Above The Snow

Tuesday, January 3, 1854—one hundred and sixty three years ago to the day—Henry David Thoreau had this to say about the winter in Concord, Massachusetts: "It is now fairly winter. We have passed the line, have put the autumn behind us, have forgotten what these withered herbs that rise above the snow here and there are, what flowers they ever bore." He overstates a little; just four days later he will describe in knowing detail the spidery seeds of the Gray Goldenrod as they spread across the snow, but I certainly understand how the memory of color begins to slip away at this time of year. It's mainly a black and white season, with the light-absorbing shadows and long dark nights predominating.

Tuesday, January 3, 2017—12 degrees F with winds over 20 mph, putting the windchill well below zero. So only a short hike in the St Olaf Natural Lands today, maybe twenty minutes out and back. The wind turbine overlooking the big pond emits a rather disagreeable noise, slicing the dense winter air, an intermittent whoosh as though a giant was jumping rope slowly. At the far end of the pond a college student (I assume!) has cleared a speed skating track and is skating laps in his lycra suit. He has to be cold! I follow the shore a short distance then cut into the woods to escape the wind. Ice from yesterday's freezing rain glistens on branches. Overnight, the rain changed to wet snow which had frozen solid by morning. Now the "withered herbs that rise above the snow" holds a burden of frost and spattered flakes, a beautiful rime decorates the remains of last years flowers. The red bark of the dogwood catches my eye as I pass. Then, just as I turn toward the parking lot, I notice the bare thorny branches of a hawthorn. Hidden some distance off trail, I look forward to revisiting this tree when it blooms this coming spring.

Publicado el enero 4, 2017 05:21 MAÑANA por scottking scottking

Observaciones

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Cornejo Colorado de Arroyo (Cornus sericea)

Observ.

scottking

Fecha

Enero 3, 2017 a las 12:10 TARDE CST

Descripción

Red-osier Dogwood
St Olaf Natural Lands
Northfield, Minnesota

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Espinos Y Tejocotes (Género Crataegus)

Observ.

scottking

Fecha

Enero 3, 2017 a las 12:18 TARDE CST

Descripción

Hawthorn
St Olaf Natural Lands
Northfield, Minnesota

Comentarios

January 3, 2017--73 degrees F with sun in Dripping Springs, Texas. A Sleepy Orange flits through my yard hoping in vain for something in bloom, but not finding anything, moves on. Red-shouldered Hawks are vocal in the distance, already in courtship behavior. It is supposed to get cold tonight, predicted down to 37 or 38 degrees F. What a vast and varied country we are privileged to live it. I loved your account, Scott, so very different from what we experience in my "winter" world.

Publicado por greglasley hace alrededor de 7 años

Greg, thanks for adding your details from down south. It is indeed a vast a varied country. By the way, I've always admired the name of your town. For us Minnesotans, living in places not too far removed from the fictional town of Frostbite Falls, Dripping Springs sounds exotic and enticing and warm!

Publicado por scottking hace alrededor de 7 años

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