lupine

It's the time of year when new flowers emerge every day. When I was in the garden yesterday I saw lupine in purple; today this one popped up in a delightful shade of pink.

rounded

I'm fascinated by beaches that consist of rounded rocks. There are places that show off these collections of rocks at Acadia, on both Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula.

The rocks provide beauty to the eyes and music to the ears as the ocean tumbles them in the surf.

what's in the garden?

My last visit to the gardens of the Stevens-Coolidge Place was only two days ago. I decided that today was also going to be a garden visit day; it's the time of year when new flowers open every day.

Some of the poppies are past peak, some are just starting to open. A few iris in light purple have joined the previously open salmon-colored iris. Many more of the iris are wearing buds, ready to pop open soon. Even the peonies are starting to bloom.

The wildflower garden was mainly wearing green although a few lupin have popped in purple.

I even had a short conversation with a chipmunk. I'm amazed he let me get close enough to capture his photo. I had a single lens with me today, my 80mm macro. That meant that my zoom was by foot!

More photos from today are at the beginning of the gallery spring! 2018.

photos! Acadia

Photos from my recent wander in Acadia National Park are available for viewing in two galleries, one containing images from the park and the other focused on flowers in gardens.

Start your viewing by clicking to the top level gallery Acadia :: May 2018 or by clicking on one of the photos below to go to a specific gallery.

spring, Acadia

garden color

pop!

When I walked into the garden this morning a pop of orange caught my eyes.

a poppy, open

tree peonies

It's been two weeks since my first visit of the season to Long Hill. With the web site indicating that peak bloom on the property is in May and June, this morning felt like a perfect time for another visit.

Tree peonies were in bloom providing delightful color and delicate beauty.

a splash of color

It's color season at Maudslay State Park.

Originally the Moseley estate, the land was purchased by the state in 1985 and opened as a park. It's a magic place to visit in the spring; there are azalea and rhododendron decorating large swaths of the park. Many varieties of the flowering plants are present, extending the blooming season across (at least) two months.

hiding

As I walked in the garden yesterday afternoon I almost missed the newly opened iris. The delicate flowers were hiding in the leaves.

fading

With tulip season coming to an end, fading petals bring a subtle beauty to the garden.

rocky coastline

Acadia's Ocean Path runs from Sand Beach to Otter Point, providing a flat path as a starting point to stepping on to the rocky coastline. The section between Sand Beach and Thunder Hole tends to have a higher concentration of walkers while the sections near Otter Point are much quieter.

I prefer the quieter end, moving from the path to the rocks and back to the path again. It's a good trail for a brisk walk, and it's a good place for quiet contemplation.

If you'd like to learn more about the rocks that make up the park, the National Park Service article Written in Acadia's Rocks is worth reading.

by Ocean Path

While it's good to be home, I really like bouncing in Acadia. I think maybe I need to start jumping into Denise's camera bag when she wanders near home; I might like bouncing here too.

While Denise continues to go through the photos from last week I convinced her to provide one of me and Blue on the rocks near Ocean Path so I could share it with you.

--- Rover

purple

I headed to the gardens of the Stevens-Coolidge Place early this morning to check the progression of the flowers. The colors of the tulips in bloom have changed. The earlier pops of yellow and orange are gone, replaced by beds of purple, pink, and white.

I love the shades of purple.

home again

It was a bit chilly this morning, cool enough to convince Denise to wear a light jacket when we started walking.

We entered the park at the Otter Cliff entrance again, leaving the car in the Fabbri Memorial picnic area. This time we walked (out and back) on the Ocean Path with a turn-around point of Sand Beach. That gave us a good walk before jumping into the car for the drive home.

We're home now, resting.

--- Rover

late day light on Cadillac Mountain

listen...

It was a good day to listen to the sounds around us. We heard ocean waves, bells ringing (from buoys, I think), birds singing, chipmunks and squirrels chittering. It was so quiet that I could even hear Denise's hiking shoes crunching on the trail.

We started by driving into Acadia at the Otter Cliffs entrance. We jumped out of the car as soon as we found a parking spot and started down the Ocean Path. I don't remember walking there before but Denise reminded me that we were there when we visited the park during a government shutdown. We had to leave the car along the road outside of the park that time! While we walked I started hearing wonderful sounds around me. It was very peaceful!

Today was a day for a couple of long walks and a bunch of short ones too. It was the warmest day so far with the temperature edging just over 70 degrees.

Today was a good day for walking and listening.

--- Rover

afternoon wander

After visiting the gardens we headed into Acadia for an afternoon of wandering. We did a fair amount of walking (Denise walked, I bounced!) without committing to a specific trail. Instead we stopped in different places where we walked and looked around before moving on to the next stopping spot.

After starting and stopping a number of times we headed to a parking area near a lake along Route 3. Denise thought it would feel good to do a fast walk; from the parking lot we walked by the end of the lake and then turned onto a trail leading to Sieur de Mont and then on to Jesup Path. We did an out-and-back walk moving pretty quickly. That felt good!

The sky was mostly blue with some wispy cloud decorations. The air was cool but quite comfortable for walking.

We had a good day!

--- Rover

morning garden

I thought we would head into the park first this morning but Denise decided to head to Northeast Harbor to visit Asticou Azalea Garden. While it's a little early in the blooming season here, there was color popping in the garden. Some azaleas are blooming, some don't even have leaves yet. Other varieties of flowers were in bloom too, most living close to the ground.

It was a good color morning.

