New Butterfly Garden for the Children’s Campus at Philips Andover

SHED Children's Campus chicks © Kim Smith 2013Native Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) for the Hummingbirds

This week I, along with a wonderful group of volunteers, am installing the new butterfly and hummingbird garden that I designed for the Children’s Campus at Philips Academy Andover. We also got lots of help with planting from children and chickens. Chickens in the garden are lots of fun for the kids and I especially love them for the always excellent chicken poop fertilizer provided. The chicks were running freely around the new garden however, we were all watching out for them because the hungry mama hawk hovering in a neighboring tree was also very interested in the chickens.

SHED Children's Campus chickens and kids ©Kim Smith 2013

Linda Shottes-Bouchard, the director of the children’s program, and I met this past spring at one of the lectures I gave in Andover. Linda is a true dynamo and wonderfully hands-on director–she practically hired me on the spot, and then organized the planting to coincide with this particular week, when 100 volunteers from Liberty Mutual are arriving throughout the week to lend a hand with campus improvements. More from the new gardens, including a Fairy Garden, coming soon!

SHED Children's Campus kids & chickens ©Kim Smith 2013

FOB Al Bezanson Photos from the Norfolk Botanical Garden

Al Bezanson Photo

Hi Kim,

Went to Norfolk on the weekend and I was forbidden by family to hang out on the waterfront.  So…. I got these shots at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.   The dragonfly was in the wild but the butterfly was a captive in the Butterfly House.  It was like shooting fish in a barrel.

Al Bezanson

Thanks for sharing Al!!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

FOB Ann Kennedy Shares Her Wren Photos and Story

Ann Kennedy wren photo

Hi Kim,

I’m excited about your film showing very soon and I hope your opening is wonderful in every way.  I just know it will be and I look forward to hearing all about it on GMG!  You bring such gifts through your photos and informative posts!

I’ve been watching the wrens outside my kitchen window, and while the pictures aren’t that great, what these precious birds do is just amazing as you well know.  The babies squawk until the mama returns with a winged treat.  As they get bigger, she will drop the bug on the ground and encourage them to come for it on their own for at least one of their feedings.  It is so fun to watch and thought you might enjoy these.  While I can’t clean up their messy birdhouse, I did clean up the last photo:-)

Best wishes always,

Ann


Ann Kennedy wren photo-1

Ann Kennedy wren photo-2Ann Kennedy wren photo-3Thanks for sharing Ann!!

Cape Ann Community Cinema Needs Our Support

Dear Dear Patron/Saint,

If you are pressed for time, you can just jump ahead to the handy links at the end of this message. But we hope that you will spare a minute or two to read about an important challenge that the Cape Ann Community Cinema now faces, and how you can help overcome it (in true community fashion).

aint

We are presently preparing to celebrate five years in business as a full-time operation. Every day, week, and month of those five years have been hard-fought. While we have increased revenue every year, it has been, after all is said and done, at a very slim margin for the business (and myself personally).

It is now time for the CACC to take that quantum leap forward, and to do that, we must make an important upgrade to industry-standard projection equipment.

In short, by acquiring a thoroughly modern “magic lantern,” we will also acquire the ability to book any first-run film, thereby increasing traffic and cash flow, and thus increasing the awareness of who we are and what we do. You would be surprised at the number of people who––five years later––tell us upon their first visit, “I live in Gloucester, and didn’t even know you were here.”

Screen-Shot-2012-11-07-at-15.35.15

Don’t worry, we are not switching our diet to sequels, remakes, and Adam Sandler movies. Rather, we will have day-and-date (with New York, Los Angeles, and Danvers) access to the studios boutique departments such as Disney’s Miramax, Fox’sSearchlight, and Universal’s Focus Features, to name just a few. Not only does that mean no more schlepping to Danvers to Schmollywood Schmidt’s wearing clever disguises, but a steady winter menu of all the Oscar nominees, not just the shorts, documentaries, and foreign film nominees we have been providing. We have managed very well with booking great films from smaller distributors exclusively, but with the upgrade, we will manage even better and secure a future in which we trade the label “hidden gem” for “longtime Main Street fixture.”

4-cacc-liv-ullmann-event

Additionally, if we cross a certain threshold with this campaign––and you can see our specific plans for the money we raise here––we gain the ability to show 3-D movies, not only the studio stuff that your kids and grandkids ask for, but also a very wide selection of engaging educational fare. We also plan to produce the scenic, aerial spectacular “Over Cape Ann 3-D,” a film you will only be able to see in our theater and that can become an evergreen attraction for not only our Cinema, but also for all of Cape Ann.

