Denise Goldberg's blog

Monday, August 30, 2021

in motion

Sanderlings seem to be in a state of constant motion as they run back and forth on the beach, probing for food in the wet sand.

I watched a small group of them today running across the sand at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

sanderling

Sunday, August 29, 2021

delicate

A single pink rose creates beauty for the eyes.

This flower's wonderful scent stopped me from moving on; I needed to stand still and absorb it.

rose

Saturday, August 28, 2021

a coastal glimpse

Yesterday was a good day for a walk in Odiorne Point State Park.

This photo was taken from the rocky shore, looking to the north over a bit of inland water.

view from Odiorne Point State Park

Thursday, August 26, 2021

'strawberry blonde' sunflower

Did you know there is a type of sunflower that wears the name 'strawberry blonde'?

I was amazed to get quick results from my search for different varieties of sunflowers. This beautiful flower is known as Helianthus annuus 'Strawberry Blonde'.

Helianthus annuus 'Strawberry Blonde'

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

painted

This butterfly's wings are painted with a mixture of shapes and colors.

butterfly

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

fading

Coneflowers are fading, moving from bright pink to a more muted color.

coneflowers, echinacea

Sunday, August 22, 2021

thistle & storm

Today's weather is wet and windy, sometimes foggy, sometimes not. I have no complaints; Henri tracked to the west giving this area a much milder storm.

On this gray day I'm happy to share the bright color of a thistle.

thistle

Saturday, August 21, 2021

afternoon light

A walk in Harold Parker State Forest yesterday afternoon revealed magic light.

pond in Harold Parker State Forest

Friday, August 20, 2021

blue & green

Whle trees and bushes continue to wear leaves in summer green, they have added a bit of berry color. I love the pop of blue against the green.

green leaves, blue berries

Thursday, August 19, 2021

flowers before rain

Early morning was a good time to visit a garden that was planted for butterflies.

My walk through the flowers finished just as heavy rain started.

echinacea in bright pink

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

posing

A monarch butterfly sits on a bit of evergreen, posing.

monarch butterfly

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

a woods umbrella

This mushroom could almost be an umbrella for creatures wandering in the woods.

mushroom

Monday, August 16, 2021

a touch of pink

Coneflowers are starting to show signs that birds, bugs, or butterflies consider them to be a food source.

Even with a ruffled center they bring beauty to the garden.

coneflowers

Sunday, August 15, 2021

a Parker River morning

The tide was heading out as I walked on a short section of open beach this morning at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

I was accompanied by the soothing sound of the ocean.

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Friday, August 13, 2021

intricate wings

The pattern and subtle color of this butterfly's wings pulled me in as I stood in a butterfly conservatory Wednesday afternoon.

It was the first of three predicted very hot days. I had spent some early morning time walking and attending a pilates class. I should have been happy to sit quietly at home in the afternoon but wanderlust took over. Looking for an interesting indoor spot, I decided The Butterfly Place in Westford, MA would be my afternoon destination.

Watching butterflies always makes me happy!

butterfly

Thursday, August 12, 2021

an early walk

Today is the second of three predicted very hot days. Hoping to walk before it became too hot & sticky, I headed to Crane Beach for an early morning low tide visit.

The beach was quiet, a good place for absorbing a sense of calm.

Crane Beach at low tide

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

simplicity

A single clover bloom splashes the landscape with color.

clover

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

wild mushrooms

The woods are home to many wild mushrooms this year. Yesterday as I walked at a very buggy Harold Parker State Forest I kept my eyes out for interesting shapes on the ground.

wild mushrooms

WBUR posted the article "Summer Rains Bring Mushroom Frenzy To New England" yesterday. To read it, click here.

Monday, August 09, 2021

rudbeckia

The rusty color of rudbeckia hirta always makes me think of fall - but I'm sure the expected heat wave later this week will remind me that it is still summer.

This beautiful flower is also known by the name Cherokee Sunset.

rudbeckia hirta 'Cherokee Sunset'

Sunday, August 08, 2021

a canal in Lawrence

I walked along a canal in Lawrence this morning.

The water level was quite low, allowing the green edging the banks to emerge.

canal in Lawrence, MA

Friday, August 06, 2021

a garden visit

When I woke up this past Wednesday I knew I needed a garden visit. I headed to Portsmouth, New Hampshire to satisfy my need for bright colors and interesting shapes.

The exquisite gardens of Prescott Park are home to many different varieties of flowers. It is a good location to wander and absorb beauty.

I captured a bee aiming for a group of bright pink cosmos. Wasn't it kind of him to pose for a photo?

cosmos flowers and an incoming bee

Thursday, August 05, 2021

locks on a fence

When I was in Portsmouth yesterday visiting the gardens I took the time to walk by the edge of the Piscataqua River. Some of the fences along the river were adorned with locks. While most were pretty standard padlock shapes, a few were more interesting.

I loved this padlock wearing the shape of a fish.

padlock shaped like a fish

Wednesday, August 04, 2021

a butterfly

I was delighted to see butterflies in the garden today.

This monarch made me happy when he posed for a photo.

monarch butterfly

Monday, August 02, 2021

remaining bright

While these yellow coneflowers are starting to lose their petals, their color remains bright.

yellow coneflowers

Sunday, August 01, 2021

morning flower

It was early when I headed out with my camera for a short walk.

I was delighted to find a dahlia posing.

dahlia