penguin posing

It was a treat to see the animals during an early morning visit to the Philadelphia Zoo.

Visiting the penguins is always fun.

autumn oak

I can see the transition to autumn in oak leaves that remain on trees. They move from pure green to pure brown with interim stages in yellow and red.

It's funny, I don't remember seeing oak leaves wearing red and yellow in past years.

afternoon clearing

It was late afternoon when blue sky started peeking through the clouds.

wet

A nor'easter passed through the area yesterday and today bringing wet, windy, and chilly conditions.

I managed a reasonable length exercise walk each day in spite of the rain. Today's walk was mostly misty while yesterday's was wet.

Instead of a photo of today's wet and gray I leave you with a memory of warmth and butterflies.

stacked

Large & small pieces of granite are scattered along the coast in Halibut Point State Park. The location includes remnants of a granite quarry that operated on Babson Farm from 1840 to 1929.

Visitors sometimes create stacks of rocks (known as rock cairns), selecting locations above the high tide line for longer life.

layered color

As I looked across the Shawsheen River on a clear autumn day I saw layers of color. It ranged from the blue of the sky to the green of evergreens and on to the red and orange or autumn leaves. The colors repeated in a reflection.

looking out

Yesterday was a good day to walk in Halibut Point State Park. Changing leaves highlight the visual divide between the quarry pool and the ocean.

a single leaf

A fallen maple leaf is caught in the branches of another tree.

What a beautiful splash of red!

solo

A single dahlia stands tall, creating simple beauty.

still waters

Late afternoon light created a painting in the still waters of a pond in Harold Parker State Forest. The reflection of a tree wearing autumn colors was pure magic.

a pop of red

The edge of a red leaf pops from a patch of ground covered in fallen leaves.

dahlias & bees

Flowers continue to thrive in the garden even as the air grows older.

Bees appear to be as attracted to dahlias as I am.

quiet waters

High tide on the inland side of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge exposes quiet water. It hightlights autumn colors in tidal grasses.

a painted box

As I was walking in Lawrence, MA this afternoon I spotted a mural on the side of an electrical box.

I love that art lives in all types of places.

This mural was created by someone affiliated with the organization elevated thought.

Their tag line states "i am art. i am change.".

across the water

The colors of grasses and leaves are fading, a sign of autumn.

walking the North Pool Dike

In honor of National Wildlife Refuge Week the North Pool Dike at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is open to walkers this week. It was a treat to walk in a place that is normally closed.

I walked the dike alone late on Monday and returned with a friend yesterday afternoon. We walked, we stopped to absorb the beauty around us.

Many sea birds were there, flying, paddling around North Pool, seeking food.

It was wonderful!

in flight

When I heard the sound of wings I looked up to see a bird in flight.

While I would have preferred to capture this beautiful creature flying towards me, I'm happy to have a photo of it flying away.

berries

While the leaves of this tree still wear green, bright red berries have emerged.

orange leaves

Autumn color continues to get brighter as the days go by. Today, trees in Maudslay State Park wear leaves of orange.

color change

Maple leaves are starting to wear autumn colors.

mushrooms (again)

As I walk in the woods I continue to see mushrooms. Some seem to be fading but others remain in prime condition.

This batch is growing at the base of the tree.

by the sea

It was a good day for a walk by the sea.

Today's destination was Fort Foster Park in Kittery, Maine. While the gate to the park is closed for the season, visitors are welcome to park outside the gate and walk in.

across the pond

Trees wearing red leaves pop against a background of evergreens.

peaceful

A solo walk on the beach is a peaceful walk.

My walk was accompanied by the sound of the ocean.

beach grass

Beach grass and goldenrod waved in the wind as I moved from the boardwalk to the beach at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

tall

As I walked down a trail at Goldsmith Woodlands yesterday afternoon a grove of tall trees caught my eye.