Hoarfrost And Pitch Pine

January 29, 2026

A picture from Monday of this week, January 26th. First thing that morning, I looked out hoping to find trees coated with beautiful ice. Instead I saw something just as lovely but more subtle, hoarfrost.

Hoarfrost happens when surfaces, such as these Pitch Pine needles (Pinus rigida), become colder than 32°, the freezing temperature. Water vapor then hits the very cold surfaces and the water in the air immediately becomes ice crystals, skipping the liquid phase. The ice crystals create a unique appearance, forming structures that are needle or feather like.

If you would like to read more, or see more of my photos of gorgeous hoarfrost, check out: brendaclem.com/hoarfrost/ which I put together a few years ago.

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Blizzard Of ’66

January 28, 2026

Oh, the memories! The bizarre weather that we are having right now makes me think of The Blizzard of ’66, January 1966. It brought us a total of 29 inches of snow in Seabrook/Lanham, Maryland. That’s me sitting on our driveway surrounded by tons of snow from the storm.

The result? No school for a week. No mail. Grocery store shelves bare. It was quite the experience. Much like this storm.

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Fluffed Against The Cold

January 27, 2026

Like most mornings recently it was mighty cold this morning. Actually it was 10° when I took this picture. This tan striped White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) was fluffed up to keep warm while getting its breakfast of hulled sunflower seeds.

By fluffing up their feathers, birds are creating trapped body heat against their skin, which acts like a down jacket. That trapped air is warm, helping to keep the bird comfortable.

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Design In The Snow

January 26, 2026

The storm has been interesting. Lots of snow. Then lots of sleet, creating a strange surface. One that looks like a nice accumulation of snow, but I’m able to walk across it staying on top. No sinking in. No foot prints.

This image, a design left by the snow and sleet.

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A Day for Staying Inside

January 25, 2026

An amazing winter storm coming through. Snow, sleet, freezing rain. A day to stay inside. A day for flannel lined jeans, a warm sweater, and some orchids to enjoy.

Many thanks to Anne, a yoga buddy, for the orchid a couple years ago. It’s still doing great.

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Another Native Orchid In The Wintery Woods

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens) is a plant that looks very delicate, though it is an evergreen. This is what it looks like in the middle of the winter. And it occasionally lives on rock surfaces rather than in soil. A mighty tough plant.

It’s one of the 64 species of Orchid that are native to Virginia. Blooming in July and August. A single 10 to 20 inch stalk emerging from the center of the swirl of leaves topped by a spike-like cluster of 30 to 50 tiny white flowers.

These evergreen leaves are quite the surprise to find in freezing cold temperatures like we’re having now.

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On The Back Porch

January 23, 2026

Looking forward to snow coming down Saturday evening into Sunday. The talk is, several inches. We’ll see what actually happens. I’m hoping!

This, the back porch with tracks of little feet. January 2017.

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Puffed Up Against The Cold

January 22, 2026

All set for the snow a Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) puffed up against the cold, is filling up on hulled sunflower seeds that I’ve put out.

Many birds, including Cardinals are wise when it comes to the weather. They have unique senses which enable them to detect air pressue, temperature and wind. This allows them to prepare for the challenging weather by heavily foraging to build up fat reserves before the heavy snow or drenching rain arrives.

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Cold Frosty Morning

I was out this morning quite early, at least for me. Frost seemed to be everywhere making all the fields come alive with glistening.

Though the vernal pool that I often see was not filled with much water, there was enough to bring delight. White Oak leaves gathered in the ice with stems reaching up to catch moist air as it passed by creating a landing spot for ice crystals.

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Putty Root In Winter

January 20, 2026

Approximately 64 species of Orchids call Virginia their native home. This is one of those native Orchids, Putty Root (Aplectrum hyemale), often found growing alongside Beech and Maple trees, in calcareous ravines.

It has an odd way of presenting itself. Its single leaf emerges from the soil in late November and lives until March. A rumpled looking leaf with thin white stripes alternating with broader green stripes. The other side of the leaf, which often faces down, is a purplish green or a dull purple.

Blooming takes place mid-May to early June, producing a stalk or scape on which 6 to 18 flowers are arranged. The flowers are 3/4 to 1 inch long and slightly less across. There are years though when that single winter leaf does not produce a flower due to environmental conditions during the winter.

A single scape with blooms in the summer and a single leaf during the winter, but not together.

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