Green door
Photographer: Kristina White
February 2024
Johnston Preserve
A door to another world
Honeybee on Stonecrop Sedum
Photographer: Mary Powell StLouis (Photo of Distinction)
September 2024Private Lyme Habitat
Foraging for late summer pollen this honeybee found a bumper crop in nearby stonecrop sedum in Lyme.
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.
Newts
Photographer: Dave Brown
May 2024Jewett Preserve
Morning walk newt’s meandering on the trail.
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.
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.
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 Please contact me or ask Jim – do not publish the location.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.
Trout lily
Photographer: AK Li
AprilBanningwood Preserve
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.
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?
Path to Light
Photographer: Sarah Prineas
Dec 21, 2024Pleasant Valley, Lyme
Snowy path leading from shadow to light
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.
Tree at Tiffany
Photographer: Birgit Musheno
January 16, 2024
Tiffany Farm, Sterling City Rd., Lyme CT
Tree in winter viewed from old farm structures, on land under conservation easement for agricultural use.
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.
Leaves
Photographer: Sue York
October 2024Pleasant Valley Preserve
River leaves
Barred owl pair
Photographer: Jaime Bochet
May 6, 2024Private Old Lyme Habitat
We’d had a single barred owl visiting the perimeter of our yard for several weeks, but then one morning we looked out and saw a mate with them. They relaxed on this sapling for several hours.
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.
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….
Lunch Spot
Photographer: Christine Tappe
9/28/2024Selden Creek Preserve
The white trail brought us to a beautiful overlook of the flood plain, creek and Selden Island. Not only did we have lunch with a view, but we heard nothing but birdsong and rustling leaves all around us. It's not often that you find a spot with no man-made noise encroaching on your outdoor experience.
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.
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
Sunset on the river
Photographer: Kristina White
February 2023
Private land in Lyme
The colors were on fire
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.
Danaus Plexippus
Photographer: Kent Girty
August 2024Jewett Preserve
Always loved these fellas as a kid and discovering them in a meadow still brings a smile and that familiar feeling of high summer.
Early morning at the farm
Photographer: Adam McEwen
April 2024Tiffany’s farm
On my way to work
Black and white in March
Photographer: Bryn Souza
3/16/2024
Selden Creek Preserve
Went for a long walk to appreciate local views.
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.
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
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.
Spring at Hamburg Cove
Photographer: Adam McEwen
June 2024Hamburg Cove, Lyme
Kids paddle boarding at the cove. Foto taken from the bridge at Cove road.
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
Inverted V
Photographer: Kristina White
December 2024Brockway Hawthorne
An eternal symbol seen throughout the world
Amongst Giants
Photographer: Kristina White
March 2024
Pleasant Valley
Looking up makes one feel small but a part of something vast
Tree Soul
Photographer: Galo Sarmiento
3/16/2024
Selden Creek Preserve
Looking through the hole left in a still standing tree
A flurry of Fungi
Photographer: Kristina White
December 4 2024Brockway Hawthorne Preserve
You don’t see a lot of mushrooms at this type of year but these fungi didn’t get the memo – they were luxuriating in the sun like it was Spring!
