misplaced

A single purple flower stands tall in a bed of orange calendula. It may be misplaced in the garden but I think it's beautiful.

a caterpillar

Yesterday I visited the gardens of Stevens-Coolidge Place to share them with a friend. She pointed out a caterpillar sitting on a milkweed plant.

I returned early this morning with my camera for a quiet visit in a garden empty of people.

I wonder if today's caterpillar is the same as yesterdays. He was happily sitting on the plant, eating a leaf.

on a leaf

A butterfly perches on a leaf, motionless.

bright

A zinnia wearing bright pink caught my eye as I wandered in the garden this morning.

morning sunshine

On a morning walk, a sunflower greets the day.

back to the beach

The entire beach at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge closes on April 1st every year for the piping plover nesting season, reopening when the birds are finished with the long stretch of sandy beach. A short section reopened just over a week ago, from parking lot 6 south into Sandy Point State Reservation. Since at the time of the reopening the greenhead flies were still in full force, I decided to wait for my first visit.

On Sunday, I heard from three people at Parker River that the dreaded flies were gone. With yesterday's morning low tide set for 9:39 AM a morning walk on the beach sounded like a good idea. I shared the space with people and sea birds.

It felt good to be walking on my favorite beach again. I'm happy that the piping plovers have a safe nesting place but I'm also happy when the beach reopens.

photos! flitter, flutter, butterfly

If you're interested in seeing the butterflies that surrounded me during my visit at Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory last Friday, check my gallery flitter, flutter, butterfly! 2019.

two sides

Friday's visit to the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory was delightful! As soon as I walked in, a butterfly landed on me, choosing to walk with me for a bit. I walked, watching butterflies flying and butterflies at rest. I walked and I stood still, watching flying and resting butterflies.

There are some butterflies that I usually see sitting with wings closed, or flying above me so I always see the underside of their wings. On this visit, two of the species allowed me to catch a glimpse of the other side of their wings. The difference was amazing.

The Cairns birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion) has wonderfully decorated wings.

With his wings closed, I couldn't see the iridescent colors on the other side of the wings. While I couldn't convince him to pose with wings opened, a photo of this butterfly in motion exposes the wonderfully different top side of his wings.

Another butterfly with contrasting sides is the dead leaf butterfly (Kallima inachus). Wings closed, it resembles a dead leaf. Wings opened, a splash of color is revealed.

Butterflies are amazing!

canalside in Turners Falls

This morning butterflies were calling to me, pulling me to the western part of the state. I spent time in the butterfly conservatory, then decided to stop to explore the Canalside Rail Trail in Turners Falls on my way home.

I walked on both sides of the Turners Falls Dam, passing old buildings along the canal on the downstream side of the dam, and walking along the smooth water upstream. Warning signs about water levels rising quickly made me think as I walked along the water below the dam.

If you're curious, click to read about the Turners Falls Hydroelectric Project.

yellow

These bright yellow flowers stand tall in the garden, hovering above my head.