Finding beauty on a supposedly dull day!

Great Meadows in Concord Friday Nov 27th
I held great expectations that the sun might dramatically break through the clouds, that the sunset colors would burst through!  Alas, no light drama to be had.  However, this is nature.  No matter what the weather - just stop, look and listen and find what makes you smile.  Enjoy.

(As always, click on the photos to see them larger.  Click the X in upper right of the photo to return here.)

A Canada goose couple perches at sunset on a muskrat home.

Airy gossamer - some seeds still clinging to their pod.

Dried milk parsley - seeming to dance in the late sun.

A mallard "dancing" as well, in the late afternoon bronze colors.  The duck to the upper left of the mallard is a coot. 

Fall fuzz caught in the waning sunlight.

Seems like the cat n' 9 tails are sprouting winter coats.

Thank you for visiting!

Visit to Vermont

On October 30th and 31st, 2015 I visited my daughter and her boyfriend in Vermont.  They rent part of a house in an idyllic setting.  Join me from their backyard as we watch the field and Green Mountains transform as the sun rises.

The field was frosty at dawn...

The fog started rising.

A stand of trees, still showing their late Fall colors.

Green Mountains at dawn, looking blueish...

...and the sun rises over them.

Coffee for our morning walk with just a touch of family-made maple syrup.

Then at night - sunset glows on mountains and clouds.

Nature at Work

I work in an office building at Ames Pond in Tewksbury, MA.  The pond is beautiful in changing light throughout the day, and in all seasons.  Swans, heron and geese live or visit here.  There is also a blocked off road that became overgrown with wildflowers and other plants this spring and summer.  I identified over 20 wildflowers there.

Below are some photos, mostly of a sunset on October 15, 2015 but a few others of flowers, a heron, etc.

The ferns and reeds Fall colors

Canada geese

Warm bronze and golds and 2 swans...

Another view with long shadows and warm tones.  You can see part of the walking path.

Sunset cruise

Now for Spring and Summer....

Great blue heron fishing

Rhododendron were planted long ago on a road near work.  The road was never developed but the flowers continue.

This flower is pointed blue-eyed grass.  I love the details.

Pointed blue-eyed grass and yellow bird's foot trefoil

Daisies!

Pre-Fall Walk at Great Meadows Hosted by Cherrie Corey (9-20-15)

The September 20th 2015 walk was delightful with the late sun, colors and sites - miniscule to grand!
Cherrie Corey our host, guided us to what we can open ours eyes and spirits to, and shared her great font of knowledge with us.

I believe these are Calico Asters.

Small delicate fruits of the European Spindle tree.

Drying seeds on the formerly white Milk Parsley

Aliens?  No - just miniscule golden aphids on Swamp Milkweed stalk

Button bush are fun to watch in all seasons

Climbing False Buckwheat - beautiful leaves and bright vines

Red dragonfly

Now covering its body and head

Sept 20 walkers at edge of the Concord River.  Cherrie Corey is second from right.

Paper wasps starting a nest late in the season

Nodding Bur Marigold

 Thank you for visiting!

Rockport morning - and then lunch!

Saturday September 12, 2015, Rockport, MA.  Take a walk with me...

The charming Pewter Shop greets visitors to Bearskin Neck.

Cafe about to open. 

Across the street from the cafe above, a shop window reflected the cafe and a passerby.

Back (or is it the front) of Motif #1, one of the most photographed scenes in America.

From the pier looking back at Rockport.

"Private Parking"

Pigeon Cove on the west side of Cape Ann in Rockport.  (Taken with a 300m manual lens on my digital camera which made it about a 425mm I think.)

My daughter and I enjoyed lunch at The Lobster Pool at Pigeon Cove in Rockport.  See panoramic below!

Have to give credit to The Lobster Pool for having this great place to have lunch!  Beautiful day and even better shared with Suzanne! 

Back to Great Meadows and Gowings!

August 30, 2015
I went back to Gowing's Swamp to get better photos of the "animal house".  So you will see a closer shot and a shot giving the setting near the first kettle hole you come to as you go up the hill from the edge trail.  Then there are a few from Great Meadows...

The "door" is about 12" high and 6 - 8" across.  There was no skunk smell, (indicating a fox) but I may not have been close enough.

Here is the setting of the "house" as you go up the trail.

Cclose up of milk parsley seeds.  Click on photo to see detail - then click X to return to blog.

This bee (or wasp?) was going up and down, around the primroses. 

Anyone know what plant this is

Someone sprayed silver paint on several plants on the dike trail - from the entrance to the observation platform.  Strange.