Winter is an anticipated season. A looking forward to change. A new medium to play upon. And so it is, setting out with camera to experience this as it unfolds.

Weeds in winter always catch my eye. I love the dry forms, the remaining essence of the plant, the seeds.  The remembrance as well as that which is yet to come. Continuity.

Highlighted in frost or set in pristine snow. A landscape made simple, the chaos of summer growth removed.

A heavy snowfall left these plants with “hats”.  Mounds formed around the stem, anchoring them until spring.

 

 

Red berries, winter food, snow settling on branches in graceful outline. So quiet in snowfall.

 

Texture. Rough bark, adherent new snow.  Contrast.

This was an especially cold day, even for northern Minnesota. St Olaf’s College campus, seed pods scattered on and in the snow/ice. Long shadows from a sun barely rising over the horizon, heightened texture. The snow just crunches as you look at it. I was lying prone just long enough to shoot this before the frost drove me back inside. Fingers smarting from the cold.

 

The woods are especially beautiful in a snowfall. Elegantly dressed for winter. None but few footprints along the game trails. An invitation to walk in hushed tone, watching snow flakes swirl. Feeling the crisp air with each breath;  cheeks, nose, and fingers most aware of the cold.

Ah, winter.

In childhood it was our playground. Bundled up we spent countless hours over many months rambling through neighborhood, field, woods, frozen lake. Up and (speedily) down hills on ski and sled. Carving out snow caves, secreting stores of snowballs to fight another day. Skating on pond and city rink, scarves trailing behind in the wind. Falling into warming huts, jostling with friends, timidly approaching romance. A wondrous time.  Winter making it all the more mysterious, adventuresome, unfettered. The province of children, adults knew better than to venture out.

Pine bough and cones. Snow accumulating through the day. Plowing will come later.

Still slight open water, surrounded by ice and snow, old leaves from before, winter green.  The wildlife will know this one.

The time between holidays was an opportunity to visit family in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  A reunion with sister and brothers, cousins and their families. So treasured this time together, not always appreciated in youth.  Shared memories are the sweetest.

Pre-Christmas included the St Olaf’s College Christmas festival with Norwegian banquet and chorus which I shared with my sister. Lefse making with brother, sister, and sister in law. Lovely decorations outdoors and in.

Not all is snow and ice, winter has many moods. The coast is cold but with open water, hospitable to migrating waterfowl.  At this site, at sunset, Thundra Swan by the hundreds, Redhead duck by the thousands, dolphin swimming in the foreground. Sunsets just made for lingering gaze.