HodgePodge Images: Late Summer Adventures & Fall Beginnings

Welcome to the first installment of my HodgePodge Images updates! The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind — fall and spring always bring a flurry of large events, and I’m doing my best to keep up. 

Monarchs & Magic at Valentine Farm
On August 24th, I invited myself to the Mahoosuc Land Trust’s Monarch Festival at Valentine Farm in Bethel, Maine — and I’m so glad I did. The Habitat For All Garden was absolutely stunning: imagine a pollinator garden on steroids, complete with a vegetable garden, native plants, a sanctuary space, and the charming Anna & Oliver Basecamp.


The festival was buzzing with energy — vendors offering beautiful wares, butterfly tagging, bird and forest walks, engaging speakers, and even a parade. Words don’t quite capture the magic, so I’ll let my photos do the talking. (MLT is already sharing some of them on their social media!)

I’ve been challenging myself to photograph more children while being mindful not to show faces — and I think I’m making progress.


Labor Day at Scarborough Marsh
Labor Day found me at the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center, as it has for 15 of the past 16 years. This time, I skipped the canoe and kayak assistance thanks to a strong crew of volunteers and focused solely on photography.


I’m currently taking a Film Photography course at the University of New Hampshire, so I brought along my Minolta X-700. Unfortunately, I discovered too late that the shutter wasn’t working properly — the negatives were useless. Live and learn!



Bugs, Bogs & Trails
This past weekend was a road trip extravaganza. First stop: Caribou Bog Conservation Area in Orono, where the Maine Entomological Society hosted a field day with students from the University of Maine’s Entomology class. It was fascinating to watch the mix of enthusiasm and indifference among the students — and always a joy to spend time with my fellow Bug People.



Spiny Oak Slug-Moth Caterpillar

Next, I headed west to Mt. Monadnock State Park for the Monadnock Trails Week, a collaboration between the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and NH State Parks. I covered three different trail projects across three locations — a full day of shooting and storytelling through images.




Looking Ahead
Tomorrow (Tuesday), I’m taking a well-earned day off to sleep in before another busy weekend. One of the wildest events is coming up: the Seacoast Science Center’s BioBlitz. In past years, I’ve hiked 7 miles and photographed for 9 hours straight. This year, I’ll be bringing my trusty e-bike, Fledge, to help me cover ground more efficiently.


Stay tuned for more updates — and as always, thanks for following along on this photographic journey!

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