fading

The petals of a zinnia show two colors, the original bright pink, and a fade to a shade of light brown. I find the two-tone fade to be interesting.

view from above

The tower at the Hellcat Wildlife Observation Area provides a different view of the landscape.

Areas that showed as bright green during the summer now show both a transition into browns and a bit of bright red.

inland side of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

a new boardwalk

Today felt like a good day to take a walk on the newly completed boardwalk trail at the Hellcat Wildlife Observation Area.

I headed to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge late in the morning. That allowed me to explore the boardwalk and then walk the beach while the tide was heading out. While the old boardwalk consisted of two loops with stairs, the new boardwalk is fully wheelchair accessible. It is a single loop with 3 out-and-back spurs.

It was a delightful walk!

Here's the view from the end of one of the spurs of the boardwalk.

framed

Calm water is framed by evergreens and plants wearing the bright colors of autumn.

changes

A bit of fog fell across the landscape this morning, pulling me outside to look for changing colors. I headed to the Shawsheen River Reservation to walk a trail that wandered between field and river. Goldenrod created a bright yellow splash on the ground that complemented the leaves above.

asters

Asters bring bright color to the garden as other flowers fade.

outdoor sculpture

This year's Outdoor Sculpture at Maudslay show opened on Sunday, September 20th. I headed to the park Monday morning to wander through the sculptures.

The announcement of the show is here. Things were a little different this year. Instead of paper maps there were a few large map signs posted, plus a guide app for your phone (at mapapp.sculptureatmaudslay.org).

One of my favorite sculptures this year was titled Inner Light, Outer Radiance, created by Able Heart Studio. It showed a (plastic) man holding streamers that led to painted CDs that moved in the wind.

Click to see more of the sculptures in the gallery outdoor sculpture at Maudslay :: 2020.

floral color

Rudbeckia hirta 'Cherokee Sunset' continue to decorate the garden with strong color.

maple wearing red

Chilly air overnight appears to be making a difference in the appearance of autumn color. While most of the trees here continue to wear an altered shade of green, a single maple tree has provided a pop of red.

watercolor

The reflection of trees in Collins Pond shows qualities of a watercolor painting.

The leaves have started to fade with one tree wearing a bit of brown. I look forward to watching autumn's transition as I continue to walk in the woods.

on the coast

Yesterday's walk at Odiorne Point State Park was at close to high tide. It was a good day to see gulls and cormorants sitting on rocks, to listen to the sound of the wind and the ocean, to absorb the calm of the environment.

a flower & a bee

Bees are moving more slowly but they are still feasting on flowers.

in the wind

A sunflower tips slightly toward the ground as it moves in the wind.

looking

This sand sculpture features a woman looking through an eye with a telescope. I find it fascinating.

Part of the Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic, it was created by Thomas Koet and it is titled "Eye of the Beholder".

mystical

Clouds and ocean fog reflect on wet sand, creating a scene that is both calming and mystical.

sculpted in sand

The Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic is usually held in June. This year's competition was delayed until September, courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I thought about visiting last Friday while the sculptors were at work. I changed my mind after seeing photos from the initial day of the competition showing crowds at the overlook points with people standing too close together, some wearing masks and some not. I decided that this year I would have to be satisfied with only seeing the finished sculptures.

It's amazing that such beautiful and intricate pieces of art can be created using a medium that is as fleeting as sand.

"Lady in Repose", created by David Andrews

low tide

It was a good day for a low tide walk at Crane Beach.

patterns

The wings of a butterfly show intricate patterns.

colors of Rudbeckia

This beautiful flower wears the name Rudbeckia hirta "Cherokee Sunset". It's a late summer flower that brings a touch of autumn to the garden.

falling petals

A dahlia wears about half of its petals as the end of the growing season approaches.

seeking butterflies

Today felt like a good day for butterflies.

My favorite, Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, MA, opened today for the first time since the the beginning of Covid. Given that there was limited access and with the possibility of being turned away I figured driving a half of an hour was better than driving two hours - so I headed to The Butterfly Place in Westford today. I will probably visit Magic Wings later in the month.

While The Butterfly Place is quite small, it still provided a good butterfly visit.

a taste of early autumn

I've seen a few leaves wearing autumn colors, and I've seen faded flowers. It feels early to see signs of autumn but the season is clearly on its way.

dreamy

A walk in the woods continues to show green as the predominant color.