Ice sheet
Photographer: Kent Girty (Photo of Distinction)
January 2024
Eight Mile River Pleasant Valley
Paper thin delicate ice formation crystallized as the water under it disappeared. Wonderful shapes suspended above the ground on this super delicate formation. Well at least until the pupp steps on them….
Downed Tree New Life
Photographer: Galo Sarmiento (Photo of Distinction)
3/16/2024Selden Creek Preserve
The number of downed trees at Selden Preserve make room for new life.
Trout lily
Photographer: AK Li
AprilBanningwood Preserve
Growth
Photographer: Christine Tappe
10/12/2024Ravine Trail
As we set out to hike the Ravine Trail for the first time I was struck by the beauty of a young sapling growing out of (and through) the root ball of an old tree. A simple reminder that life always finds a way to carry on.
Rainbow Over Falls Brook
Photographer: Andrew Onderdonk
June 2024Back door…233 Hamburg Rd
Brilliant rainbow after light, late afternoon rain
Lush Moss
Photographer: Bryn Souza
3/16/224
Selden Creek Preserve
This bright green moss was a lovely sight when so much else was still mostly brown
Late Afternoon
Photographer: Judy Davies
December 2024Private Lyme Habitat
Our new wind mill in our backyard on Joshuatown Road with beautiful Lyme “light” (setting sun) in background.
Row of Fungi
Photographer: Galo Sarmiento
3/16/2024
Selden Creek Preserve
The end of winter brings new life even if it’s on a downed tree.
Welcome to Tiffany’s
Photographer: Lisa Tiffany Simiola (Photo of Distinction)
October 2023Tiffany Farms
A mountain of a man with no days off still gets soft now and then.
Subject: John J. Tiffany III, modern day cowboy
Green door
Photographer: Kristina White
February 2024
Johnston Preserve
A door to another world
Green between the leaves
Photographer: Bryn Souza (Photo of Distinction – Honorable Mention)
3/16/24
Selden creek preserve
The contrast in colors on the forest floor is fun to see
Barred owl fledglings
Photographer: Jaime Bochet
May 11, 2024Private Old Lyme Habitat
A few days after seeing both owls, we got an incredible surprise: their babies! They were on a dead tree maybe 50 yards into the woods, so I got a longer lens to get a closer look. They hung out for several hours, with mom and dad close by.
The Special Thin Rock
Photographer: Michael Lloyd
September 2024Mount Archer Woods – Town of Lyme
There is a really thin rock with shadows from the sun that created the look of a Face on the rock to the left and a skeleton face just above the tip of the thin rock..
late summer milkweed seedpods
Photographer: Rochelle Davis (Photo of Distinction, People’s Vision Award 2024)
September 2024Grassy Hill Preserve
The milkweed seedpods stand up like a candelabra, and as they open, the seeds pop out with their white downy parachute to ride the winds away.
Trail Gift
Photographer: Birgit Musheno
September 23, 2024Pleasant Valley Preserve
A flower token left along the trail one day by an unknown fellow hiker, an uplifting sign of communal joy in nature.
Contrasts in spring
Photographer: AK Li
May 2024Jewett Preserve
Dinner time for baby owls
Photographer: Jaime Bochet
May 11, 2024Private Old Lyme habitat
As evening approached, one of the parent owls brought a fresh meal for the fledglings. It was incredible to watch them feed the babies.
Mt. Archer Woods – Tulip Tree Grove in Winter
Photographer: Steven Hoyt (Photo of Distinction)
February – 2024
Mt. Archer Woods Preserve
There are actually a couple of tulip tree groves in this group of preserves – one in Mt. Archer and the other bordering the Eno and Mt. Archer preserves. This photo was taken, I believe, on trail AW in the southwest section of the Mt. Archer preserve. I love the forest depth and textures that shine through on an otherwise drab day.
Trail Stewardship
Photographer: Denise Gravatt
November 2024
Walbridge Preserve
Trail stewardship is essential for keeping our trails open for recreation. Hiking is fun, chainsawing is even more fun!
