An autumn walk in New England
Megan Carty
I’ve really been loving fall this year in New England. I mean, I always love it! However, this year I’ve been taking time each day, in good weather, to indulge in a walk. And not just a normal walk along the streets and sidewalks; but rather, a walk along special trails on conservations lands, reservations, and associations. Trails amongst fields and forests filled with colorful foliage that whoosh with the sounds of the cool fall breezes. I walk, take photos and videos, and sit near babbling brooks to take in the sights and sounds of nature. I’ve found this to be so incredibly soothing and helpful for my anxiety and cluttered mind. It feels so indulgent and just for me. Another fun benefit is I get to gather so much visual inspiration for my paintings! I “collect” textures, colors, shapes, and lines that I can incorporate into my abstract work. My phone is absolutely full of beautiful images and videos that will serve me all through the winter when it is often too cold to enjoy being outside for too long. I figured I would share some of the images here so you can see what I mean and perhaps be inspired yourself!
Places I like to walk in my area are:
Keyes Conservation area in Pepperell, MA
https://town.pepperell.ma.us/369/Keyes-Conservation-Area
Beaver Brook Association in Hollis, NH
Trap Falls in Ashby, MA
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/bewitching-waterfall-ma/
Heald Pond trail in Pepperell, MA
https://town.pepperell.ma.us/367/Heald-Pond
Mine Falls in Nashua, NH
https://www.traillink.com/trail/mine-falls-park/
Bancroft Castle trail at Gibbet Hill
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bancroft-castle
(These are all free places to go!)
A lovely place to go, but you need a membership or tickets, is Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA. https://www.towerhillbg.org/
It’s huge and amazing and full of all the wonders of nature.
If you’ve been feeling a bit out of sorts or frazzled, I highly recommend taking a break and enjoying some time outside…it doesn’t need to be a huge hike (I’m not a hiker…I’m a slow meander-er, ha!) A half-hour wander in a beautiful spot nearby can be very restorative and a great healthy habit to develop.
