As I walked through the woods in Harold Parker State Forest this afternoon I saw skim ice decorating sections of Field Pond.
It feels too early for ice even though tomorrow is the first day of meterological winter. Overnight and daytime temperatures have been chilly for the past few days, allowing ice to start to form along the edges of shallow ponds.
Trees stand tall.
The trees provide a welcome at the end of my walk at Maudslay State Park this afternoon.
The first stop of my Thursday walk along the New Hampshire coast was Rye Harbor.
A few boats floated on calm waters that reflected the blue of the sky.
A last tease of warm air pulled me to the coast for a walk this afternoon.
The tide was rolling in as I walked in Odiorne Point State Park.
As I walked along a street on the edge of Boston bright color on a building caught my eye. It was a mural painted on a wall outside of the Exelon Mystic Power Station.
I'm always happy to visit (new to me) murals!
Clouds and trees reflect in the calm surface of a pond.
When I see this kind of beauty I am reminded of my love for interesting clouds.
I'm always fascinated by the color of the ocean.
On some days it is dark. On others it seems to reflect the blue of the sky.
Today was a gift of a day, a taste of warmth in November.
It felt perfect for a beach walk. I checked the tide chart for Plum Island and found that low tide this afternoon was scheduled for 4:59 pm. That's just after sunset, and sunset is the closing time for the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Walking at the mid-point between high and low tide felt like it would work. I arrived at the refuge at 2 pm, left the car in parking lot 3, and headed south on the beach. There were a few other people on the beach but I was alone for the most part, walking, listening to the sound of the ocean. It was a perfect time for a walk by the ocean.
A tree is wearing leaves in the color of autumn while other trees show bare branches.
I find it amazing to see the different shapes of flowers that wear the same name.
Here are two varieties of chrysanthemums captured during a visit to Longwood Gardens last weekend.
Berries on plants are a sign of autumn.
Small things add a touch of beauty to the environment.
As autumn progresses leaves are fading.
Leaves that once wore bright yellow are now decorated with spots of brown.
The conservatory at Longwood Gardens is filled with autumn color in the petals of chrysanthemums.
While a long-term improvement project has removed access to some of the greenhouses, it was still a good visit. Seeing flowers when the temperature outside is cool is always a treat.
It was a good afternoon for a walk in Valley Forge National Historical Park.
Trees wearing leaves of deep orange pop against a background of muted greens and yellows.
Foreground trees are wearing yellow leaves while those in the background continue to show green. The combination can be striking.
Teasel has a very spiky appearance.
I'm tempted to touch it to see how sharp it is but it really feels like a "look but don't touch" plant.
We spent several hours yesterday walking the streets of Philadelphia looking for murals. It was good to have a focus for our wanderings.
The Mural Arts Philadelphia site states "We believe that art ignites change".