Wendy
Photographer: Dave Brown
June 2024Pleasant Valley Preserve
Wendy learning to be comfortable in the water.
Cows at the farm
Photographer: Adam McEwen (Photo of Distinction)
May 2024Tiffany’s farm
Foggy day at the farm in a Spring morning in Lyme
Swamp Milkweed Pod
Photographer: Birgit Musheno
September 23, 2024Private Lyme Habitat
Swamp Milkweed seeds ready to disperse on the breeze from their supporting pod. The parent plant arrived from just such a seed, a surprise and welcome arrival in a new meadow converted from lawn.
Winter’s Embrace
Photographer: Kerrie Pensiero
January 2024
Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve
Winter hiking can get pretty drab if there’s not much snow. When I saw this snow on the tree stump, it looked like a heart. With a little help from me, I formed it a little better for this photo💕
Fallen Chestnut Oak Leaf in Selden Creek Preserve
Photographer: Rochelle Davis
November 2024Selden Creek Preserve
The many colors of the leaf, and the small parts eaten by an insect, are a beautiful contrast and show the change that happens in fall.
Path to Light
Photographer: Sarah Prineas
Dec 21, 2024Pleasant Valley, Lyme
Snowy path leading from shadow to light
Wild Grapes
Photographer: Tori Harris
06/24Roaring Brook Preserve
Kade exploring the brook bed.
A double Stack
Photographer: Kristina White
December 2024Brovckway Hawthorne Preserve
the fungi look like shelves waiting for a squirrel to store its nuts for later
Backyard Sunrise, not zoomed
Photographer: Sharon (Photo of Distinction)
10/26/2024
HomeEarly morning sunrise.
My grandniece was born this morning, I wanted to one day show her the beautiful sunrise on her special day.
Caught
Photographer: Birgit Musheno
October 14, 2024Banningwood Preserve
A fallen maple leaf caught by dry fern leaves, illuminated by late afternoon fall sunlight. I was captivated by the recursive curling forms, and the detailed tracery of the leaf structures revealed by the sunlight filtering through.
Little Bear on a Big Rock
Photographer: Kent Girty
January 2024
Selden Creek Preserve
The pup loves to go on epic walks in the various Lyme Preserves. Big rocks are irresistible favorites. Nothing like watching his senses light up with stimulation from all the smells of nature everywhere. Brings on the zoomies! Loved how the natural light highlights the subject contrasting beautifully with the green moss and winter grays.
Inverted V
Photographer: Kristina White
December 2024Brockway Hawthorne
An eternal symbol seen throughout the world
Ice Over the River
Photographer: Kent Girty
January 2024
Eight Mile River I think still in Pleasant Valley.
Fascinating and dramatic ice formation created as just the right conditions, cold snap freezing water vapor, conspired to form these wonderful shapes. Clear as crystal. Needed care not to slip in…
A Late Summer Leaf
Photographer: Kent Girty
September 2024Mount Archer Woods
I love how sunlight on moss highlights anything one finds sitting on top.
Creates a color contrast I find so visually appealing – like this tiny leaf with its mighty color set against the plush moss.
Black and white in March
Photographer: Bryn Souza
3/16/2024
Selden Creek Preserve
Went for a long walk to appreciate local views.
Longevity
Photographer: David Luke (Photo of Distinction – Honorable Mention)
9/25/2024
Johnston Preserve
Unique distortion and shape of main trunk of this large mature tree tucked away off the trails in Johnston preserve. Amazing that with the distortion in main trunk, it has withstood the test of time and has not fallen -longevity
Night Sky Comet
Photographer: John Gluszak (Photo of Distinction)
10/15/2024Sky 53 over North End of Rogers Lake
Spent a couple days attempting to capture the T-Atlas comet from my dock on Rogers Lake. Iso 400, F2, at 4 seconds really popped out the comet. Then used photoshop to blend in the brighter comet with the evening dusk hour look for the foreground.
