New England is a four-season paradise, from spring's first apple blossoms to summer's beachside sunsets to autumn's golden glow to winter's icicled trees and wintry slopes. If you can't get away to New England as often as you'd like, scenic calendars can transport you throughout the year to some of New England's best-loved spots. Here are my picks for the best New England calendars for 2010.
Photographer William Johnson and I have collaborated on two coffee table books,
Backroads of New England and
The New England Coast, but even before we worked together, I was always fond of his annual "New England Seasons" calendars. The 2010 edition continues Bill's fine tradition of capturing New England's extraordinary beauty in winter, spring, summer and fall and has the added bonus of two splendid New England images each month.
If you live in New England or visit frequently, this is the calendar for you. In addition to a variety of lovely New England scenes, this calendar features extra travel tidbits and a number of regional events each month. The images are particularly artistic this year; the featured photos brilliantly capture the seasonal variations and classic scenes New Englanders cherish.
This calendar focuses on structures in the New England landscape. If you've been to some of the places that photographer Paul Rezendes captures, such as Newport's
Cliff Walk, this calendar might make a nice souvenir. And if you haven't, his classic and moving shots will inspire you to dream. I especially like his images of snow-coated covered bridges, New England farms and fall foliage.
You'll be able to imagine the New England discovered by the first European settlers with this collection of "wild New England" calendar images by several talented landscape photographers. As densely populated as New England is, this calendar is a wonderful reminder of all that remains unspoiled within this lovely, six-state region. This year's images of a Block Island tidal pool, dawn at Lawrence Brook in Massachusetts, and asters blooming in New Hampshire's Tuckerman Ravine are particularly striking.
This wall calendar is perfect for lighthouse lovers, who will enjoy the variety of seasonal lighthouse scenes, with their rich blue skies and dramatic coastal backdrops. Photographer Philip Wright has captured scenes of New England's famous and lesser known lights from Connecticut to Maine.
Take New England along with you! This engagement calendar is by talented landscape photographer Chuck Theodore, who was born, raised, educated and still lives in New Hampshire. Draw inspiration from weekly views of the region's natural and man-made wonders.
This illustrated, page-a-day calendar features a daily dose of Yankee wit and wisdom. It will appeal to folks who love nature, trivia, clever quotations and learning all about why things are the way they are.
This calendar features classic images of New England. It's on the small side, which makes it perfect for cubicles or small spaces, and with a price of just $10.95, it's the perfect little extra gift for someone who loves New England. Although this calendar is compact, the print quality is superb and does terrific justice to the New England scenes captured by photographer Paul Rezendes.
This page-a-day calendar filled with team trivia will allow fans to remember highlights from the team's long history and anticipate the season ahead.
It's flower season year-round according to this 2010 calendar, which features bold images by Joanne Pearson of New England's public and private gardens in bloom. Priced at just $10.95, it's that perfect little something for your favorite gardener, a hostess or anyone who would appreciate a perpetual breath of spring.