--- Rover

foggy Schoodic

The rain stopped and bits of blue sky appeared. The blue hid pretty quickly; as we headed down the Schoodic Peninsula fog appeared. Remember I told you that Denise likes clouds? Well, she likes fog too!

When we were in Ellsworth the thermometer in the car said that it was close to 60 degrees outside. The temperature started dropping as we drove toward Schoodic, ending at a low of 48 degrees. I was warm enough to bounce on the rocks but Denise decided to add two light long-sleeved layers. Then she was warm enough to join me.

I think that the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula is pure magic. It's good for walking and the views are amazing.

--- Rover

driving

After breakfast we jumped on the highway heading north and east. It was dry when we started and dry at the end - but in the middle there was some rain. Luckily most of the rain fell when we were in the car.

We had a head start on the drive since we stayed with a friend in Yarmouth last night. We followed I-95 to Bangor, then turned toward the coast. In Ellsworth we turned again, heading up the coast for a bit. I wondered if Denise had any wandering plans for today; when she turned in Ellsworth I knew we were heading to the Schoodic Peninsula. I love bouncing on the rocks there!

--- Rover

intricate

The structure of flowers can be simple or intricate. The shape and color of tiny petals emerging from the center create a beautiful splash of color.

practice

It's been quite a while since I published a blog post; I think I might need to practice.

I've been telling Denise that we need a visit to Acadia National Park. She finally listened and booked a room at the Holland Inn for a few days this coming week. I'd like to think that I pushed her into traveling but honestly, we would be going even if I didn't add my voice to tell her I need an Acadia "fix".

The weather wizard currently forecasts one day with the possibility of rain followed by sunny days. I've asked the wizard for some clouds for Denise. She always likes to see an interesting sky.

I'm happy to be heading to one of my favorite places soon. And I'm happy to give Denise a break from writing so she can focus on photos.

--- Rover

review :: Peak Design Everyday Sling 5L

When I'm out wandering with my camera I am usually very happy carrying camera and lenses on my back. My current favorite traveling camera bag is the Everyday Backpack 20L by Peak Design. It has room for camera and multiple lenses with additional space for things I want with me, clothing layers, snacks, sunscreen, water, and other odd assorted things too.

Sometimes I'd like to carry a smaller bag.

Out of curiosity I headed to the Peak Design web site to check their product line. The Everyday Sling 5L jumped out at me. The bag has a 5 liter capacity (as opposed to the 15-20 liter capacity of the Everyday Backpack 20L). My camera fits easily with any of my current lenses; depending on the lens attached to the camera I can slide a second lens into the bag as well. It can be carried as a sling or as a waist bag. It is made of the same weatherproof material as the Everyday Backpack so no worries about walking in the rain.

I've had my new bag long enough to test it out on several garden wanders. It's good to have carrying options, and I'm quite happy with the sling's usability.

different

Tulips come in different shapes and sizes. This small flower caught my eye as I walked yesterday.

tiny

Yesterday afternoon I headed to Long Hill for a walk through the gardens. It's a Trustees of Reservations property that showcases flowers in a series of gardens around the house. The bloom peaks each year in May and June so I try to get there at least twice during the blooming season.

Tiny flowers can create colorful scenes.

More photos from yesterday's visit can be viewed in the gallery Long Hill :: 2018.

early

As I was wandering this afternoon a beauty of an iris caught my eye. While it's still a bit early for iris it appears that dwarf bearded iris pop up as soon as there is a bit of spring warmth.

This one made me smile.

repaired

I was out with my camera a few weeks ago when it started misbehaving. The shutter button was sticking, sometimes refusing to work and sometimes behaving. When I returned home I called Fujifilm support, thinking (and hoping) there was something I could do to fix the issue. I heard what I expected to hear, that I needed to send the camera in for service.

My X-T2 headed to Fuji's camera repair center in Edison, NJ two weeks ago. I received an email confirming receipt of the camera and stating that the work was "in process". The next email came a week after the first, stating that the camera was repaired and shipped. I received the repaired and cleaned X-T2 today, heading out immediately to confirm the repair.

Overall I am quite happy with the level of service provided. The camera was still under warranty so there was no charge for the fix. My only complaint is that I would have preferred a faster shipment method (given that the camera was shipped on a Thursday and arrived here on Tuesday). If given a choice I would have been happy to pay for shipping.

My thanks go to Fuji's factory service.

While I was planning to sell my X-T1, it's good that the camera is still in my possession. I used it during the two weeks that the X-T2 was visiting Fuji.

I'm happy that I had a camera to use, and I'm even happier now that my X-T2 is back.

in the grass

As I walked through fields of green at Maudslay State Park this afternoon tiny splashes of purple caught my eye.

Viola sororia

touching

In a bed crowded with tulips, leaves reach out to touch petals.

at low tide

The morning dawned bright and a bit windy. It was close to low tide when I arrived at Jenness State Beach, a perfect time for a walk on firm sand.

While most of the walkers were people, some sea gulls joined in too.

a sea of tulips

It's amazing how fast flowers are emerging as the air grows warmer.

I volunteered in the gardens at the Stevens-Coolidge Place on Wednesday, returning late in the day today to visit the tulips again. There are many more tulips in bloom today than there were just two days ago.

A sea of tulips splashed color in the perennial gardens.

look down!

While larger flowers easily pull focus away from flowers living close to the ground, it's always worth looking down to see tiny gems.

Viola sororia (common blue violets) are making their annual appearance.

simplicity

A tulip standing alone shows a simple beauty.