Sunset, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The days may be shorter but the colorful beauty still abounds.



The hint of fall is visible in the far shoreline as the green has started to fade.



A glorious sky to herald the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.

A Passing Summer Storm, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Seems that this summer we have enjoyed more than a few passing storms dropping gallons of life giving water on the lush New England countryside.



It's been a good summer for nearly all living things.

Blue Thistle, Amy's Garden, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

When the blue thistle blooms, I know it is the middle of summer and the long, slow slide to winter is beginning.



As soon as the starburst appearance starts changing to little flowers, the bees are happy to visit.

They enjoyed this one.

A stunning flower at any stage!

Amy's Garden, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

It's a perfect summer evening on Bartlett Pond in Manomet as the last rays of sun illuminate the high clouds.



The variety of flowers is attracting bees and hummers to enjoy the hard work Amy has once again put into her garden.



It is good to be alive.

Visiting Geese, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Hoping for a handout, these Canada Geese swam over in the golden late afternoon sunlight.



They posed nicely, all facing the same direction at the same time into the light.



When no treats were forthcoming, they turned in unison and departed. Thanks anyway.

Summer on Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

After all these years of visiting here, it is still odd to me that this 30-acre freshwater pond is barely a quarter mile from the saltwater ocean. Even so, one must still find ways to entertain oneself - like with a crystal ball for example.



With a crystal ball, one can invert the horizon......



....or remove and invert someone's head.



All the while, Tinman keeps watch over the darkening sky as.......



....the last pink fades away.  Ah, summer in New England - what a treat!

Clematis, Bartlett Pond, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Who would have guessed that the Clematis, known as a queen of the flowering vines, is a member of the broader buttercup family. 

In this part of the country, it usually blooms in late May and early June.

They are stunningly beautiful every year!

A Spectacular Sky, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

A beautiful sky with a double bonus reflected in the calm surface of Bartlett Pond.



The greenery hints at the spring growth.



And the magnolia bloom proves that winter is really over.

The Coming Spring, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

In just a couple weeks, daylight saving time begins again.....already the days are noticeably longer......

.....and in less than a month - spring! I will have survived my 22nd winter of living in New England. Who would have guessed? Certainly not me.

Snow Magic, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The magical beauty of a freshly fallen snow, untouched, untracked - a clean slate when all things are possible and dreams can come true.



Long shadows, a blanket of snow, and thick pond ice - welcome to winter in New England.



Yes, this is my beach umbrella and it sure is colorful! And yes, it was too cold to be needed at the beach.

Winter, Bartlett Pond, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

It may be cold and stark.....



...but it's still drop-dead gorgeous here in the winter.

A Cottage, Bartlett Pond, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

It's another beautiful late summer day on Bartlett Pond in White Horse Beach. This as the Caribbean, Mexico, and the southern United States experience death and destruction from hurricanes and earthquake.



Although we in the northern (and southern) tier of the world face life-threatening cold and blizzards routinely each winter, somehow the primal fear of hurricanes and earthquakes because of their infrequency and unpredictability are even scarier.



It is impossible to imagine the loss of life and utter devastation many now face from these events.

It's a sobering reminder to treasure the people and events in my life that I value and show my appreciation while I can. It can all be gone in an instant.

Blue Thistle, Amy's Garden, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Join me for another trip into Amy's Garden.  Today, Blue Thistle is the emphasis.



There is so much other color in the garden that the blue thistle in the right foreground barely catches the eye......



....but look closely, they are pretty spectacular! The following series captures different views, different contrasts, and different depth of fields.



Don't ask me to pick a favorite - I like them all.



















Wow! Another magical experience in Amy's Garden.

More from Amy's Garden, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

It is difficult to capture the width and breadth of Amy's Garden. This image is an attempt using the Photoshop Elements Photomerge panorama tool in post-processing by stitching two images together. The detail is sharper than using the built-in panorama function in the camera but, frankly, for blog purposes since most readers view it on a smartphone, the difference is minimal - click to view full width if your device supports that action. Regardless, no image captures the full beauty and grandeur of standing here.



A close-up of the path entrance.



The blue thistle is starting to blossom into its classic fireworks explosion appearance.......



....... I'll have another post about this beautiful wonder in a few more days.  This image captures less depth of field than the previous one so the distant background is blurred more. I couldn't decide which of the two I liked better so, I included them both - you decide.



It is hard to beat a warm summer evening in New England in Amy's Garden on Bartlett Pond.