on the coast

Today's coastal destination was Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, NH. Although the sun was hiding behind clouds the color of the grass was bright, standing out from the gray of sand and rocks.

afternoon light

A wander at Maudslay State Park this afternoon was enhanced by unseasonal warmth.

The play of light in the clouds was wonderful.

a patch of blue

Clouds decorate most of the sky, allowing a patch of blue to peek through.

top photos :: 2022

It's that time of year, the time when I wander through the photos that I've published during 2022 to find my favorites. It's always an interesting exercise, one that takes time and changes day-to-day until I have made my final choices.

From the beginning of the year, here are my selections.

perched

butterfly at rest

curved

summer coneflower

love lock

on a fence

dahlia

wearing pink

tiger swallowtail

feeding on a butterfly bush

patterns

sand, sea, and clouds

bright

a dahlia in autumn

along Ocean Path

in Acadia National Park

chrysanthemums

in the Lyman Conservatory at Smith College

under a cloudy sky

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beach, at low tide

mirrored clouds

at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

These photos are collected into the gallery top photos :: 2022. If you'd like to see larger versions of the photos or you would like to view them as a full screen slideshow, click here to jump to the gallery, then press the triangle-shaped button at the top.

mirrored

Clouds reflect on wet sand as the tide flows out.

While I considered returning to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge today, the air temperature is so cold that I think I will wait for a day or so. This photo is from last Sunday's low tide walk on the beach at Parker River.

after the storm

After the rain stopped I headed outside to enjoy the last of the unseasonal warmth.

As I looked to the sky a beautiful rainbow appeared.

gray

The sky is wearing gray, perhaps a warning of tomorrow's predicted wind and rain.

The pond is wearing ice, a sign of the season.

approaching low tide

I arrived at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge yesterday about an hour before low tide. That's a magical time for a walk on the beach, a time to absorb the beauty around me.

bright

As I wandered through Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory I stopped often, looking at butterflies in flight and butterflies at rest. While I would love to capture a moving butterfly with my camera I need to settle for those who have halted their movement for a second.

I watched bright orange Julia butterflies flitting about; I was rewarded when two decided to rest on a red and yellow hibiscus.

posed

A tiger longwing butterfly sits still for a moment, posed for a portrait.

first snow

The first snow of the season fell yesterday. Only an inch fell but the temperature is cold enough that the snow remains on the ground. Ponds in the area are starting to freeze too.

The snow and ice makes me believe that winter is here.

watching

Seagulls lined the pier in Newburyport's Cashman Park. They all faced to the west, watching the Merrimack River.

river walk

This afternoon I walked along the Merrimack River in Newburyport.

The air was cool and the wind was steady. The river reflected the blue of the sky.

a butterfly visit

Today felt like a good day to visit butterflies.

My destination for the day was Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, MA. I arrived at 10:15 after close to a 2-hour drive to find that I was the first visitor of the day. The only other people with the butterflies for the first hour I was there were staff members. It was amazing to have the place to myself!

I always enjoy spending time with the butterflies.

across the Merrimack

The river was calm, creating a reflection of the opposite shore in the late afternoon light.