Your donation to this essential campaign is tax-deductible, and we have a dozen different thank-you gifts, ranging from bumper stickers to private movie parties to complimentary admission to the Cinema for a whole year. The full menu of premiums is listed on our Indiegogo page. This campaign ends July 22nd, and if we reach our goal, we can be up-and-running with the new gear just after Labor Day.

Thank you for your time, attention, and continued support of this crazy dream of ours.

Most sincerely,

Rob Newton
Creative Director

Go-go click the Indie gogo logo to learn more.

indiegogo

Thank You April Smith!!

Yesterday while at CATV making copies of my film, Beeman School 1st grader April Smith lent a hand by agreeing to be my focus group that afternoon. Her candid response to the film, “I loved it!” When I asked what her favorite part was, she first said the music (thanks to my darling daughter Liv for providing the vocals and dear friend Kathleen for the accompanying pipe organ), and then she added she also liked the butterflies and caterpillars. I guess that just about covers all!  Thanks April!!

April Smith ©Kim Smith 2013

And special, special thanks to Andrew Love and April’s Mom, Lisa. Lisa, very graciously, has been sharing the Final Cut editing station (located smack dab in the middle of her hectic office at CATV) with me for the past several weeks.  Andrew once again provided much appreciated assistance with editing and techno problems.

P.S. April was not playing hookey; she was missing school because of a miserable head cold.

Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Premiere

Design Inspiration ~ Iceland Poppies

Iceland Poppies ©Kim Smith 2013Iceland Poppies 

Driving home at dusk and coming from a client’s in Beverly Farms, I passed this gorgeous poppy-filled window box at Gladstone’s jewelry shop on Union Street in Manchester, and just had to stop and take a snapshot. I thought the poppies would be beautiful in full sun, too, and made sure to drive the same route the next sunny day.

Iceland Poppies sunny day ©Kim Smith 2013 Iceland Poppies (Papaver nudicaule) and Viloas

You Are All Invited to My Film Premiere and After Party at Fred Bodin’s

Come join us at my film’s premiere, Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly, Friday, June 21st at 7:30 pm, at the Cape Ann Community Cinema. After the event, Fred has very graciously offered to host a rockin’ party at Bodin Historic Photo Gallery, 82 Main Street, and Felicia and Pat are preparing a wonderful array of tasty treats, as only they can do! It’s going to be fabulous night and I hope to see you there!

Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Movie poster

Advance Tickets for Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Snapshots from this Morning’s Deviled Egg Competition

Contestants and judges ©Kim Smith 2013Contestants and judges left to right Janet, EJ, Joanne, Linda, Paul, Adam, Joey, Ed, Richard, with Gigi in the front

1st place winner ©Kim smith 20131st Place Winner Linda Sadja

Judges Adam and Joey EJ's award ©Kim Smith 2013Judges Adam and Joey

EJ 2nd place ©Kim Smith 2013EJ Wins 2nd Place

Gigi wins third ©Kim Smith 2013 copyGigi Wins 3rd Place

Nick Avelis and Dahlia ©Kim Smith 2013Nick Avelis and Dahlia

Brian M and Amelia ©Kim smith 2013 copyBrian and Emilia

Amelia and Dahlia ©Kim Smith 2013Emilia and Dahlia

Amelia mastering the trike ©Kim Smith 2013Emilia

Honorable Judges ©Kim Smith 2013Honorable JudgesHonorable Judges Paul M, Adam, Joey, Ed and Richard

Best of Luck to Andrew Love at His New Job!

We’re going to miss him!

Lisa Smith Andrew Love Sinikka Nogelo ©Kim Smith 2013Three Former and Current CATV Stars ~ Lisa Smith, Andrew Love, Sinikka Nogelo 

Gorgeous Cecropia Moth

Christine Morey from Annabelle’s Pet Care sent this photo of a newly emerged Cecropia Moth. This is the second year in a row that she has found a Cecropia Moth cocoon on her hydrangea bush. The hydrangea is sited below her birch tree, which is one of the caterpillar’s food plant. The Cecropia Moth is the largest North American native moth, with a wing span of six inches! Gorgeous Christine–thank you so much for sharing!!!

