It has been cold here this week with below zero nights and below zero wind chills during the day. My days of being outside “enjoying” that kind of weather are over for the most part, so these pictures were taken just before this latest cold snap.
Our days are still dim, with feeble sunshine even at noon when this was taken. We’ve had more snow but barley more than dustings compared to what we’ve seen in years past. One snowfall seems to melt before we get more, so there haven’t been more than 5 or 6 inches on the ground at any one time. Certainly not snowshoe weather!
Any spot of color is welcome at this time of year and this orange witch hazel leaf (Hamamelis virginiana) really caught my eye.
A tiny hole at the base of this goldenrod gall means that the goldenrod gall fly that once lived here has moved on. It is thought that the insect’s saliva causes the plant stem to grow into a gall. A larger hole at the top of the gall can mean that a bird has pecked its way in to eat the fly larva, which can survive being frozen almost completely solid in the winter.
I’ve ordered a moss identification book but it hasn’t come in yet so I’m not sure what kind this is, but its green color seemed cheery against the white snow. I think it might be one of the sphagnums. The moss book, if you’re interested, has a tedious title: Outstanding Mosses and Liverworts of Pennsylvania and Nearby States by Susan Munch. Readers of this blog often ask me what books I use for identification and I don’t look forward to answering that question for mosses and liverworts!
I think this might be hooded tube lichen (Hypogymnia physodes) but I’m not 100 percent certain because I can’t find it in my lichen book. I found it growing on a white pine branch (Pinus strobus.) It looked plump and happy but lichens can and do change color as they dry out.
I’m fairly certain that these are the mummified berries of the carrion flower vine (Smilax herbacea.) These blue berries are a favorite of birds, so I was surprised to see them in this state. This plant is easy to identify even in winter because it is a vine. It gets its name from the strong odor of its flowers.
We had some freezing rain one day so it was a good idea to wear the Yaktrax. I’ve already taken several minor spills this winter.
These turkey tails (Trametes versicolor) have been covered by light snow several times, and when the snow melts they always look the same. I’m not sure my theory that cold intensifies their color is going to hold water.
This tree had a virtual garden full of mosses, fungi and lichens on it, even though this was taken after our first blast of below zero weather. The small bracket fungi were toothed on the underside. I’ve seen these before but couldn’t identify them then, and still haven’t been able to now. I think the lichen is called Parmotrema tinctorum. I can’t find a common name for it.
This sycamore leaf (Platanus occidentalis ) was almost as big as a dinner plate. I put a quarter on it so you would have something to compare it to.
We’ve had snow, cold, and even below zero nights but also enough warmth to keep our lakes, rivers and streams from freezing over. Open water at the end of January makes this an unusual winter.
It is not easy to walk alone in the country without musing upon something. ~Charles Dickens
Thanks for coming by.
Interesting how moss can look like a rainforest when studied so closely!
Macro photography can reveal such amazing things-that’s why I keep doing it.
Mister Dickens was absolutely correct…and you gave us more to muse about with your compelling photos…well done, Allen.
Yes, Charles Dickens obviously spent some time walking through the woods as well as writing. Thanks Scott.
You’re welcome….
A lovely post, Allen! I especially like the shots of the ice (of course
) I was also interested learn about the goldenrod gall. Your photograph of the tree with the lichen, moss, and fungi is also fantastic. Do certain trees make particularly good homes for such a variety like that?
Thank you Melanie! Yes, certain lichens will only grow on certain trees or types of stone. Some of them are very fussy about where they grow and if you know what they like it makes it easier to find and identify them. I’m not surprised that you like the ice photo-there will be more of those Wednesday, but nothing like what you’ve been posting!
Enjoyed the leftover images too. I thought the hole in the top of the galls was where an insect came out. Never thought about a bird pecking in to get a meal. Now I have to keep my eyes peeled and watch a bird doing this. Watched birds getting a drink from ice cycles melting off branches yesterday. The remnant leaves with a touch of color you captured are delightful in winter.
Glad you enjoyed them Grampy. I’ve seen “bird holes” in these galls and they’re always much bigger than what the fly would make. I’ve read that chickadees and some woodpeckers will do this. That’s interesting that they also drink from icicles!
Nice post Allen, it’s fun to see different parts of the country and what you are up to. We have plenty of snow since Lake Michigan is 3 miles from here.
Lake effect snow. Next is an ice storm, then by Tuesday temps are forecast to be around 50 degrees! Strange weather.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks Chris. I was just reading Jerry’s blog and he said the same thing about your snowstorms. I hope your expected ice storm doesn’t cause any damage.They say that will be snow when it gets here, but less than an inch. Then they claim we’ll hit 50 degrees on Wednesday, but I’m not holding my breath! Spring isn’t too far away!
I will eventually get around to buying a set of Yaktrax. Hopefully before I slip and break a bone.
If you come to Keene and go to Monadnock Marketplace to see the beaver pond you should stop at Dick’s Sporting Goods. They have them for under $20.00.
I was out this weekend and found that the hard packed snow has iced over-and it is very slippery.
I will probably pick up a pair at my local hardware store.
You must have gotten some of our frigid cold weather. It is positively balmy here now (in the teens F instead of below 0), so maybe you’ll get this heat wave next.
Yes, we usually get your weather. That’s why I wasn’t happy to see you get so cold! We are seeing 20 degrees today, but with a biting wind. They say we might hit the high 40s by mid week. What a roller coaster winter!
Your photos are so good. I am seeing wonderful natures shots on your blog that I would not see in drab central Texas. We almost no winter here. Very few nights below freezing. .
Thanks! That’s what’s great about blogging-we all get to see areas of the country and the world that we wouldn’t normally see. I think Texas is fascinating!
A very good post considering it was done from “leftovers”
Add another vote for Yaktrax! It’s been very cold here as well. My camera froze last Sunday, and wouldn’t function until it thawed out. We set a record for the coldest high temperature on Tuesday. Lake Michigan has given us about a foot of snow where I live, over two feet closer to the lake, I’d be happy to send some your way!
Thanks, but no thanks! I wouldn’t be surprised if we got buried in February. That must have been a little scary when your camera froze. I haven’t had that happen yet but I’m going out this afternoon, so if it’s ever going to happen, today will be the day.
Thanks for your beautiful winter shots of things that most of us miss, even if we venture outdoors. My favorite shot might be the berries, in part because I love the description of “mummified berries of the carrion flower vine.” That’s a series of words that I would never associate with a plant! Your close-up shots are amazingly clear and crisp (like the turkey tails). I also learned a new word “yaktrax,” though I had to do a search to figure out what they were.
Thanks Mike. Sorry about the Yaktrax-I guess I assumed that everyone knew what they were. Whoever invented them should get a medal!
The carrion flower vine is a real stinker, but it also shows excellent examples of the differences between male and female flowers. All of its reproductive parts are large and easy to see.
Hmm, yes. Not the greatest book title ever but hey, I guess it says what it is! And yay for yaktrax. They were an utter saviour for me when I walked the Dales Way last winter. Would’ve had to given up without them. D
Yes, Yaktrax have saved me more than once too, so now they go with me wherever I go in winter.