Elm Street Photography owner shares images of Iceland

MILO — On May 13 Milo Garden Club members had the pleasure of hearing from nature and wildlife photographer Michael Coons, owner of Elm Street Photography in Milo and Elm Street Photography Tours LLC which offers Arctic tours to Iceland.

Several garden club members, as well as guests, who attended the meeting, also shared some of their personal experiences from their own visits to Iceland. During his presentation, the audience could view a number of Coons’ photographs featuring special and beautiful characteristics of this fascinating island country. 

About five hours by plane from Bangor, one can fly from the early days of spring in Maine to Iceland where purple-blue Lupines are in full bloom. Not native to Iceland, Lupines were introduced in the 1940s to solve the problem of soil erosion as well as to improve soil quality. Purple-blue is the only color of Lupine in Iceland.

Similar to the growing season in Maine, Iceland, however, has the advantage of 24-hour daylight for part of the year. Hardy vegetables such as potatoes, turnips, carrots, cabbage and cauliflower grow in Iceland’s fertile volcanic soil. Rhubarb grows abundantly in Iceland and is used in desserts, jams, syrup and wine. Other vegetables, like tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers and even bananas are grown in greenhouses. The country relies on livestock, like cattle and sheep, and from the ocean, fish, shark and a whaling season, also provide sustenance for the population.

Maine is the only home to a Puffin colony in the United States while  Iceland is home to the largest Atlantic Puffin Colony in the world. While at their breeding ground in Iceland they provide fertilizer for farming. Their presence also contributes to Iceland’s tourism industry. As do the magnificent Northern Lights, a photograph of which was on display at the garden club meeting. Coons explained how to capture the effect of the Northern Lights in night time photography.

All of Coons’ photographs express the rare and extreme beauty of Iceland’s active volcanoes. Decades of volcanic activity has provided the island with fertile farming land. Houses built against volcano mountainsides are spared the full strength of winter winds which can blow up to 130 miles an hour or more. Unlike the lingering windstorms of Maine, Iceland’s do not last long. 

As Coons’ presentation came to a close, listeners realized there was so much more to learn about Iceland. He thanked his attentive audience and offered a drawing for one of his local photographs, that of Trafton Falls in Milo. 

Milo Garden Club member Debby Roberts was delighted to be the winner. She explained to Coons that her daughter, Hilary Roberts, works at Kennebec Valley Humane Society in Augusta where they host an annual auction fundraiser. Roberts will donate Coons’ photo to KVHS for the fundraising event.

For more information about Elm Street Photography and Arctic tours to Iceland you may visit www.elmstreetphotography.com or visit his gallery and gift shop at 55 Elm St. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12-5 p.m.

If you are interested in learning more about Milo Garden Club, please call 207-943-2400.