Snow came to our corner of the world on Friday, bringing with it that childlike sense of wonder and awe that never seems to diminish with the passing years.
There is nothing like a covering of snow to make us see the world afresh, as if, for those few brief days, it really was the blank slate it appeared to be and and we could create anything we dreamed of when the ice melted away.
The sight of snow-dusted seed heads of monarda, motherwort and lovage made me glad I have been lazy with tidying up the garden this winter.
The mild winter so far has meant plenty of new growth appearing too, seen here on rose and ivy and the young nettles out in the lane.
The colours of tree branches make for beautiful contrasts with the powdery snow, the blackness of ash buds and vibrant green lichen on the willow.
My favourite tree on snowy days is the oak however. It’s sinewy branches trace dark, dancing patterns across the sky as it stands, like a great guardian, in a white washed world.
One of my favourite oaks stands in the field in front of our house. This is how it looked on Friday as the first snow began to fall:
And only two days previously, last Wednesday, bathed in low winter sun:
I hope that if you too are in a part of the world with snow, you are keeping safe and warm.
I’ll be back soon with a post on using herbs to help banish winter phlegmy-ness!
Beautiful!
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
LikeLike
well i just love this post, your oak tree is so beautiful,and your dog,just like mine,enjoying the snow,great photos. stay warm
LikeLike
The oak is a beauty isn’t it! I hope you are warm and well wherever you are too.
LikeLike
Why play with a stick when a branch will do? That’s a great dog photo. I was thrilled to see this post as I’ve been missing my dose of whispering earth. We, too, have snow and it’s been cold enough that it has a layer of hoar frost on top. My son wondered what it would look like if you were a tiny insect walking through a forest of that frost. I’ve been trying to picture that since. Great photos as always, and ones that make me hopeful of spring.
LikeLike
Ahh hoar frost makes for the most magical of scenes doesn’t it. I love your son’s thoughts, I often wonder how things must seem from another creature’s perspective.
Our snow has melted away over the weekend as we have had some bright warm days.
Hope you are well.
LikeLike
It’s still snowing where I live, but two days ago there was a breeze that smelled so rich and sweet as it came through the trees and down off the mountain, that I had to simply stand and breathe. It finally dawned on me that it smelled like spring, in spite of the snow.
LikeLike
just gorgeous, always say I can do without snow, but have to admit it does change the world, good and bad, but the pictures of it are refreshing.
LikeLike
Yes, like all weathers it can be both blessing and curse but I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures. Sometimes it’s nicer to admire the snow from inside isn’t it!
LikeLike
Beautiful photos! I love the picture of your dog… my dog Rosie always chooses the biggest branches she can find and is most upset when I don’t let her bring them home 🙂
LikeLike
How lovely. 🙂
This is actually our neighbour’s dog but she knows now that we will play with her so we get regularly targeted with increasingly large branches until they become too heavy for me to throw! How she carries them I don’t know!
LikeLike
Beautiful photos and beautiful words – you capture so perfectly that giddy exhilaration that comes with fresh snow! The dog in the end makes me laugh – they always go for those ridiculously big branches don’t they? Quite the show offs!
LikeLike
I do love that feeling, every time is like the first time for me when it comes to snow! Much like the way that dogs approach everything, it’s all so exciting! 🙂
LikeLike
Gorgeous! Its just like that here too 🙂
LikeLike
I hope you have had the opportunity to get out and enjoy it a bit. Ours has melted here now but I loved it while it lasted.
LikeLike
Stunning photos! Seeing nature through your eyes.
LikeLike
Thanks Susan!
LikeLike
gorgeous!
LikeLike
Thank you. 🙂
LikeLike
Absolutely beautiful post. Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
And thank you for taking the time to comment. 🙂
LikeLike
Gorgeous photos! It looks like this for 6 months of the year in our little corner of the world in Vermont. After a while the magic dims a wee bit, but you’ve captured it here beautifully–a sweet reminder for new eyes on old snow.
LikeLike
Thank you Larken. I did think as I was writing this that I probably wouldn’t be quite as excited if I lived in more northerly regions. It’s easy to be entranced by the novelty of things isn’t it.
Hope you are staying warm in beautiful Vermont.
LikeLike
Snow is such magic (at least before it becomes grey slush and ice!) Thanks for sharing the photos!
Michael
LikeLike
Yes, it’s never quite as fun in the city is it, it becomes mushy and grey so quickly! Definitely more magical when it’s all sparkly and pristine!
LikeLike
Thank you so much!! So relaxing & restorative to see your photos and read your words……as always. I wish we would get some snow here in Virginia! It’s been a while.
LikeLike
Thank you Konstantina. I hope you are having a lovely winter whether the snow comes or not!
LikeLike
OMG! this oak tree right there totally looks like the oak tree that I can see from my room at my parents’ house where I grew up! It’s my favorite tree and I feel a connection to it, too. amazing that even the surroundings look the same as in your pics above. I am very happy that I’ve found your blog BTW. really resonates with me. 🙂
LikeLike
How lovely. I’m happy to hear of your magical oak tree too. They are very special aren’t they, I always think of them as being like guardians for the surrounding area.
Thanks for commenting and I’m really glad you are enjoying the blog. 🙂
LikeLike