delicate

Walking through a greenhouse on a cold winter's day floods my mind with thoughts of (still far away) spring.

motion

Sanderlings walk the beach in a flock, probing for food in the wet sand. They seem to move as one, quickly walking, probing, then bursting into flight.

an attempt to capture motion

listen...

Listen... can you hear the ocean?

I headed to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge early this afternoon, leaving time to walk on the beach before my scheduled volunteer time. It was close to two hours before low tide, a perfect time to walk on wet sand without worrying about an inadvertent walk in the ocean. While it was a warm day for January it was still too cold for wet feet.

The sound of the ocean brings a feeling of peace.

color!

This morning I satisfied my need for color with a visit to the greenhouses of the Lyman Estate.

It's a funny time of year even in an environment that encourages flowers. While there were fewer flowers in bloom than on my last visit, there were enough to provide a splash of color.

a camellia in bright pink

quiet waters

Quiet waters of the Piscataqua River show subtle reflections.

wishing

On this winter day I find myself thinking of and wishing for spring. I know, I know, it's still January and there are many more winter days ahead.

I walk outside for exercise year-round and I also do a fair amount of wandering with my camera, looking for interesting photo targets. Unfortunately inland trails are ice-covered and treacherous, keeping me away from some of my usual walking with a camera spots. Luckily I'm not too far from the coast; beach walks always make me happy.

There are likely many days of cold and snow remaining. Perhaps it's time for a greenhouse visit.

send a wish on a feather...

one tree

A single tree stands on the edge of Peirce Island.

In the distance three bridges that cross the Piscataqua River are visible - Memorial Bridge, the still under construction Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, and the very high bridge carrying I-95.

in Rye Harbor

The government shutdown cancelled my usual Sunday volunteer activity at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

It was a beautiful day for a walk by the sea so I took advantage of my free day and headed to the New Hampshire coast. Without a specific destination in mind I drove until an interesting scene caught my eyes, stopping to walk and absorb my surroundings. The water in Rye Harbor was glassy providing a perfect spot for a bit of camera play.

the face of an orchid

I'm fascinated by the many shapes and colors of orchids.

footsteps

While the beach is quiet, footsteps capture a low-tide walk along the ocean.