We’ve almost made it through another Maine winter! Thoughts of spring and the awakening of trees, plants, gardens, and wildlife bring hope. Topsham Public Library is offering a variety of ways to learn more about the nature and wildlife around us.
On Monday, March 9 at 4pm, the Nature Speaks Book Discussion Group is hosting an author talk. Ed Robinson, author of Nature Notes From Maine: River Otters, Moose, Skunks and More, will be here for an informal chat about his book and why he chose the examples he featured in it. There will also be a question and answer period. This meeting is open to the public.
Topsham Historical Society presents The Maine Ice Trade on Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30pm. Maine Maritime Museum’s Assistant Curator Paul Fuller will share his insights on organizing the museum’s winter exhibit “Frozen Kingdom,” and reveal some of Maine’s most intriguing stories connected to Maine’s notoriously frigid winters. The lecture will discuss ice harvesting, some of the ice business’s biggest players, and what happened to the industry.
From ice to green gardens: The Topsham Garden Club will meet Wednesday, March 11 at noon and the guest speaker will be Barbara Murphy who will discuss the ecology of a garden. Each garden contains its own little ecosystem which is far more than simply beautiful flowers or fresh vegetables. The health of a garden and its produce depends on a healthy soil and everything that lives in and on it and interacts with the plants. Barbara is a sought after speaker who is very knowledgeable and has a delightful sense of humor. Bring a bag lunch to eat after the talk. Snacks, dessert, and beverages will be provided.
Every month, Nature Speaks Book Discussion led by Dana Cary, meets at Topsham Public Library. This month’s meeting on Thursday, March 12 at 4pm will discuss Hidden World Revealed: Musings of a Maine Naturalist by Tom Seymour. They will read the Winter and Spring sections. This book discussion group focuses on our environment and the wonders of nature. New members always welcome.
The ever-popular CREA will present a talk about turtles on Tuesday, March 24 at 6pm. Turtles have fascinated people for millennia and occupy special places in their respective cultures and ecosystems. They are also among the most threatened group of vertebrates globally. We will hear from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s lead biologist on reptile issues, Derek Yorks, who will speak about the seven species of Maine’s freshwater turtle including those which are threatened.