Cecropia moth Christine Morey photoMale Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)

What to look for in your garden ~

win07-043Cecropia Moth Cocoon ~ Image courtesy google image search

Nice Note from Al Bezanson

Tuesday night while setting up my projector at the Southborough Library for my pollinator garden lecture for the Southborough Open Land Foundation I needed a shim to balance the projector. To my surprise and delight, the gentleman sitting next to the projector handed me a GMG coaster from his pocket! He was none other than GMG’s Al Bezanson, there at the lecture, with his lovely wife Phyllis. Joey teases me so much about butterflies we thought he would get a laugh out of seeing a photo of the schooner expert at my lecture. Many thanks Al and Phyllis for coming and it was so great to meet you both!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Hi Kim

Thanks for coming.  Your talk was outstanding, and you had me enthralled with your knowledge of our natural surroundings.  It is always a treat to read your GMG comments on others’ sightings.  From now on I will be taking a much closer look at the details in Phyllis’ gardens.   I know something about birds but I am a butterfly novice.

Gloucester is one hour from Southborough if you hit it right.  Sorry you experienced the traffic nightmare.  That’s one reason Phyllis and I will be back on Rocky Neck this summer.  Fifty years ago we lived at 4 Wonson Street with a Tomato Hornworm the size of a small cucumber.

All the best,

Al and Phyllis Bezanson

Andrew is Leaving Cape Ann TV

Andrew Love has been hired away by a neighboring TV station. I am so happy for Andrew’s new job opportunity but think I speak for the entire community when I say we are so sorry to see him leave CATV.  Andrew will be sorely, sorely missed by all.

Andrew will continue to live on Cape Ann, and remains available to hire as a freelance producer, videographer, editor, director–Andrew’s skills are many–and as I said before, Andrew is a genius! Seriously!

The following is a short film Andrew made for the company videoimpacts. It is a story that highlights the dangers of texting and driving. Beautiful work and great job Andrew!

Baby Chipping Sparrow

Butterfly Courtyard Willowdale Estate©Kim Smith 2013

Notice the two gardenia trees in the large planters in the background. Weren’t we startled  several weeks ago to find a nest tucked in the crook of the gardenia branches, with an egg!! The planters are moved often enough to accommodate wedding ceremonies, but that didn’t deter in the least the highly adaptable Chipping Sparrow from building its nest.

Baby Chipping Sparrow ©Kim Smith 2013Baby Chipping Sparrow 

Chipping SparrowParent Chipping Sparrow. The mom/pop waited anxiously, with a fat green caterpillar dangling from its mouth, for me to stop photographing. As soon as I moved away, it  flew to the nest to deposit the worm into the hungry baby’s wide-open mouth. The entire time I was there delivering plants Sunday afternoon, the baby never closed its mouth!

The song of the Chipping Sparrow is a lovely trill and you can hear it well on this video. They also make a piercing flight call, a characteristic sound of the evening sky during their annual spring and fall migration.

Lecture Tonight for the Southboro Open Land Foundation

Pollinators: the Birds, Butterflies and Bees (7:00 – 8:45 pm): Southborough Open Land Foundation welcomes Kim Smith, a specialist on pollinators, such as butterflies and other insects, and their important role in sustaining the earth. She will share a stunning slide show and informative lecture, The Pollinator Garden. Presentation includes “BomBom Butterfly” video demonstrating the life cycle of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly. A list of possible plants for your property will be provided. Event is free and open to the public – will be held in main reading room of the Southboro Library, 25 Main Street.

Newly emerged black swallowtail butterfly wedgewood blue lilac ©Kim Smith 2013Newly Emerged Male Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Beauty in Our Midst

Habitat Gardening

Native cherry tree ©Kim Smith 2013

Sunday morning I was planting my friend Janet’s butterfly garden over at Beach Road. She has the most beautiful native cherry tree (Prunus) growing alongside her home. The tree was planted by her parents and has been beautifully maintained over the years. Black Cherry and Chokecherry are often thought of as weed trees however, when they are well-cared for, they will reward you with lovely boughs covered in racemes of tiny white five-petaled flowers. Cherries are a caterpillar food plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and while at Janet’s, we saw several Eastern Tiger Swallowtails investigating the foliage and racemes. The fruits, too, of the cherry are much loved by the songbirds.

American Robin nest ©Kim Smith 2013

Yesterday was a great day for butterfly sightings and Robins! Under the eaves of Janet’s porch is an American Robin nest. Pa and Ma Robin flew to and from the nest, scolding loudly each time I walked past as they were none to happy to see me.

American Robin male and female  ©Kim Smith 2013

Ma and Pa Robin conferring over my extremely annoying presence

American Robin nest -1  ©Kim Smith 2013 copy

What a sloppy nest by Robin standards!  ~ I actually think it is interesting with the blue streamers

More about the American Robin on GMG