My phone rang as I stepped over the stone wall and out of the woods.
I pressed the speaker on my iPhone. “Are you okay, Jon asked, “you’ve been gone so long.” It didn’t seem long to me. Hunting season is finally over and I was finally able to get back into the woods.
The snow did slow me down, because I was snowshoeing and because it made everything new and there was so much to see.
I told Jon I was on my way home, but I had to come back because there were these tiny green “flowers” on a tree, and I needed my macro lens to get a picture of them. (I’ve never seen these before and I’m assuming they’re the sepal of a flower, the green part that protects the bud and supports the petals when the flower is in bloom. I don’t know what kind of tree this is, but if you do, I’d love to know).
It was a gray day, but I found more color in the woods than I expected. These wild grapes colored the snow red. I’m not sure if that happened after a bird ate it, or if they never got to it.
A rabbit dug its way in or out (I’m not sure which) creating this tunnel in the snow. The reflected light turned it shades of blue.
Not as colorful, but this delightful natural sculpture was created by a dead tree and vine. The broken branch swung from the tree, cradled by the vine.
Tomorrow Jon and I are going to our favorite Bed and
My Planet Net app says it’s witch hazel
Thank you Carolyn!
Hi Maria – It looks to me like witch hazel, botanical name Hamamelis Virginiana. It blossoms in November, at least here in NH, lovely spidery, delicate blossoms that are barely noticeable – to some people anyway. This photo looks like how it looks after those spidery yellow petals fall and this is what is left. If you look up images of the plant, eventually, they will show one that looks like your photo. It’s one of my favorite native plants, as it blossoms when everything else is so done with blossoming. Also because it reminds me of my mother, perhaps because her birthday was in November but also because she knew a lot of wildflowers and native plants. A wonderful find in the woods! – Jan St. Cyr, Barrington, NH
I love that the plant has a personal story and meaning in your life Jan. That will help me remember what it is. Next November I will look for the blossom.
Wow…beauty all around if we just slow down and look. Thanks for sharing, have a lovely time away together❤️
Wendy
Thank you Wendy and Happy Chistmas to you in your new home.
Witch-hazel flowers after the yellow spidery petals have fallen off. It blooms in the fall.
Great find!
Thank you! I should have just asked you. 🙂
That is what is left of a native witch hazel flower, Hamamelis virginiana- they bloom in late October, early November
Thank you Marianna. I can’t believe I’ve never seen it before. I’m going to look into it more.