"Grist from Abbott's Mill"
Not the same old grind!
Welcome to a unique blog about the history of Ainsworth Abbott's Old Mill, and other old mills in Delmarva. It's also full of great stories about the nearby flora and fauna.
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The New Process Roller Mills - also, what powers Abbotts Mill?
Continued from last week - Thomas H. Coursey (1805-1999) began milling as a young man at what is now called Wyoming Mill, although the...

What kind of equipment is in Abbott's Mill, and why?
As originally constructed in the early 1800s, the mill on Bowman Branch had a breast-shot waterwheel that drove two sets of 48”...

The Early History of Abbott's Mill
Beginning this week I'll be posting updated versions of my articles about the interesting history and operation Abbott's Mill. I'll also...

Closed Bottle Gentians and Hickory trees
Closed bottle gentian, Gentiana andrewsii, also known as bottle gentian or Andrew's Gentian, is a wild flower found throughout the...

Tree wounds are forever—trees do not heal.
It is a common misconception that if a tree receives a minor wound it will heal itself over time, much like a minor cut or abrasion to an...

A tree for the Devil and a flower for a Queen
If the devil needs a walking stick, I have no doubt that he would choose Aralia spinosa, a small tree that is literally covered in sharp...

Three more of Delaware's "American" trees
Delaware's American trees. American basswood (Tilia americana) Native to northern Delaware (though not common), American basswood...

STOLEN! SOMEONE HAS STOLEN THIS ENTIRE TURKS-CAP LILY PLANT FROM ALONG OUR BOARDWALK
Several Turk's-cap lilies (Lilium superbum) are in bloom right now along the stream-side boardwalk loop. Turk's-caps are the largest of...

American Holly, the Delaware State Tree.
The American Holly (Ilex opaca) is considered one of the most popular trees in the world. The tree is ridiculously tough and is widely...

American Beech, and something else that's pretty creepy.
This is July, the month that we celebrate America's independence, and that's why I'm highlighting some of our native "American" trees....

"Muscle-wood", plus "The Porcelainberry Invasion"
American Hornbeam - Carpinus caroliniana - aka Muscle-wood American hornbeam, also known as ironwood, musclewood and blue-beech, is a...

Acorns: plentiful one year, scarce the next. Why the inconsistency?
Did you ever notice that some years oak trees produce a seemingly overabundance of acorns? And in other years you are hard pressed to...

Sweetbay Magnolias and Indian Cucumbers
Aroma of Magnolia "floral fragrance magnificent magnolia summer has arrived" Author: Caren Krutsinger SWEETBAY MAGNOLIA ...

Ash trees and the emerald ash borer
In 2002, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), was detected near Detroit, Michigan. This beetle is...

What tree is flowering this week?
NORTHERN CATALPA (Catalpa speciosa) is a tree that is not native to Delaware, but can be found throughout the state. Catalpa is easy to...

We are in debt to our Pine Trees
There are many species of pine tree scattered all over the state of Delaware, and even more pines all over America. However, the three...

The Recycled Cardboard Boat Regatta is back!
After a three-year break, the Recycled Cardboard Boat Regatta is returning to the Nanticoke River on the first Saturday in August! Will...

What are trees doing this week?
In bloom this week is the native Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), also known as wild black cherry. Ranging from southeastern Canada...

We are in debt to our Yellow poplar trees
Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), also known as tulip poplar, and sometimes white wood, is the giant of our eastern hardwood...






















