On the beach and through the forest
Posted: June 25, 2012 Filed under: 365 Yoga Challenge, Adventures in Life, Earth, Fire, hiking, nature, Photography, Spirit, Spring, Summer, travel, Vacation, Walking, wandering, water, weather | Tags: Bay of Fundy, beach, Canada, Canadian Maritimes, flowers, Hiking, Hopewell Rocks, nature, New Brunswick, Outdoors, Photography, spring, travel, water, weather, wildflowers, woods 29 Comments
Demoiselle Beach
I mentioned in my Hopewell Rocks post that M and I explored the area while we were waiting for low tide. Behind the Hopewell Rocks Interpretive Centre is a trail that leads to Demoiselle Beach. It’s a lovely, sandy, and very quiet area (at least while we there — the family you see in the above photo left shortly after we arrived, the children having obviously enjoyed the mud). The beach is framed by rock formations on one end and a salt marsh on the other.
The beach, having acquired its name in the 1700s, is said to be named after the feminine shapes in the rock formations.
The long view of the rock formations at one end of the beach.
The other end of the beach.
If you were standing in the photo above and turned a little to the right, you’d get a better view of the salt marshes:
There is a network of trails throughout the park, leading you to various views of the Bay of Fundy. Some of the trails go through wooded areas.
There were a lot of flowers in bloom, one being the bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) which carpets the forest floors. They reminded me of mini-dogwoods. Having finally looked them up, now I know why. The bunchberry is in the dogwood family.
Bunchberry
Starflower. A big thank you to Rebecca for providing me with the name of the flower so it wouldn’t have to be another Unidentified (by me) Flower.
Fruit tree blossoms. (I think they’re apple blossoms, but I’m not entirely sure.)
From one of the viewing decks on your way to see the Hopewell Rocks, you can see Shepody Mountain, part of the Caledonia Mountain Range, and the highest point in that area.
That’s enough for today. Here in the Bogs we are experiencing amazingly beautiful weather. Large, fluffy clouds have been speeding across the sky, carried by the lovely breeze that has been cooling and drying things off. Hot weather will return soon so I’ve been taking advantage of this wonderful day by spending most of it outside.
Lichens grow everywhere in the forest, even on the fences and fence posts.
Thank you for dropping by. This is a good day to take a walk back in the woods as the wind and cooler temperature seem to be discouraging the insects. I guess even the deerflies and mosquitoes need the occasional vacation day.
Looking through the branches of a spruce tree in New Brunswick.
Related articles
- Hopewell Rocks (bogsofohio.wordpress.com)
- Cliffhanging (bogsofohio.wordpress.com)
- Dennis Beach (bogsofohio.wordpress.com)
- Greetings from New Brunswick (bogsofohio.wordpress.com)
- The Hopewell Rocks, Bay of Fundy, Canada (tahitiangoddess.wordpress.com)
- bunchberry (or, when is a flower not a flower?) (rebeccainthewoods.wordpress.com)
Life in the Bogs 
Your unidentified white flower is a starflower 🙂
Thank you so much, Rebecca! I was too lazy to look for it, and really appreciate you identifying it for me. 🙂
This place looks like a great area to spend a vacation. Love all your photos, the wildflowers were so pretty and that close up of the lichen growing with the splash of read was fantastic!
Thank you, Denise. It is indeed a wonderful place to vacation. 🙂
Gosh, Robin, it looks like you had an amazing trip. I love the beach. It’s a bit cooler here today, as well. You’re right–the more miserable heat will be back soon enough.
Hugs,
Kathy
It was an incredible adventure, Kathy. I almost hated to see it end. The weather was much cooler up that way too. 🙂
Thank you for identifying Bunchberry. I’ve seen them here and didn’t know what they were. Isn’t the Bay of Fundy just a marvelous place to be near?
It’s an amazing place, Joss. I’ve never seen anything like it. Even some of the flowers (the Bunchberry, for instance) were different. I’m so grateful I had the chance to go and explore. 🙂
I loved every one of these photos today, Robin. I haven’t been to any of these locations you so easily travel to. I can’t wait to follow in your footsteps one day. Those are the most interesting rock formations.. very aptly named;)
Thank you, Smidge. 🙂
I’m not sure the travel was easy, but it was no great hardship either. That said, I can’t stand to be in the car right now, and we’re gearing up for another road trip. We put 2400 miles on the rental car driving around in Canada and Maine. In two weeks time. But the scenery was wonderful so I really shouldn’t complain.
Looks like your trip keeps providing you with wonderful blog fodder, time after time. Loved the photos, Robin.
Thank you, Susan. 🙂
I’m afraid I might start boring people. Would you believe the stuff I’ve posted is only from our first full day of the trip? At this rate, it will take me about ten times as long to post about it as it did to experience it. Yikes.
Looks like a beautiful spot, Robin. I love those rock formations. They’re quite unique. The forest looks very inviting for a walk. Beautiful flowers also. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Marianne. The forests in that area were magical. 🙂
What a gorgeous beach! And you had it all to yourselves…
How lucky is that, LadyFi? 😀
I’ve been hoping to get to the Native Plant Society’s spring sale for a few years now, and bunchberry is one of the things on my list…I love the shot you captured of it!
Thank you, Marie. I took a lot of photos of the bunchberry. I love the way it carpeted the forest floor. It likes moist forests, and would probably do very well in my woods here in the Bogs, but I don’t think it is native to this area. I should look into that.
Boy, I’m really getting excited for our road trip to Bay of Fundy this fall. Thanks for sharing.
You’re going to love it, Teresita! And to see it in the fall will be amazing. 🙂
What a beautiful place – I can imagine what must have been wonderful salt breezes accompanying you on your visit.
I think your blog is continuing to be an accurate weather forecast for me. We had strong thunderstorms for most of the day yesterday, but a lovely, breezy, sunny day seems to be on tap for us today.
It was amazing, Karma. I wish I could go back, over and over again. 🙂
You have another lovely day coming your way before the heat returns. It’s gorgeous here today.
Lovely photos. but I’m missing my daily dose of the pond.
Thank you, Pat. We must be on the same wavelength today. A daily dose of the pond is coming right up (in about an hour). 🙂
How wonderful post. When reading Your post and admiring Your photos, I felt like being myself there. Especially I enjoyed photos presenting the forest and wild flowers.
Thank you, Sartenada. 🙂
Hi Robin. Great to see our province through your eyes. I love the little soldier lichen on the post. I have never been to Demoiselle Beach but now will go for sure. Jane
The little lichen was one of my favorites too, Jane. It was such a tiny little thing, yet very noticeable.
Thank you. 🙂
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