Sometimes I get tired of being sprawled out on the ground taking photos of small things and I feel like standing for a while, so that’s what this post is all about. White asters, yellow goldenrod and purple loosestrife made a pretty scene in this roadside meadow, so I had to stop to get a few photos of it.
I drove through a local cemetery one day and saw that the lawns were full of blossoming thyme. Bees love thyme so I’m sure they were just ecstatic.
Back before 1938 this path would have wandered through a white birch forest but the hurricane of 1938 blew them all down, so the city planted red pines in their place. The pines have grown very tall but don’t seem to have added much girth in three quarters of a century. This place is called the Dinsmoor woods, named after Mary Dinsmoor, who donated 13 acres of forest to the city in 1928.
I’ve driven by this scene nearly every day for over 20 years now and have always admired it in a quick, out of the corner of my eye way, so I finally stopped and took a photo of it. I can’t really say what it is about it that appeals to me, but something does. It’s the kind of place that I can just sit and stare at.
Rye pond in Hancock, New Hampshire is at the top of my list of places to kayak next summer because of the beautiful orchids that grow here. I went there recently to get a feel for the place and to find a good launching spot. While I walked the shoreline I saw two beaver lodges, but I think they were abandoned.
Beech leaves don’t usually fall until the following spring, so bare beech branches in the middle of summer are very noticeable. Many of our beech trees are dying of a bark blister disease but I don’t know if it caused the leaf drop seen in this young tree.
We’ve had enough rain this year to make me think that some of our waterfalls would be roaring, but as this photo of the lower falls at Bailey Brook in Nelson shows, they weren’t doing much more than trickling. There are upper falls here as well but since it’s berry season and this area is known bear country, I didn’t hike up to see them.
One day after a rain the clouds parted and sunbeams shot straight down to earth. I wish I could have seen what they were highlighting.
The colors of the sky and clouds were beautiful after thunderstorms rolled by one evening.
The late afternoon sun often turns the Ashuelot River falls in Keene into a golden ribbon. Silky dogwoods grow along the shoreline here and soon cedar waxwings will be eating the ripe berries.
The water in this pond was as smooth as water can be. It looks like it won’t be long before the cattails in the background fill this shallow pond completely.
This photo was taken just a few feet from where the previous photo was taken. It’s amazing how just a simple change in perspective can have such an impact on the mood of a photo.
I’ve walked by this little glade of ferns a hundred times but for some reason on this afternoon the light was like I had never seen it before, and had transformed the scene into something quite beautiful. I had to sit for a while admiring it, and I remember thinking what a wonderful painting it would make.
Landscapes have the power to teach, if you query them carefully. And remote landscapes teach the rarest, quietest lessons. ~David Quammen
Thanks for coming by.
New Hampshire Garden Solutions 
Great shots, and I like your observation style a whole lot. Your title shot (and profile image) are of our “home pond” — we abut it on the Jaffrey side with a setback that the SPNF folks own & maintain. Speaking of bears, we have no fewer than five in the woods and lower mountain arms behind us. Bear bell time for our dogs, no question. Wonderful blog, many thanks!
You’re welcome, and thank you. The banner photo of Monadnock from Perkins pond was taken by my daughter years ago. You’re very lucky to live so close to such a beautiful viewing spot. We have several bears in this area too, and they’ve even been seen walking down the streets. I never thought about a bear bell for a dog but it sounds like a great idea. I keep one on my monopod at this time of year.
I was away from home part of last week, and had the good fortune to be invited bt a good friend to accompany him on a visit to a woodland near his home. I have always loved woods.
I know exactly what you mean. There isn’t another experience quite like being in the woods.
The tall trees photo and the one when you first stepped back from the pond are so good I’d have them on my wall. Full of atmosphere.
Thanks! Some of these really did come out to be atmospheric even though I didn’t plan it that way. I must have been in a mood.
Oh, such beautiful sights. And sites. Glad you were able to stand for a change. Your clothes must get quite dirty.
N.B. Your posts rarely come up in my “Reader”. I have to keep checking your site. I wonder what it is that I am NOT doing to cause this problem.
