Guided walk along Shaker Nature Trail offers interactive discussions and a hint of history.
Step onto The Great Road, the old road to western Maine from the coast. Just to the south of the Carriage House at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Community and Museum in New Gloucester begins the three-mile Shaker Nature Trail.
The first part follows the road that folks long ago would take to travel to western Maine. Although now just a trail, the thought of the historical perspective is mind-boggling. The trail turns off the Great Road, looping through meadow, woodland, lakeside, to a waterfall and beaver lodge, then back to the fields.
My girls and I, and a couple from Falmouth, follow Carol Beyna (pronounced Bainer), an environmental educator from Cumberland, who is the guide for the 2½-hour Shaker nature walk. Groups vary in size from one person to 12.
I am very impressed with the interactive discussion of what we see and find. She begins each find with a question to determine how much we already know in order to expand that knowledge. My girls had fun recalling many tidbits of plant identification. Amy, one of my daughters and an environmental biology student, helped all of us learn that there are two species of poison ivy, the low-growing one we’re familiar with around here and an invasive plant coming up from the South that’s a climber.
In discussing the wildflower Queen Anne’s lace, another daughter, Tara, pointed out the plant’s lore; the red in the center is a supposed drop of blood that the queen gets when she picks her finger while making the lace. We tried to look for the red spot, which can vary to a deep purple, but decided that the season was a bit late. All of us noted that we absorb information from encounters with others and through making the opportunity for walks like this one.
Highlights of the trail include the Shaker Woods, Loon’s Point, Aurelia’s Cascade and Footbridge, a beaver lodge and a kettle bog. The latter is formed when a retreating glacier leaves a unique habitat for plants like wild cranberry and birds, including a sharp-shinned hawk, which Beyna spotted on a different outing.
This walk takes you through many different habitats. My girls and I were excited to find that we were correct in deciding it was the right place to find Indian pipe plants, and then spotting a nice clump of them. These are waxy, translucent and white, a non-chlorophyll-producing plants. I have a fond memory of first seeing them growing at the Miles Standish State Park in Massachusetts. This plant sparked an interest in botany and the world of nature.
Interestingly, Beyna asked if I had been a Girl Scout leader, as indeed I have.
When we stopped at Aurelia’s Cascade, Beyna read an excerpt from Sister Aurelia’s journal. It was an entry about finding a spot to rest, to enjoy the moment, then return to work refreshed. A nice thought for us all. Sister Aurelia (1835-1910), a beloved member of the Shakers and the waterfall’s namesake, would bring children to the stream on hot summer days. The children sat dangling their feet in the water, while she taught them about butterflies and all things natural. I can imagine them splashing their little feet. In the past, the Shakers had taken in orphans. When the children reached the age of 18, they could decide whether to embrace the life of a Shaker or go into the world. Today, the Shakers are not able to accept children, but do welcome new members.
Checking a field guide
Beyna invites us to ask questions, and when I find an arrow-shaped leaf, we all stop to consider the possibilities. Beyna whips out her Peterson field guide to key out the plant. We decide to look into further research later. She recommends the Peterson “Field Guide to Wild Flowers” as an excellent resource.
Her backpack held numerous aids for our exploration, from a topographical map of the area from L.L. Bean to binoculars to spot a phoebe on the trail, to plastic bags of examples of wild turkey feathers and poison ivy. She pulled out the map at Loon’s Point to show us where we were. We made consistent use of the binoculars, even spotting a cardinal flower named for its brilliant red that was blooming by Aurelia’s Cascade.
The wild turkey, a conservation success story, has feathers with a lovely green iridescence. I was very interested in her poison ivy specimen. Beyna noted ways to identify this plant that I’d never known: The terminal or end leaf has an elongated stem before meeting up with the other two leaves that make up the well-known leaves of three. The juncture also has a darker, purple-hued area on the stem.
Reservations are required for the monthly nature walks guided by Beyna. You can make a reservation by calling during business hours. Meet at the Museum Reception Center. There is a fee of $5 per person. The three-mile walk takes about 2½ hours to cover the east side of Shaker Village. Beyna includes a history of the Shaker community along with seasonal examples of plants and wildlife.
Shaker Village
The village is home to four actively participating members of The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, otherwise known as Shakers. This is the only remaining Shaker community in America that continues to work and worship. Visitors are welcome to learn about their way of life and faith, while maintaining a respect for the members, the buildings and the land. The land includes forest and field, orchard and garden, totaling over 1,700 acres in the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
The village has 18 buildings, with six open to the public as part of the museum. There are 27 exhibit rooms available on a tour.
Tour information and tickets are available in the Museum Reception Center in the former Boy’s Shop. In addition, you’ll find a book shop and children’s exhibits.
Other buildings include the Shaker Store, offering Shaker-made goods and foods for sale. Here you can buy the culinary herbs and herbal teas collected at the village.
The 1794 Meetinghouse was the first building built by the community. The Shaker Library was relocated to the 1880 Shaker Schoolhouse in 1988.
The Ministry’s Shop holds this season’s special temporary exhibit, “Built According to His Mind: The Works of Brother Hewitt Chandler.”
The Sister’s Shop is where the handmade goods are crafted.
The 1816 Spinhouse features the exhibit, “The Fruitage Will Never Fail: The Sabbathday Lake Shakers Apple Orchards” about the history and growth of the 35-acre apple orchard.
Getting there: The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Museum is on Shaker Road, off Route 26, in New Gloucester, eight miles north of the Maine Turnpike Exit 63 in Gray (formerly Exit 11), and eight miles west of Exit 75 in Auburn (the former Exit 12).
Admission fees: The basic tour is $6.50 for adults and $2 for children, with those under 2 free. An extended tour and group fees are also available. Call for details.
Hours: Museum Shop and Shaker Store hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday until Columbus Day.
Reservations and information: The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Museum Web site is at www.shaker.lib.me.us or call (207) 926-4597.
Edith Churchill is a freelance writer living in Auburn who frequently takes day trips with her family.
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