Category: Pine Needles

Hoarfrost

The cold temperatures of winter can create such works of wonder. Often so delicate they can’t be touched for fear of destruction.

Occasionally the beauty makes me forget that what I am looking at, such as these rose hips of Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora), is something that I work diligently to rid my woods of. A very aggressive invasive that has the nerve to mimic our native blackberries during their times of blooming. But frosted during the cold of winter it has its charm. AND take a look at that image again. There is an undulating line of frost that starts on the left, about 1/4 of the way down that goes to the right, from that first rose hip, on to the second and then the third as it drops and then ends. THAT is a spider web also decorated with frostiness.

The berries of Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) with its frost rivals ANY image of a Cardinal in the snow. Glorious red with stark white. Perfection.

With the hoarfrost the needles of Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) each get their own personal set of needles.

The leaves of young White Oak (Quercus alba) don’t drop as most deciduous leaves do in the fall, but hang onto them until late spring. That gives them the chance to be dressed up. To be decorated by the spines of ice. The artwork of Mother Nature.

Ice Storm After 4.5 Inches of Snow

No falling today, even though I’m out in The Incredible World of Ice and Snow. Walking in it feels like walking in a landscape filled with ice cubes. But OMG how beautiful.

And along with the occasional drip drip drip there’s also the loud sound of snow and ice CRASHING to the glazed forest floor, and then CHITTER CHITTER CHITTER as the ice tumbles down the mountain on the slick surface of ice and cold under the trees.

Repeating over and over and once again over. Almost comical and entertaining. For me seeking a distraction from the hum drum of pandemic. Seeking out Mother Nature’s comfort.


And then the visuals, THICK ICE. My footsteps shattering the ice, as if breaking a mirror, and sinking into the soft snow which doesn’t make a sound. Only the SHATTER CRUNCH of my steps. My tracks now CRACKED GLASS-like in the snow.

All the branches of all the trees thickly coated with bumpy ice.

And now the needles that are sheltered by larger collections of pine needles. Not covered in ice but FROSTED BANNERS. TINY FLAGS all perfectly still in their fluttering. RIME ICE. So delicate. So tiny compared to the THICK ICE.

I could have stayed out all day long but it was lunch time.