… just walking through the Christian Science Center Plaza in Boston after a respite at the Boston Museum of Fine Art.
Archive for the ‘Nature Notes’ Category
not in europe …
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, flowers, nature, Photography, roses, urban landscape on September 14, 2026| 3 Comments »
this morning …
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, flowers, gardening, Inspiration, musings, nature, Photography, urban landscape on September 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »
… I have seen some astounding things as I sit with coffee on the porch. Clearly we are easing into autumn. A bit brisk. I’m tempted to toss on a sweater but it’ll be hot before I know it. As I look around … the grouping of basil, swiss chard and sorrel is still lush in their containers, thriving, and I chuckle at myself as I say fiendishly, “I might eat you tonight!” The strawflowers with their orange-gold heads seem harbingers of the approaching season. I will try to save their seeds though saving seeds has never been my issue; it is remembering to plant them in the spring.
A white butterfly flits around me perhaps annoyed that I have come out. I take moments to reminisce but I also make plans for the day. A hawk circles overhead, just one, not a pair. In the neighbor’s yard, sunflowers sway. The neighbor’s garden is usually very ordered but the sunflowers are planted randomly, and only lately as I watched a family gathering did I realize he did it for his young grandchildren.
Well, alright, while I do enjoy the sounds – the wind rustling the tree leaves, the blue jay’s raucous cry, and even the more distant rumbles from the highway – I need to be on that highway making my way into work. Work has been a tether and not in a bad sense. So away with me. Good morning, world. Have a good day. 🙂
… and when you look up and straight ahead …
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged beauty, colors, Contributing Writer, Horn Pond, Inspiration, life, memories, nature, naturewalk, Photography, storytelling, travel, water, Worburn, writing on September 7, 2026| 3 Comments »
… what a beautiful path. And that path was so soft and spongy with the fallen evergreen needles from above. The pond was busy today because it was such a lovely day before school resumes. So many children being taught how to fish. It made me smile because Steve had tried to share the pleasure of fishing with me here once, and later, as he was recovering after his stroke, one of his caregivers asked if it would be okay to take Steve fishing. They did indeed make the trek to this particular pond while I was at work and the caregiver sent me pictures. They didn’t catch anything. It was probably one of the last times Steve went fishing. As I walked along the paths adjacent to the water I thought about mobility and access which my journey with Steve these past years has made hyper-aware in my mind as I parade about in the world.
It has been a long time since I have wandered through a wooded area, suburban or wild, without thought to time. It was a pleasurable few hours of just wandering about, following the light and shadows. I actually engaged in conversation with a professional photographer after she asked was I seeing anything good as I leaned over a footbridge. As we chatted, she said, “You’re only a professional if you make money.” I don’t know about that.
I missed, as my Uber took the turn to take me home, that I could not tell Steve about my adventures, about the fall of light and shadows, the photographer chatting with me that same as when we together years before at another venue and a bird watcher wanted to tell us about 300 warblers. There was a welling of emotion and … with the tears there is always laughter or at least a smile. And for that I am grateful and heartened. We’ll see what future weekends hold for journeys with the camera into nature. It was a good day for all sorts of reasons.
when you look down …
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged beauty, colors, green, Horn Pond, Inspiration, landscape, nature, Photography, Woburn on September 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »
to the moon
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged full moon, Inspiration, lunar, moon, nature, Photography on August 29, 2026| 2 Comments »
Not bad. Thursday’s full moon. The image would have been better if I’d gone outside and used the tripod for a steadier shot. Instead I leaned out the second floor kitchen window contorting and trying not to shake the camera too much. Maybe by the next full moon, end of September, I will gather the courage to set up outside and take some proper shots. We’ll see …
I’ll be curious …
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, cooking, Inspiration, Photography, pickling, writing on August 23, 2026| 3 Comments »
… how these turn out. It seemed like a good idea on Friday perusing the farmers market in Copley Square. Big beautiful baskets of mixed peppers. I need to keep busy and creative. Why not make some pickled peppers? 🙂
I’ve made pickles before but usually with cucumbers and/or thin slices of red onion. People seemed to appreciate them. This time, with the peppers, I added some garlic harvested from the garden. The cloves were small but the flavor very good.
I didn’t remember to pull on gloves but I did remember this time (ahem) to wash my hands after cutting the peppers before accidentally rubbing my eyes or eating a snack.
Probably the simplest recipe I’ve tried. Just a simple brine poured over the peppers and garlic. I’ve sometimes added fresh herbs. With the cucumbers I would have added some peppercorn. Uhm, not needed here.
Two jars. If tasty … I’ll know more tomorrow once they’ve had a chance to sit in the fridge for a bit … then one to keep and probably one to give away. What’s my favorite phrase? We’ll see … 🙂
an elephant parade
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged animals, art, art installations, beauty, elephants, Inspiration, Photography on August 6, 2026| 3 Comments »
A herd of 100 life sized handcrafted elephants is making its way along the tree shaded Commonwealth Avenue Mall in Boston’s Back Bay. The free exhibit officially opens Saturday August 8 and runs through September 13.
On a hot and steamy day what a treat to walk among these beautiful creatures as the exhibit was being installed.
You can learn more about the exhibit here: https://thegreatelephantmigration.org/pages/visit
the zen of fishing
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged fishing, friendships, musings, nature, Photography, storytelling on July 28, 2026| 2 Comments »
Now growing up in southern Virginia, fishing was pretty common. All the male members of my family fished though somehow they neglected to take me along. So it wasn’t until I moved to Boston and met this quirky fellow who loved fishing that I finally held a fishing pole. That’s right, I held it. But to Steve’s consternation I didn’t move it. He tried to explain standing there with the line in the water watching the sunlight play upon the lake was not the same as actively trying to catch a fish. I told him, “I think I’m into the zen of fishing.” He just shook his head. Luckily for Steve, a good friend connected him with a group of men who’d been fishing together for decades since they were children. A spot opened up and Steve fit. About every two years they’d gather and make their way to a fishing hole in Canada. It was probably one of the most joyous experiences Steve looked forward to later in life. One of the gentlemen shared this photo with me in his memory.
note to self …
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, flowers, gardening, Inspiration, nature, Photography on July 26, 2026| 3 Comments »
… it is probably best to do some good weeding before hitting multiple nurseries in one day. Didn’t pick up much but what I did I love. Let’s see if I can keep the strawflowers alive.
this summer …
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, Uncategorized, tagged beauty, colors, container gardening, flowers, gardening, Inspiration, musings, nature, Photography on July 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »
… there is no rhyme or reason to the gardening on the porch/patio. It is a riot of colors and styles.
Each morning I rise to peek out and see scattered dirt as the squirrels rise earlier then I do and begin their daily quest for food.
I’ve let the backyard go. The only that will be harvested from down on the ground will be garlic planted last fall. When I look down there is the afternoon light I can see many happy baby bunnies nibbling at all the weeds and things that are overgrown. I do appreciate the perennials that have come back and have no bunny-appeal.
While I do feel bad about the yard, I am glad about the porch. There’s an increasing number of patio-specific fruits and vegetables and its been fun learning about those. And, of course, of course, there is still room for plenty of basil for future pesto making.
