fading

A fading camellia jumped into my camera during last week's visit to the greenhouses of the Lyman Estate in Waltham, MA.

by the sea

The air was chilly, accompanied by a bit of a breeeze. The tide was retreating as I walked on the northern end of Plum Island this afternoon.

It is always good to spend time by the sea.

a greenhouse visit

At the end of January the landscape feels a bit drab.

Today I visited the greenhouses of the Lyman Estate seeking a bit of color. While there were not a lot of flowers in bloom I was still able to get the color fix I needed.

More flowers can be seen in the gallery greenhouse of Lyman Estate :: 2025.

murals in Salem

Knowing there is snow coming tomorrow with cold following soon after I knew I needed to wander someplace different today. I wanted streets to walk rather than woods because there is still a layer of snow on the ground from last weekend's snowfall.

I chose to walk in Salem, hoping to see some new murals. There was a section of new-to-me murals along with many I have enjoyed in the past.

This mural wrapped the walls of adjoining buildings.

Click here to see more photos from today's wander.

winter warmth

It felt almost warm today in contrast to past cold days.

Winter warmth and a well-timed low tide supported a coastal walk so I headed to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for a walk on the beach. While the beach was clear, the dunes sported a coating of snow acquired during Saturday's storm.

icy reflection

A slightly warmer day today supported wandering with a camera in my hands.

Ponds at Harold Parker State Forest show reflections of trees in ice.

brrr...

Brrr... it's cold outside! Yes, I know, it's winter; the temperature definitely matches the season.

Here's a tulip from last spring for a bit of color on this winter day.

reflected light

A warm December day pulled me to the coast again.

Today's destination was Halibut Point State Park. It is south of where I stood yesterday and it features rocks instead of sand. It is a rocky granite edge, a pool of water in what was a quarry, a different kind of beauty.

a changing sky

Steady rain fell this morning.

While it was still misting a bit when I headed to the coast at noon I decided to take a chance on a walk on the beach at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. I didn't want to waste today's unseasonable warmth!

The mist stayed with me as I started walking under a predominantly gray sky. By the end of my wander the sky had changed to pure blue behind interesting white clouds.

It was a good afternoon to walk by the ocean.

clouds and gray sky, on arrival

an hour later, blue sky!

fog

The rain stopped.

Fog entered, creating a mystical appearance.