of Ellsworth is particularly productive. Each year, Maine
ships tens of millions of pounds of this succulent, sweet, blue fruit around
the world.
INTERESTING FACT:
Scientists have recently dis-
covered blueberries have high levels of powerful can-
cer-fighting anti-oxidants.
Most berries are harvested in August. Some farms where you can pick
your own are listed in individual area chapters throughout this topic.
While removal of vegetation is illegal in Acadia, picking blueberries for
your own consumption is allowed. Many hikers have suddenly wondered
where an afternoon went after they have become distracted collecting
this delicious berry.
Raspberries
and
blackberries
also grow wild in Maine and are most
fond of the tangled web of vegetation following a timber harvest. The
commercial production of
cranberries
has also recently increased.