Thank you Cynthia. I gave up trying to stay clean while taking photos of flowers long ago so yes I do often get very dirty, especially my knees. It depends on how muddy it is.
I’ve never used the reader so I’m not sure what the problem could be. If you clicked the follow button then I can’t think of anything else you could do. Maybe someone else who has had the same problem will chime in.
Purple loosetrife is so pretty to bad it’s an invasive
I agree. It’s everywhere here.
It’s really great seeing these “little” slices of New Hampshire! By that, I mean the areas smaller than mountains, valleys, and the like, but larger than flowers, fungi, and molds. 😉
You’d think that the forest shots would look the same as those taken anywhere else, but I can see differences between New Hampshire and Michigan.
Thanks Jerry. I have to crawl out of the bushes and stand up to look around occasionally! I know your land is flatter than ours but I don’t know much about your forests. I’m guessing mostly hardwoods like Illinois.
I really enjoyed the photos in this post. It’s very interesting to see what the landscape looks like in your area. The red pines were fascinating; I am not at all familiar with them. Beautiful places!
Thanks Montucky. I’m not sure why the city chose to replant that area with red pines. Though they are native to this area we see far more white pines than red. It looks like they would make great ship masts!
Makes me want to jump in the car and drive to NH! Wonderful wildflower meadow, also the thyme and the ferny forest floor. Those mixed evergreen woods we do not have here, nor the boulders.
I think you’d like the wildflowers here at this time of year. They’re everywhere and put on quite a show. I’ve heard that you have mostly flat, hardwood forests there along with soil on the alkaline side. It sounds like a great place for orchids.
Just discovered your blog today, You take lovely photos of our NH landscape. I do not go out as often anymore due to back issues so I’m REALLY glad I found your site! I love to plant & garden too but now that I’ve moved back to Concord in an apt. I only use containers 😦 It just not the same.. I miss digging in the earth.. I look forward eagerly to more posts! Where do you live , or what are you near if you don’t mind me asking.
I’m glad that you found the blog too, Erika. I fractured my spine in two places when I was 14, so I can relate to what you say about your back. There’s nothing quite like back pain!
I live in the Monadnock region in the Keene area and put up new posts twice each week, on Wednesday and Saturday.
Hi from over here on the coast 🙂
so glad my Market Basket has opened now I can afford gas to go out and play :
I am not sure if you use Facebook but there is a page all of us who take shots of our beautiful state hang out and share
New Hampshire Through The Cameras Eye please check it out if you are on FB
Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend next week all summertime temps oh and the Seafood Gathering 🙂
Hi again,
No, I’m sorry but I don’t do Facebook and really don’t know the first thing about it. I keep thinking I’ll have my daughter set me up with it but I never do. Taking care of this blog is enough!
I hope you have a good weekend as well. Seafood is something I haven’t had for quite a while, so maybe I’ll have to fix that! Thanks for stopping in.
Facebook for me selling art work is great and for others who stay in touch with all their friends 🙂
If you do set up your page you can stay as private as you want. Yes with nice weather and gorgeous new Hampton Beach look it will be a good year to make the trip across and eat your way from one end of the strip to the other 🙂
Privacy isn’t the issue, it’s keeping up with it all. This blog takes a considerable amount of time and there isn’t much left.
I’m definitely going to have to get some fried clams this weekend.
Thank you for all the lovely pictures. I’m so glad I subscribed to this posting!
You’re welcome. I’m glad that you did too!
Your area is so beautiful with such lovely trees and the best is that you can include your love of the area in your posts. Amelia
Yes, I like to show the beauty of the area when I can. There is a lot of it to see!
Lovely pictures Allen, I sure would also enjoy visiting those areas. Just another great place to hike and maybe camp. Have you seen any bears when you are there? The beaver lodges make for good pictures, we have a lot of beavers around our area but they usually get trapped for their skin when they show up.
Thanks Michael. We are certainly blessed with some beautiful scenery in this area.
I’ve never met a bear on a trail thankfully, but I’ve seen a couple of big ones passing through my back yard.
