Grafton Pond.

7-28-19 VERMONT: Friday we took the canoe to Grafton Pond in New Hampshire for our first paddling of the season. The parking area was packed with cars, but we hardly noticed the people after we got out on the water. The pond is beautiful, the water clear and dotted with small islands, some only big enough for a couple of trees. Our favorite spot is an island toward the south end with a big, flat granite slab that is perfect for a picnic.

When we got there, there were a couple folks already there, but we shared the spot. They pointed out a big snapping turtle in the shallow water. I estimated the shell size at two feet long. They gave him/her a couple of grapes that he snapped up. We all left after a half hour or so and paddled back to the dam area and parking lot. The pond is famous for loons. We did see one for a few moments between dives, but got no pix.

New blooms: purple salvia, pickerel weed, ligularia stenocephala.


Grafton Pond is dotted with little islands of granite, pine and blueberries.

A good sized snapper waiting to be fed.

Check out the claws.

Another hybrid daylily, this one in white.

Tiger Swallowtail on Obedient Plant flowers. You can count all six legs, two antennas and the tongue.