February Arrives

February, of our mostly non-winter, has arrived. Most of the day had temperatures above freezing. Some of the willow catkins are starting to pop out of their winter protection.



After taking the willow photo, from the top of a stepladder, I spotted green beneath my feet. The leaf is of a Tall Buttercup.

Earthworm in January

This is the first time in my life that I have seen an earthworm in January.



This Raspberry has fresh leaves.



But this plant rosette is more normal although it should be buried under the snow. (I think it is a Goldenrod of some sort as Canada Goldenrods and Tall Goldenrods both grow near where I found this rosette.)

Rainy Sunday

Églantine's first photo tells the story of the day.



Églantine, being Églantine, found a way to make the day more delightful!

Another Ski Day

Sunrise yesterday found us on the ski bus headed north. The sun was warmly rising over the city.



We have no snow left at home, but there were drifts across the trails at Highland Nordic near Duntroon, Ontario.



Sharp eyed Églantine saw these lichens growing on the side of a tree. I could not see them, at first, even when she pointed them out. She did the photography for these as I seemed to be semi blind from the bright snow.



Later, I did find these tracks in the snow that appealed to my sense of design. I am not sure what animal made the tracks. Églantine suggested a mouse. I was thinking of something larger like a chipmunk that had come out early. Any ideas?

Frosty Friday

There was lots of frost on the trees, shrubs, and grasses this morning.



Later in the day the temperature went above freezing. Below is a photo of a gall on an Eastern Redcedar (aka Eastern Juniper, Red Juniper, or Juniperus virginiana). It is part of a Rust cycle that affects Apple trees so we have to cut off and destroy the gall before spring if we want to avoid losing our wild apples.