Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 4 : Spring 2010 | Page 37

together to form a mat and gently fit this in place then
cover it with boughs of fragrant cedar, feathery pine, short
needled spruce and fir. A final top layer of white birch bark
will help to minimize penetration of any rain that might
fall.

With the shape of the room being semi-circular
therefore taking on the appearance of an amphitheater, a
walkway of small, flat stones begins at the lower level and
ascends towards the main entrance. The opening leading
to the arboretum is draped on either side with lace-like,
delicate green/white moss retrieved from nearby evergreen
trees. Elegant in its simplicity, it takes on the appearance
of the finest draperies as it cascades on either side of the
entrance. We place two tall, slender pine cones to serve
as sentries at either side of the entrance and at their base
we neatly arrange clumps of bright red bunchberries, their
buds the size of small peas, the color contrast stunning.

Once inside the small semi-enclosed space, more
magic awaits. An irregular shaped sheet of emerald-green
colored moss obtained from the bark of a fallen tree serves as
a plush carpet for the floor. Arranged in bunches, according
to height, are some of Nature’s most spectacular summer
flora. A clump of purple Violets stands next to white Pearly
Everlasting along with Queen Anne’s Lace and blue and
white Aster. Smaller, more delicate flowers such as the starshaped, white Wintergreen offer fragrance as well as beauty.
To complete the effect, petals of Daisies are sprinkled to
designate an inviting pathway across the mossy floor. The
first part of our project is now concluded.

Of course after the woods fairies complete their
exhausting tour of the arboretum, it will be time for them to
prepare for sleep as the night begins to transform to dawn.

Our goal is for their sleeping quarters to offer both comfort
and protection from the elements. Once again, an entire
piece of plush, green moss harvested from a felled tree serves
as carpet upon which we provide a bed. The berth is made
from a long, slender green flower leaf shaped similar to that
of a banana peel. Both ends are narrow and the middle
offers more width. Small, v-shaped twigs retrieved from
the ground are inverted with the pointed ends puncturing
each end of the leaf, the other ends fitted into the ground
providing a hammock-like bed. A bird feather found on the
ground will serve to make this a true “feather” bed. Flattopped mushrooms gathered from the moist ground are
arranged by the bed fo ȁѡ