On the docks at the 2026 Wooden Boat Festival I met a young woman who was taking photos. Hers was not the distracted shooting of an unseasoned visitor. Instead, her focus was only the boats and the bouquets of flowers on them.

Calgary-based photographer Holly Moriarity is a modest amateur. When I learned her photos were not on view anywhere, I suggested an online exhibition.

Please peruse these astonishing photos. In the interview that follows, Holly speaks or her motivation and artistic vision. I am grateful to Holly for the opportunity to share this guest post of her work with Baggywrinkles Blog readers and beyond.

A Conversation with the Photographer

I simply attempt to capture the striking contrast between the aesthetic of the boats and the colorful natural forms of the flowers.

Holly Moriarity

Carol Is this your first Wooden Boat Festival?

Holly  No. I began attending the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival as a tourist on family vacations with my parents. I live and work in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and travelled with my mom and dad on annual vacations to destinations on the West Coast. My dad’s passion for the artistry of wooden boats, landed us on several vacations together at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. For several years in a row, my parents and I camped right on the marina property. In the evenings, I hung out on the beach with my parents as we listened to the live music from the Bar Harbor tent. And during the days, we soaked up the celebration.

Carol How great that you camped right here!  Like everybody did at the first festivals in the 1970s!  What keeps bringing you back?

Holly At Point Hudson, I fell in love with the masts close together in the marina and the sense of community among boat owners. For a land-locked Albertan, the boat festival provides a beautiful, vibrant and unique connection between the town and the water. While my dad enjoyed the display of skilled craftsmanship and the stories of the dedication and passion that brought the boats to life, I discovered the unexpected beauty of the delicate details that surrounded the boats. I fell in love with the marina, the reflections of light on the water and the fresh flowers used to decorate the wooden boats during the festival.

Carol How did you happen to zero in on the flowers in your photography?

Holly The striking contrast between the aesthetic of the boats and the colorful natural forms of the flowers is remarkable. I simply attempt to capture it. While taking the photographs, I try different light and various angles, and include features of the boats and the water as well.

Carol So how did you get into photography?

Holly I don’t have any formal photography background or training, just my own eye for the beauty of the flowers on the boats. The striking contrast between the aesthetic of the boats and the colorful natural forms of the flowers is remarkable. The photos I’ve taken of flowers on boats at the festival capture another dimension of the celebration: the flowers bring softness and a sense of life to these remarkable vessels. The simple addition of a glass jar of blooms transforms a beautiful boat into something special and unique.

Carol   Yes. What you do really works.  Do you come every year?

Holly The last year my parents and I came together was 2019. Unfortunately my parents’ health has declined. For several years in a row, I missed the festival. As the second weekend of Sept approached, I felt sad! I work as a nurse in Calgary and often have difficulty getting time off to travel. But this year, I returned by myself. My photos of the 2026 Wooden Boat Festival are some of my favorites.

Carol Your photos are spectacular!   So are you getting ready to exhibit them?

Holly  No. But I can email you some.

Carol Can people see your work online?  Do you have a website?

Holly No.

Carol  Well, I have a blog.  How about we collaborate on an online photo exhibit?

Holly  Hmm. I’ll consider that!  My pictures reflect details that might otherwise go unnoticed. And show the relationship between nature and craftsmanship. I’ve decided that these photos don’t belong to me. They belong to the people of Port Townsend and the boat owners. And to the high school sailing team, since they get the flowers from local farms and prepare the bouquets as a fundraiser.  Thank you for telling me about this tradition.

A Wooden Boat Identification Challenge

Can you identify the 2026 Wooden Boat Festival boats in Holly’s photos? We know some but want want the names of all seventeen hosting boats. The person who submits the most (approximately correct) boat names before the end of 2026, wins a $50 gift certificate to the Northwest Maritime shop. (Why? Because the sea is the most powerful teacher we know.) As for judges, Baggywrinkles will track down some experts.

Meet Holly!