Indian Pipe
Photographer: Kent Girty
August 2024Jewett Preserve
Monotropa uniflora, also known as ghost plant, ghost pipe, or Indian pipe. One of my favorite finds in the forest. This one is an unusual pink color. Actually not a fungus but a parasite that feeds off fungus Mycorrhizae. It’s in the same family as blueberries, cranberries, azaleas, and Rhododendrons. Who knew?
Sumac at Pleasant Valley
Photographer: Sarah Prineas
Dec 21, 2024Pleasant Valley in Lyme
Sumac berries in a snowy field
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.
Roaring Brook in Fall
Photographer: Kristina White
September 2024Banningwood Preserve
The low water level allows the banks and trees to frame the water creating a calm scene of tranquility.
Inverted V
Photographer: Kristina White
December 2024Brockway Hawthorne
An eternal symbol seen throughout the 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
Springtime Basking – Spotted Turtle
Photographer: Rich Sanders (Photo of Distinction – Honorable Mention)
April 27, 2024
On a Lyme Preserve. Please contact me or ask Jim – do not publish the location.
With habitat stability offered by our preserves it is always a pleasure to visit them. On this spring day a community of spotted turtles, clemmys guttata, was seen warming-up in the afternoon sun. A State Species of Special Concern, observing this healthy group exemplifies the value of our Lyme Preserves.
Spring fungus
Photographer: AK Li
May 2024Banningwood Preserve
White-pored Chicken of the woods
Bumblebee on swamp milkweed
Photographer: Rochelle Davis
July 2024Private Lyme Habitat
The bumblebees and other pollinators love the milkweed flowers
A Tree Inside of a Tree
Photographer: Michael Lloyd
September 2024Mount Archer Woods – Town of Lyme
The Tree looks like it has another tree inside of it.
Leaves
Photographer: Sue York
October 2024Pleasant Valley Preserve
River leaves
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
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.
Butterfly on Mexican sunflower
Photographer: Kristina White
August 2024Private habitat in Lyme
I noticed this butterfly dancing on the flower and realized what a beautiful backdrop!
Iced Lodge
Photographer: Birgit Musheno
December 14, 2024Thach Preserve
A beaver lodge and some brush in thin ice. The ice and weather created a spectrum of typical winter colors from purplish blue through golds, tans and greys.
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.
Wild Grapes
Photographer: Tori Harris
06/24Roaring Brook Preserve
Kade exploring the brook bed.
River view
Photographer: Sue York
October 2024Pleasant Valley Preserve
8 mile river
Erratic
Photographer: Christine Tappe
09/22/2024Johnston Preserve
I never tire of the geology to be found in our native woodlands. The cool tones of this glacial erratic set against a backdrop of early fall color was calling out for a photo stop as we hiked the Johnson Preserve (white trail) .
Black and white in March
Photographer: Bryn Souza
3/16/2024
Selden Creek Preserve
Went for a long walk to appreciate local views.
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
Rainbow Over Falls Brook
Photographer: Andrew Onderdonk
June 2024Back door…233 Hamburg Rd
Brilliant rainbow after light, late afternoon rain
Late Summer at Uncas Lake
Photographer: Rich Sanders (Photo of Distinction)
September 16, 2024Uncas 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.
Mountain Laurel Blossom
Photographer: Kent Girty
May, 2022Selden Creek
The mountain laurel was adopted as Connecticut's state flower on April 17, 1907. Here a beam of sunshine directly shown through the canopy to so beautifully illuminate this perfect blossom.
Last of the Oak Leaves
Photographer: Rochelle Davis
November 2024Selden Creek Preserve
The red oak and its companions against the blue sky show us the beauty of looking up, as well as looking down and around.
Backyard Sunrise
Photographer: Sharon
10/26/2024Home
Early morning sunrise.
My grandniece was born this morning, I wanted to one day show her the beautiful sunrise on her special day.
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.
Northern lights in Lyme
Photographer: Gina McEwen
May 2024At the End of Ellys Ferry, Lyme near the CT river
Northern lights visited us in our own town on May 10th
A boy and his dog
Photographer: Denise Gravatt
November 2024
Walbridge Preserve
Hiking can be done in all seasons, even hunting season. Just remember to wear your orange!
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!
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.
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💕
Spring in Lyme at Sterling City Preserve
Photographer: Gina McEwen
End of May 2024Sterling City Preserve
Sunset in Lyme. Walking in our street we were lucky to enjoy this beautiful sunset.
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
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….
Fall Diadem
Photographer: Birgit Musheno
October 31, 2024Joshuatown Rd. entrance to Brockway-Hawthorn Preserve
A last bit of fall color is highlighted by late afternoon sunshine against the backdrop of a large rock formation.
