Thursday, February 7, 2008

Ice gallery

The woods beyond our field are a frequent destination for my walks.
And, beyond them, stand the pines--where what had once been a Christmas tree farm, has now matured into a dense pine wood, with trees 30 feet tall. The few sunlit areas remaining between them are home to a nice tangle of multiflora rose, nature's barbed wire.
Unless I'm dressed for battle, I prefer to walk around these woods--
Last week, I walked through.


The red carpet of needles plunges deeply where a backhoe's steel fingers have left its bite, scooping a young tree years ago. Partially filled in with needles and cones, and now the winter's runoff, these large, round basins display unusual ice art.


The stiffness of an occasional leathery oak leaf, gives form to the pockets of air trapped within. Light and shadow play beneath the surface.


Back in the oak woods, the ice is thin and brittle, each surface in the many layers reflecting silvery leaves. Magnifying their details.



All is still in this frozen gallery.
I will return and admire the next display.
This is our vernal pool.

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12 comments:

Bird Feeder Scott said...

I love the pictures of ice. It is amazing how the simplest of things in nature can take such incredible forms. This is truly a reminder that we all need to stop and take some time to really see what is around us everyday.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Birding Scott--I was, at first, disappointed that there wasn't anything there to see (yet) , until the light glinting off these buried forms reminded me--there is always something to see.

Island Rambles--I don't know if you clicked to enlarge the picture with the leaf--it's incredible!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

They are like little works of art.
Collages frozen in situ.

bobbie said...

Beautiful, beautiful pictures! Yes, there is always something to see. And your descriptions of what you have seen are so wonderful. Barbara Kingsolver would be proud of you.
Thanks for visiting my blog. I will most certainly return to yours.

bobbie said...

Oh, Nina! I have to make another comment. I made the first after reading only this one. Now I've explored your blog a little more.

Not only your words, but your photographs are poetry.

I will be back every day.

Threadspider said...

Your daily observations bring me constant delight. Thank you for sharing them.

Cathy said...

Bobbie has got it right. Poetry. I come away from your blog with the same swelling of heart that I do after reading fine poetry.

Marvin said...

With my tin can and string, I usually don't take the time to enlarge photos, but I did enlarge the leaf. You're right: That photo is fantastic.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous patterns in the puddles... Patterns in the Puddles. That's a nice title... You can use it for your next poetry book.

Bonnie / Graybonnie said...

Very cool icy photos...love the textures. I'm looking forward to returning and seeing more. Thanks for stopping my blog.

Mary said...

Your vernal pool. Nice.

I can't wait to visit here and admire your writing power!

Beautiful.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Lisa--they were even framed--in pine needle frames!

Bobbie--thanks for the visit, and the compliments--please stop by and visit often!

threadspider--I'm glad such simplicity brings you joy

Cathy--I miss hearing your poetry, too

Marvin--you're on dial up? sorry about that--i try to keep images small, but sometimes they HAVE to be big!

Jennifer--if you see it in a bookstore somewhere, you'll know I've quit my day job!

bonnie--thanks!

Mary--wait till you see what this pool can do! I've got nothin' on it!