Last night, I walked outside in the pitch dark to watch the Perseid meteor shower, and I accidentally kicked a toad. I switched on my flashlight to watch it hop into the nearby flower bed, seemingly unharmed, its stout, warty body disappearing under an unruly cluster of bee balm. I checked the rock steps in front of me for any other amphibian wanderers, then turned off my light and settled down to look at the stars.
As my eyes adjusted, pinpricks of light emerged from the heavens by the thousands. Then came a text message from a friend: “Northern lights are picking up! Take some north pics!” Shooting stars and aurora borealis in the same night? Welcome to the magic of summer in Maine. Though just barely visible to the naked eye, my camera picked up dancing sheets of green, pink and red.
I was in awe. So, there you have it: two natural wonders not to miss in August. One: The night sky, with the Milky Way stretching across it in a sparkling band, is beautiful all on its own.
But this month, we get the extra treat of enjoying the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks mid-August. Plus we glimpse the northern lights — though it’s much more dramatic when amplified with a camera, even a phone camera. Two: Toads are simply everywhere.
Night or day, they hop around forest and field, slurping up beetles, slugs and spiders. They’re creatures that like heat and humidity, so August is the perfect time for them to roam. I often see them crouching near the trail while I’m hiking.
I.