top photos :: 2023

It's that time of year, the time when I wander through the photos that I've published during 2023 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.

Malachite butterfly

hanging upside down


pooled water

at Halibut Point State Park


tulips

opening


dahlia delight

posed


coastal view

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge


dahlias

in pink


across the dunes

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge


petals

of a chrysanthemum


still water

at Pomps Pond


mirrored patterns

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

These photos are collected into the gallery top photos :: 2023. 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.

calm

While rain is predicted for tomorrow, today's weather tempted me to walk at Harold Parker State Forest.

The calm waters of Field Pond created a canvas showing reflecting trees.

on the wall

Yesterday afternoon I headed to the Punto Urban Art Museum on the streets of Salem, MA.

My goal was to see the set of new murals on the walls around the power station in The Point. The exhibit is titled "A Dream Called Home", inspired by the book of the same title by a Mexican-American author, Reyna Grande.

YOU ARE NOT LESS, YOU ARE MORE, by @GORGONEIA

Click here to see more photos of the art on the walls in the gallery murals in Salem :: 2023. The first 29 photos in the gallery are from yesterday's visit; the rest were taken in March of this year.

beach walk

It was a perfect afternoon for a walk on the beach. I started walking about an hour before low tide; I even managed to keep my feet dry.

The low angle of the winter sun provided interesting light as it emerged from behind a layer of clouds.

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

quiet water

The water of Pomps Pond is smooth and quiet, a match for the pure blue sky.

wet

What a crazy storm!

I know it would have been smart to stay in today but when the rain lightened up a bit I decided to head out for a walk. The rain continued for a while, then stopped, leaving the wind to dry my rain jacket. It was just a lull - I finished my walk in heavy, heavy rain.

I'm glad that today's precipitation was liquid, not frozen.

water covers a field that is normally dry

trees

Evergreen trees color the landscape at Pomps Pond in Andover, MA.

iridescence

A play of color emerges as sunlight hits a heart-shaped lock on a fence in Portsmouth, NH.

across the Piscataqua

The sky kept changing today, from blue with clouds to gray and back again. Even with a chill wind, it was a good day for a walk in Portsmouth, NH.

Ripples in the Piscataqua River show refections of the clouds.

skim ice

Temperatures have been cold enough to support the formation of skim ice on the surface of ponds.

This view of early ice is from a walk in Harold Parker State Forest this afternoon.

rust and green

A few trees wearing rust-colored leaves pop in a stand of evergreens.

in Valley Forge National Historical Park

pinecones

Pinecones decorate evergreens in Maudlsay State Park.

light through leaves

Leaves appeared to be painted in the magic of angled afternoon light.

mixed

Late autumn highlights mixed colors where deciduous trees live next to evergreens.

sunshine via flowers

While the air outside wears a crisp chill, chrysanthemums living in a greenhouse bring sunshine to the day.

photos! chrysanthemums

Photos from yesterday's visit to the 2023 Fall Chrysanthemum Show at Smith College can now be viewed in the gallery chrysanthemums at Smith College :: 2023.

Click here to wander through the colorful mums.

layers of color

What a treat!

Today I headed west in the state to visit the 2023 Fall Chrysanthemum Show at Smith College. If Northampton was an hour closer I would probably visit more than once. Still, wandering through the bright flowers made the two hours travel time well worth the effort.

I arrived just after the conservatory opened for the day and was delighted to have at least an hour for my first wander through the flowers without too many other humans.

across the dunes

Vegetation on the dunes at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge shows the color of autumn.

to Parker River

Today's weather brought a bit of warmth sandwiched between two colder days.

Temperatures in the mid-60s pulled me to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for a low tide walk by the ocean.

oak leaves in red

While most leaves remaining on trees are wearing shades of rust and brown some insist on being different.

Today I saw an oak tree wearing autumn red.

coastal Odiorne

Yesterday was the last summer-like day for what will probably be a long time.

I took advantage of the 80+ degree temperature to walk along the coast in Odiorne Point State Park.

late dahlia

As autumn leaves fall from trees there are still dahlias in bloom in the gardens of Maudslay State Park.

one

A single maple leaf in bright red is caught by the branches of a tree.

bright & fading

Trees wearing autumn leaves continue to paint bright pictures even as the color is starting to fade.

layers in sky & water

It was about an hour past high tide when I walked the beach at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

The sand was soft, swept free of footprints. The sky wore a pretty shade of blue and the waves showed a bit of green.

from the dike

In honor of National Wildlife Refuge Week the dike between sub-headquarters and Hellcat at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is open for walking this week.

I took advantage of a beautiful day to walk along the dike this morning.

layers

As I walked in the park on Friday I saw layers of color.

There were yellow leaves, shades of green in leaves and grasses, and rust-colored ferns.

red

Bright red berries complement small green leaves.

An image search tells me this is a variety of cotoneaster. Whatever name it wears, I like the pop of color!

mixed

Evergreen and deciduous trees present a palette of mixed color.

ocean song

Late afternoon...

Instead of heading directly home from volunteering at the visitor center of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, I headed into the refuge. It was a perfect time to walk and to listen to the sounds of the ocean.

changing

While most of the trees in the area are still wearing shades of green, patches of color are starting to emerge.

The trees standing on the edges of Berry Pond in Harold Parker State Forest show the color of autumn.

pop!

A pop of red shows on the inland side of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

Autumn approaches.

on the beach

Low tide was at a good time this morning and today is the last day without predicted rain. That meant I was pulled to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for a walk on the beach.

The refuge was quiet, the beach used by a few people and a lot of birds. Sea gulls rested, sanderlings scurried across the sand.

autumn color

While most trees in the area are still wearing leaves of green, an occasional maple is wearing bright red.

It's an early sign of autumn approaching.

late dahlia

It's been a good season for dahlias.

I was delighted to find this beautiful bloom in Maudslay State Park during my wander there last Thursday. Here's hoping that they continue to decorate local gardens for a little longer.

outdoor sculpture at Maudslay

It is time for the annual Outdoor Sculpture at Maudslay event. This year's show runs from September 10th through October 1st. I usually try to visit early in the show, often returning for a second look.

On Thursday I headed to Maudslay State Park to wander through the sculptures.

To see more of the sculptures, click here to visit the photo gallery outdoor sculpture at Maudslay :: 2023

celosia

Celosia blooms through the summer - but somehow it makes me think of fall.

early morning

It was quite early when I opened my eyes this morning. The ground was wet from last night's rain but no water was falling from the sky. It felt like a good time for a garden walk.

Even though we are nudging into autum there are still dahlias sharing bright colors.

approaching low tide

Friday's walk on the beach at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge was delightful. While there were other people around the end of the boardwalk I enjoyed a solo walk.

I walked.
I watched gulls and sanderlings feeding by the edge of the ocean.
I absorbed the beauty around me.

the wait is over

Yay! I woke up at 3:52 AM when the lights and the air conditioner popped on; the power was back!

The power was out for 37 hours. I feel very lucky; the weather wasn't too bad from a heat standpoint, and there are still areas around me without power. Not having power makes me realize how much it affects everyday life. I'm glad it's back.

This photo is from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. It is the last photo I took before heading home Friday afternoon, arriving home shortly before the power disappeared.