Yesterday, the ground was brown with the dried grass and fallen leaves of winter—unusually warm weather and strong rains had eliminated the snow pack from the last storm. This morning, that ground is covered with 20 cm or 8 in. of snow. How trees have adapted to the climate is fascinating: deciduous trees drop their leaves so not to be damaged by the weight of the snow and hibernate until they create new foliage in the spring; conifers have branches that bend down with the the load, allowing them to keep their foliage year long. Click on the image for a larger view.
Tag Archives: Nature
Winter Coast
By December in Maine, summer seems like a distant memory. This year we are still waiting for significant snow that will last longer than a morning. Everything is quiet.
Random Patterns 2
The geology at Pemaquid Point is as varied as it is beautiful. Click on the image for a larger view.
Forest Floor
Our trees have dropped their foliage. The vibrant reds of fall have leached away, leaving a softer palette. Click on the image for a larger view.
Still
Cobbosseecontee stream flows through our neighborhood. Islands dot its course. We pass this spot often on our way into town. Last night we stopped to to enjoy the view. Click on the image for a larger view.
First Snow 2015
We woke today to our first snow of this winter. It was about half an inch of a wet, icy crust covering the landscape. Click on the image for a larger view.
Devil’s Toenail
This “toenail” was found in a field in East Anglia in the United Kingdom. It was thought carrying one in your pocket could ease the pain of rheumatism. Since this is about 3 inches or 7.5 cm long, it would be a rather large charm.
However, it really is not a toenail, one from the devil or any other creature. It is an extinct animal related to the oyster, known as Gryphaea. They lived in shallow waters during the Mesozoic period, about 250–65 million years ago. Click on the image for a larger view.
Sea Urchin
The endoskeleton of a sea urchin. Urchin was the Middle Engish name for a hedgehog. Click on the image for a larger view.
Sudden Change
The foliage season can seem very brief in Maine. Last week, there was still a significant number of trees with leaves. Now, the forest is bare with only the conifers retaining any color. Fortunately, the temperatures are still relatively mild and snow will hold off until December. Click on the image for a larger view.
Foggy Morning
Click on the image for a larger view.
