The shadow of a fresh fern rests upon the trunk of a fallen tree.
nature
All posts tagged nature
A Stream Emerges from a Shadowed Gorge as it Enters the River.
I made an all-to-brief visit to David Fortier River Park, Olmsted Falls, this morning and discovered the scene had transformed with the season. Thick layers of water plants coated the rocks beneath flowing water with purple slime lining the rock stream bed. I was alone in the park at that early hour but for a fly fisherman casting his line into the rushing river; a quiet respite in my morning’s travel.
Flow
Fan: A Beautiful Shelf Fungus
Fungi generally grow upon decaying material that was once alive. Today, on a very pleasant hike on a trail in the Hubbard Valley Park, Medina Park District, I happened upon a most beautiful shelf fungus. The fan-shaped growth was protruding from the trunk of a still-standing dead tree along the path. This beautiful flower of decay with the feathery pattern of markings? Dryad’s saddle (Polyporus squamosus).
The Pond at Nature Realm. Yes, it was Green!
After a gloomy Saturday and a night that featured about four inches of heavy, wet snow, Sunday brought blue skies and sunshine. We took advantage of the gorgeous day and made a little trip to Summit MetroParks’ Nature Realm. The park’s paved pathway allowed for a nice photo walk without a slog through snow-covered mud. Bird calls filled the air as we took in the sights. Not a lot of photos to show for our casual trip but it was great getting out in the mild, fresh air, and feeling the sun shine on our faces. It has been a long, hard winter that seems not to want to end, and we’re looking forward to spring. Real spring.
Translucence
Great Blue Heron Arriving at Nesting Tree
Now Arriving: A Great Blue Heron arrives at its rookery bearing a tree stick for its nest on a gloomy Sunday in late March. Nests are pretty much complete and it was quiet, this afternoon, at the rookery. The big birds are sitting on nests, standing in the grasses below the nesting trees, waiting for hatching; then the real work begins!
Snow-Desolate Beach
While I love the recent moody scenes I’ve seen and recorded along the lake shore, today was different. As I’ve said, the way the lake appears changes all of the time. Today brought sunny, blue skies decorated with sprays of cloud and it was beautiful… if still terribly cold. By the time I completed a 25-minute photo session this early afternoon, my gloved fingertips hurt! I had to hold my bare hands in front of the car’s heat vents as I drove away to relieve the pain. I captured many images of the lake, the sky, ice, and snow in the short space of time. Here’s one of my favorites.
Winter Glower
Unusually, I stopped by the lakefront for a second time in a weekend. We were between winter storms this afternoon and travels gave me the opportunity to stop and take in the scene. A cold wind was coming in from the north and clouds glowered overhead. Out over Lake Erie, dark streamers connected clouds and open waters — snow, no doubt — against an eerie backround of colored light. We did not stay long.
Walk in the Park
The Spot
I was feeling rather out-of-sorts today. Between work commitments and some fairly severe weather, it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to get out and enjoy the winter scenery. Today started out with that old “trapped” feeling — call it cabin fever — but as the snow stopped (for a while) and the temperature rose to a toasty 15F, we made our escape. Visiting the beautiful Brecksville Reservation of Cleveland Metroparks was a life-giving tonic. Deep, pristine snow covered the ground and evergreens. Snow lined the branches of winter-bare trees. Chippewa Creek, deep within its rocky gorge, was ice and snow covered, softening its rugged beauty. Soft light filled the quiet woods. We trudged along a path breathing in the clean, cold air, soaking in the beauty of the day. Camera in hand, I shot a few photos along the way (more than I thought … 90+ pictures) and that contributed to the experience. We couldn’t stay out for long, as She Who Must Be Obeyed was getting painfully-cold toes, but it was long enough: a good dose of spiritual tonic.
Moonrise into the Void
The waxing Gibbous Moon rises between trees of bare branches. Look closely and you will see that this is not a Full Moon — the lower-left portion of the disk is slightly darker, slightly irregular compared with the rest. In about two days Luna will shine brilliant and appear as a perfect circle … if our skies allow us to see!
Meanwhile, in the west, the Sun disappears in red-orange glory.
Sun Sets Abandoning the Sky
Gloom and Ice Close In
Gloom and ice pile ashore on a cold day in January. Mountains of fractured lake were pushed on to the beach by strong winds. Low clouds, colored with despair, fill the sky and soul. An other-worldly stage is set by the forces of nature. Close your coat tight. Turn your back to the ice world. Seek shelter. Gloom and ice close in.
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