Photos of distinction are displayed below. The photographer’s name and award will display on the larger images.
Click on the contest titles to see the judges’ comments on the selections.
late summer milkweed seedpods
Grassy 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.
Longevity
Honeybee on Stonecrop Sedum
Private Lyme Habitat
Foraging for late summer pollen this honeybee found a bumper crop in nearby stonecrop sedum in Lyme.
Late Summer at Uncas Lake
Uncas Lake, Nehantic State Forest
With sunny days, cool nights, and leaves starting to change, there's still time for a late summer swim and a look-see above and below the water.
Asclepias
Private pollinator garden
Milkweed flowers and buds.
On the lookout for the wonderfully colorful monarch butterfly larvae and was intrigued by this flower and bud set against the green.
Cows at the farm
Tiffany’s farm
Foggy day at the farm in a Spring morning in Lyme
Cinnamon Fern
Banningwood Preserve
Close up of cinnamon fern growing near Roaring Brook in the Banningwood Preserve
Springtime Basking – Spotted Turtle
Ice sheet
Downed Tree New Life
Selden Creek Preserve
The number of downed trees at Selden Preserve make room for new life.
Green between the leaves
Mt. Archer Woods – Tulip Tree Grove in Winter
Counting sheep
Beaver Brook Farm
As part of the farm open house, I captured sheep, lambs, and rams.
Winter solstice
Private land
The area where this photo was taken had many significant stone formations and some I believed were connected to the winter solstice. It was exciting to see I was right!!
Winter solstice
Private land
The area where this photo was taken had many significant stone formations and some I believed were connected to the winter solstice. It was exciting to see I was right!!
Fall day in Banningwood
Banningwood Preserve
The brightness of the fall sun on the various colors was joyous, along with the life hidden in the pool.
Sunrise at the Johnston Outlook
Sunset over Connecticut River from Gillette Castle
View from Gillette Castle State Park
Hadlyme Ferry crossing the Connecticut River under an autumn sunset.
Nectar on The Connecticut
Ely’s Ferry
Watched with amazement as this monarch feasted on summer’s bounty. Wonder if it noticed the magnificent view over the Connecticut as it perched on that tall flower cluster this hot summer afternoon?
My Golden retriever was clearly annoyed with me as my attention was momentarily focused on the butterfly.
Green frog
Selden Creek Preserve
“sometimes you don't see what's right in front of you..” I was hiking friends when we passed a puddle and heard a splash. Crouching down, I held onto a rotting log for balance as I searched the puddle. With my friend screeching “look!” several times I finally noticed that he wasn’t pointing into the water but to the log next to my hand.
Beetle
Pleasant Valley
A surprising critter to see on a leaf next to the path.
Quiet Pride
Selden Creek Preserve
Fascinated by the interaction of moss and other life. It is symbiosis in action, like a gentle incubator. The sun was perfectly illuminating this proud and confident little loner. The focus took some effort but the result was worth the wet knees…
Magestic Bull
Mount Archer Farm
My beautiful bull patiently waits for fresh grass.
Oak Point
Fern in January
Counting sheep
Beaver Brook Farm
As part of the farm open house, I captured sheep, lambs, and rams.
Beaver swimming
Thach Preserve
One more shot of the same beaver
Tiffany Farm
Elephant trunk nebula
Pileated Pleasure
Cemetery Tree
Young forest in fall
Foggy Tree
Blue-stemmed Goldenrod
Waiting
Pleasant Valley Preserve
The sunlight shone the perfect circle and the waiting spider.
Tree highlighted in overcast skies
Vernal Pool Reflections
Dogwood
Dew on spider web
Winter 22
Looking down and up
private land - habitat
The half frozen pool of water and leaves reflected the canopy of bare trees above, connecting the source of the leaves and the roots of the trees in one photo.
Bewitching Winter Woods
Last bit of winter
Photos of Distinction
Late September forest floor
September 2021 Selden The tiny mushrooms and leaves create a colorful wall paper of life and decay.
Gorgeous greens
May 2021 Chestnut Hill Preserve I loved the many greens in this photo that bring my eye down the path. Think maybe it might have
Water Bugs in the Water
September 2021 Selden Creek Preserve, Lyme, CT Water Bugs in the Water, Selden Creek Preserve, Lyme, CT I have developed an appreciation for nature and
Photos of Distinction
Chimney Stack
January 9, 2021 Pleasant Valley Preserve Finding art in nature – billowing smoke out of a chimney stack.
Shadow and Glory
November 2020 Pleasant Valley Preserve Pup in shadow with a blaze of glory behind him
Scenic Selden Creek overlook
Jan. 24, 2021 Selden Creek Preserve First time visiting this preserve. Had to stop to enjoy the view and try to capture in pictures.
Honorable Mention
Morning frost
November 14, 2020 Banningwood I liked they way the beads of frost were sparkling in the sun on the trees in the woods.
Sunshine through the birches
November 5, 2020 Hartman Park, Heritage trail A beautiful fall mid afternoon shot of the sunshine through the birches
Tulip tree on a fall morning
November 2020 Johnston Preserve Tulip trees are so tall and straight and I learned more about them this year, particularly by looking at them in