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
Winter Water
Photographer: Denise Gravatt
December 2024
Private Lyme Habitat
A frosty Christmas Day walk revealed ice crystals and typical beautiful Lyme rocks, water and woodland
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….
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.
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
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.
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?
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.
Contrasts in spring
Photographer: AK Li
May 2024Jewett Preserve
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.
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.
Bumblebee on swamp milkweed
Photographer: Rochelle Davis
July 2024Private Lyme Habitat
The bumblebees and other pollinators love the milkweed flowers
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.
Fall Water Lily at Hartman Park
Photographer: Rich Sanders
September 28, 2024Hartman Park, Right of Way
I've always associated fall colors with trees and shrubs. Here, I lucked-out capturing a water lily in its autumn glory at a location so familiar to many. With the beaver lodge in focus I shot low as if I were in the water. For me, the raindrops on the lens and the clouds above drive home this change of seasons.
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.
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.
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.
Fun Guys
Photographer: Doug White (Photo of Distinction – Honorable Mention)
October 3, 2024
Ravine Trail, Joshua Town Rd
I laid down and took a selfie next to chicken of the woods fungi on an old log next to the trail to give perspective of its size. Wow. A startling phenomenon of the wilds.
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.
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.
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.
Reflection
Photographer: D Holmes
Early Fall October 2024Nehantic State Forest
Early Fall foliage on Norwich Pond ..a very serene and clear day.
Leaves
Photographer: Sue York
October 2024Pleasant Valley Preserve
River leaves
Cinnamon Fern
Photographer: Birgit Musheno (Photo of Distinction)
May 2024Banningwood Preserve
Close up of cinnamon fern growing near Roaring Brook in the Banningwood Preserve
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.
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💕
Sumac at Pleasant Valley
Photographer: Sarah Prineas
Dec 21, 2024Pleasant Valley in Lyme
Sumac berries in a snowy field
River view
Photographer: Sue York
October 2024Pleasant Valley Preserve
8 mile river
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.
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.
Asclepias
Photographer: Kent Girty (Photo of Distinction)
June 2024Private 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.
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.
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.
Tree Soul
Photographer: Galo Sarmiento
3/16/2024
Selden Creek Preserve
Looking through the hole left in a still standing tree