A year or two ago beavers were eating some very expensive ornamental trees at a local shopping center and they disappeared in a hurry, so I think they must have been caught.
Love your relaxing scenes – it’s where I want to be at this moment. All the best as you move into Fall weather.
Thank you Mary. I wish I had your talent. I’d love to turn the fern photo into a painting.
Thank you for your beautiful compliment. Have a nice evening.
You’re welcome. Same to you!
It is very nice to see these views and get a feel of the place where you live.
I’m glad that you liked seeing them. I’m trying to show more of the area.
Interesting Allen that you have to be so aware of bears. I once spent a day walking through woodlands near Stockbridge, Massachusetts and only afterwards wondered whether they were called Great Bear Woods for a reason. Gulp. Dave
There is a good reason for those woods having that name Dave. You might have been seen by several bears and not even known it because they usually run off before you can get close to them. BUT, there is always that one out there that doesn’t run from you, and that’s the one you have to be aware of. In spring, just as they come out of hibernation and in fall as they are building up their fat reserves preparing to go into hibernation, are the times when you need to be on your toes. A narrow, curving trail lined with raspberry and black berry bushes is not the place to be right now. You could turn a corner and get a big, 500 pound surprise if you aren’t careful!
Reblogged this on Dawn of Divine Rays.
your photos are so beautiful, i can hardly stand it! ha ha – amazing!
Thank you Shana, I’m glad that you liked them!
One of my favorites is the fourth picture. There’s so many areas in it to explore and enjoy … and daydream
It’s a great place to do that in person. There’s something about it that makes you want to follow that stream.
Ahhhhhh!
These are such beautiful shots. You have an artist’s eye with landscape and I agree with Susan that the photo she mentioned and the wilderness photo would make wonderful paintings. I was sorry to hear of bark blister disease and the death of beautiful beeches. What is happening to all our trees? They all seem to be under threat from virus, disease or insects that cannot be controlled.
Thank you Clare. I think I do tend to look at landscapes with the thought of what they might look like in a painting because I used to draw and paint a bit. I agree that some of these scenes would make great paintings and I think my favorite to try would be the ferns.
Most of the problems with our trees come from alien invaders from other countries. When they get to a place that they haven’t evolved naturally in quite often they don’t have any predators there, so they can feed and breed at will, with no danger. It all comes down to closer inspection of the things we import, but good luck with that! I don’t think the people in charge of such things care one way or the other as long as they make more money.
Your fourth photo caught me too. I have places I pass daily that seem to stick in my mind’s eye. When I take the time to go back and sit, it is the calm timelessness that I think was calling to me. Nice to see an “upright” view of your world!
Thanks Martha. There always seem to be one or two things out of the thousands we see every day that stay with us, and it’s always fun to find out why they do. Someday I’d like to follow that stream and see where it leads.
Lovely shots! It’s amazing what we can discover by changing our point of view.
Thanks. That’s very true, in a lot of ways!
I really enjoyed having the chance to see the “big picture.” Your wonderful shots really highlight the natural beauty there in your part of New Hampshire.
Thanks Mike. There is a lot of beauty to be seen here and I feel very lucky to be able to explore it.
Those are some lovely spots for sitting and thinking! Love the ray of sunshine through the clouds.
Thanks Laura. That sunbeam was a huge surprise! Almost like a searchlight.
About that fourth photo Allan, I know what appeals to me about the scene: it’s the “wildness”. I know that from previous posts you’ve explained that much of the woodland in NH is regrowth but in places it does look primordial and true wilderness (land completely unaffected by modern man) is so rare in this world that anything that even resembles it has appeal to me. In that scene, the fallen trees randomly crossing the stream give the place an unkempt, natural look.
You’ve got a good eye for wilderness Jim. That forest is owned by Yale University and is protected, so it hasn’t seen the hand of man for a very long time. Beavers are the only ones cutting trees there, so it’s about as close to true wilderness as you can come in New Hampshire.
What a plethora of beautiful photographs, so many of them ready to turn into a painting. I think my favourite would be the picture last but one, so moody but delightful.
Thank you Susan. I have to agree; that last one is my favorite too.