an orchid smile

Orchids of many shapes and colors fill the conservatory at Longwood Gardens. I feel lucky that my visit coincided with the annual Orchid Extravaganza.

bare branches

Trees continue to wear bare branches, providing a glimpse at the underlying structure.

I love the shape of this tree. It decorates the landscape as it stands against a clear blue sky.

to nowhere

A closed door is positioned at the start of a dock. It is probably intended to prevent someone from walking off the end when a boat isn't present but I prefer a more fanciful explanation.

Perhaps it is a door to nowhere.

snow & sand

Remnants of snow decorate the edge of the beach, Hampton Beach, NH.

kitty in the sky

Looking for a place to walk without encountering mud, I headed to the New Hampshire coast early this afternoon. As I approached the line between ocean and land I saw bright shapes in the sky, kites!

I was happy to stop at Hampton Beach to walk in the sand and to look to the sky.

in a greenhouse

A pop of pink...

messy

The weather wizard brought us a messy day today. The 3 inches of snow that fell overnight was enough to narrow the (plowed) roads, removing my usual walking space. Luckily I live next to a small college campus; the shoveled walks and plowed roads on the campus nicely support my daily walking habit on days when snow decorates the land.

Out of curiosity, I looked back at winter photos from last year, trying to see when the snow stopped. Yikes! I found this woodpecker perched and enjoying some food in a snowstorm on March 13th. Yes, I know, there is more winter to come. I'm still wishing for an early spring!

imagination

Two flowers, tilted, decorate a greenhouse.

I imagine that they are carrying on a conversation. Do you?

on the beach

Debris along the wrack line creates patterns in the sand.

at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

an orchid portrait

The complex design of orchids is simply amazing.

envy

My latest apple taste treat is the Envy apple. It was created in New Zealand by crossing Braeburn with Royal Gala apples.

I think that the tag line "when you're this good they call you envy" on the Envy Apple web page hosted by the growers in Washington (state) is quite appropriate.

The combination created a crisp, sweet apple with a taste that I like.

indoor flowers

Feeling a need for color, I headed to the greenhouses of the Lyman Estate this afternoon. I was happy to find flowers blooming.

waiting for snow

This sculpture of a cormorant is perched on a railing over the water in Portsmouth, NH. Dressed in a colorful scarf, it looks like it is waiting for snow.

I suspect the waiting is over; snow spread over the area earlier today.

black & white

As I walked through one of the gardens at Maudslay State Park this afternoon I passed a birdbath filled with ice. A feather in black & white was perched on the edge.

calm

Inland waters wear a smooth surface, a calm playground for some ducks.

reach for a flower

On this gray February morning a photo of a flower makes me smile.

I'm very happy that I have discovered local greenhouses to feed my need for color when it's cold outside.

flying

This sculpture of a great blue heron always makes me smile. In colder months it usually wears brightly colored socks.

If you'd like to visit, the sculpted bird lives along Route 1B in Portsmouth, NH.

look up! kites...

Today was a gift, a (second) day of spring temperatures in the heart of winter. I headed to the New Hampshire coast with plans to walk near the water.

The coast wasn't too far away when I looked up to see the bright colors of a kite in the sky. That told me that Hampton Beach should be my first stop.

I walked onto the beach, walking, then standing still to watch kites flying. The kites were anchored, either tied to the railing separating the walk from the beach or tied to boards buried in the sand. I spoke with the owner of four of the beautiful flying objects. He told me that he started flying kites when he was a child but that he abandoned the practice as he became an adult. Later kite flying became a passion for him.

I'm very happy that he shares his love of kites!

clearing

When I arrived at the coast yesterday afternoon the sky wore gray. By the time I headed inland blue returned.

It's interesting to stand at the high point of the lift bridge to Plum Island. Chunks of ice were flowing through, moving quickly.

frozen

While snow and ice seem to extend to the horizon, it's likely there is some not quite frozen water hiding in that sea of white.

winter chill

The air wears a winter chill. While it has warmed up since the deep freeze of this past Thursday, it took until after noon today to warm into the 20s.

The forecast for Monday and Tuesday calls for non-winter warmth with temperatures predicted to be in the mid-50s. I look forward to enjoying spring-like days before a chill returns to the air.