bright

Daffodils provide a welcome splash of bright color.

pink petals

An early tulip decorates the garden in shades of pink.

a tidal river

Today was cool, sunny, and very windy - but still a good day to wander to the coast.

Since the beach at the wildlife refuge is closed for the piping plover nesting season I headed to the north end of Plum Island to walk along the Merrimack River. It was almost low tide as I looked out across the river.

daffodil smiles

A daffodil looks to the ground; it makes me smile.

first forsythia

Forsythia have started to emerge, decorating the landscape with a pop of bright yellow.

at Halibut Point

Exposed granite decorates the coast in Halibut Point State Park.

You can see more photos from Monday's visit by clicking here to visit the gallery Halibut Point :: 2024.

rocky coastline

While rainy days are predicted for later in the week, today's dry weather tempted me to head to the coast.

I wandered through Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, MA, enjoying the rocky coastline. It was a good place to soak in the beautiful landscape.

painted

The petals of this dwarf iris appear to have been painted.

The flowers wear a delicate beauty.

windy

Cool temperatures today were chilled even more by a brisk wind.

Luckily, previous spring-like weather encouraged early spring flowers to emerge. I found the first daffodils of the season sheltered by a stone wall in Maudslay State Park.

looking to the north

Rippled sand and pools of water decorate the beach as the tide flows out.

from a walk at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

tidal

According to the forecast, today will be the last day with temperatures in the low 50s for a while. I took advantage of the relative warmth along with an approaching low tide, heading to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for a walk by the sea.

While it's a wonderful beach for walking, it's also a protected nesting area for the endangered piping plover. The beach in the refuge closes for the nesting season on April 1st, reopening when the birds are finished with it.

dwarf iris

A new early spring flower jumped in front of my eyes today, dwarf iris.

I'm enjoying the tiny flowers that emerge well before their full-sized kin.

opening

The gardens of Long Hill beckoned this afternoon. Sunshine supported a wander through the garden looking for the tiny early flowers of early spring.

Tiny early crocus wearing the name Tommy crocus wore a delicate shade of purple.

crocus

Yesterday I saw my first crocus of the season, a wonderful sign of spring!

photos! spring bulb show at Smith College

It's well worth driving across the state to visit the spring bulb show at Smith College.

The show provided an early taste of spring flowers. I loved the splash of color!

To see more photos, click here to jump to the gallery spring flowers at Smith College :: 2024.

calm

Approaching low tide, the beach is calm.

The air is filled with the sound of waves, the song of the ocean.

at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

in a greenhouse

Today I headed to Smith College to spend some time with flowers that were thriving in the greenhouse during the Spring Bulb Show.

It was wonderful to stand and absorb the beauty of bright spring flowers.

mini daffodils

Late morning, with rain predicted for the afternoon, I headed to Maudslay State Park. I wondered if any new flowers had emerged since my last visit almost two weeks ago.

I found snowflakes and snowdrops hidden behind a brick wall, and I found miniature daffodils in bloom on the hill that is a home to crocus a little later in the season.

It's always fun to visit flowers early in the blooming season.

a tidal river

Today's temperature provided an early glimpse of spring.

After enjoying a warm walk near home I headed to the coast, thinking the warmth would continue. It was 58 degrees when I left home. The thermometer in my car held that temperature until I turned toward the coast from route 1. By the time I reached the ocean the air temperature was 44 degrees, driven down by a cold ocean wind.

I walked by the ocean for a bit before heading north on Plum Island to walk by the tidal Merrimack River.

ice

The ponds in Harold Parker State Forest continue to wear a mix of ice and water. Some have large areas of water while others remain almost entirely ice.

first flower

Imagine my surprise when I peered over a garden wall at Maudslay State Park and saw tiny flowers emerging.

At first the small hillside presented as a sea of brown; I needed to get closer! As I stepped through the opening in the wall I saw green shoots and a few winter snowflake flowers, an early sign of spring.

cactus flower

As I wait for the approaching winter storm I am enjoying the reminder of warmth from last week's butterfly conservatory visit.

Hanging cactus shows off beautiful bright flowers.

watching

Ahkbar (the parrot) lives at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. He watches visitors wander by his perch, accepts butterflies flitting around him, and loves the head scratches given to him by members of the staff.

What a pretty bird!

photos! butterflies

Yesterday was a day of driving and of visiting the butterflies (and other creatures) at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. It's a special place, a wonder to stand among fluttering butterflies, to absorb pure beauty.

Photos can be viewed in the gallery flitter, flutter, butterfly! 2024.

Click here to wander through my memories of the visit.

skittering

As I walked on the beach yesterday I watched sanderlings skittering across the sand, in and out of the water.

It's amazing how fast they move, and even more amazing that I managed to capture one mid-stride with my camera. The blurred foot you can see was in motion, about to step to the sand.

turning tide

I walked on the beach at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge this afternoon just after low tide.

Background music was provided by the ocean, the sound of waves crashing.

morning tree

A tree stands tall against a sky that is starting to show a tiny bit of blue.

Its branches wear a thin coating of snow.

ripples in sand

As the tide flows out it leaves ripples in the sand.

This mid-tide image is from my solo walk at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday.

a beach walk

I headed to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge today to satisfy my need for a walk on the beach. The tide was at its midpoint, heading out, a perfect time to walk.

While the tides have swept the beach, a coating of snow remains on the dunes.

I watched sanderlings scurrying in the shallow water.

Somehow I paid enough attention to the water line to keep my feet dry. I don't mind wet feet in warm weather; even though today's temperature was warm for winter it was still too cold to be wet.

snow & ice

It's been a crazy weather week, moving from snow to rain, from cold to almost warm.

Field Pond in Harold Parker State Forest continues to wear a combination of open water and a skim coat of ice.

blue

Blue sky returned this morning. Chill air allowed a coating of snow to highlight the branches of trees.

morning white

Snow covers the landscape this morning; more is predicted to fall.

waiting

As I wait for the predicted snowstorm to arrive I look to the ocean for a sense of calm.

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge