January 31, 2026

Hemlock (and the Northeast Cider Bottle Museum) at SCF, January 31 ,2026

They say that the eggs of Adelges tsugae, the hemlock woolly adelgid, (HWA) are killed when wintertime temperatures fall to —10F, presumably for a few nights over the course of the winter. Some winters that’s been a challenge in central Maine as the HWA creeps its way northward. We can assume that no HWA will be showing this coming spring on our farm. We just had —25F this morning. That is the tenth time the morning temps have been —10 or colder since New Year’s.  HWA may arrive and kill all our spectacular hemlocks one of these years, but not in 2026. 

Today it never made it above zero all day. There wasn’t much incentive to be outdoors. I spent most of my time at the desk preparing for Cider Con, the big cider event coming up in a few days in Providence RI. I’ll be participating in two panels: one on cider apples of the future and a second on genetics and apple identification. Zack Kaiser of Absolem Cider in Winthrop is organizing a Maine cider share. And… we’ll be pouring several bottles of “Good Idea Cider” from SCF.  A first! Watch out Angry Orchard, Good Idea Cider is heading to a liquor mart near you. Well, don’t hold your breath.

Meanwhile, the hemlocks look happy, and if it stays this cold for the next few days, I should be more than ready ( and happy) for Cider Con.