Winter’s Lady In Red

While walking the woodlands early this week, I quickly became frustrated with trying to find something of color to photograph. I supposed the evergreens, some of the oak trees with dried leaves hanging on, and a few of the berry shrubs offered a tiny bit of color to the landscape, but it was a gray day and it all seemed to fall flat to me. Sometimes, a little sunshine will change the hues and brighten the contrast of the environment, where it is even possible for dried prairie grasses to take on a design of elegance and grandeur. But not today.

Disappointed and disillusioned, I slogged on through sloppy mud as I continued my trek towards the river. A recent ice storm had once again changed the landscape. Old tree snags had toppled, shattering on the ground.  Limbs and branches lay scattered all through the woods. As I pressed on with my journey, I kept hopeful for something of interest to photograph. It was a quiet day in the woodlands where all of the animals and birds seemed to be tucked away, except for the crows that occasionally flew over. I wondered if they were mocking me, or maybe they were just having a family squabble on their flight to feast in the nearby harvested Milo field. Giving in to the realization that my trek to find color was fruitless, I eventually trudged back home with only a few photos of cows grazing in the pecan orchard.

As I looked through my December photos this morning, I realized the most captivating colors of the season had come earlier in winter. With splashes of red dotting the woodlands after the first frosts and freezes, along with the white contrast of snow and the glimmer and sparkle of ice showcased by the light of the sun, I found I had captured winter’s vivid color after all. After more than a month having passed since the snow and ice first came to the woodlands, the leaves have now been stripped from the trees and shrubs, and the once-bright berries have shriveled and darkened. All of nature is ever-changing. Taking time to notice the gentle nuances of transformation that takes place from day-to-day or week-to-week, is truly the gift of each season. In this post, I am showcasing Winter’s Lady in Red.

Frosty Oak Leaves.

These oak leaves look like sugary delights!

Frosted Spirea

Burning Bush Leaves in Frost.

Iced Hackberries.

Oak Leaves Frozen in Time.

I have no idea how my Coral Honeysuckle is still blooming in winter. This bloom is braving the ice!

This White-Winged Dove finds a bit of shelter in an ice-glazed Hackberry Tree.

Carolina Moonseed is an invasive wild vine that is a prolific plant in the woodlands. I used to eradicate it until I realized that Daisy deer loves to nibble the leaves and tender part of the vine, and birds eat the berries.

Afternoon sun kissing ice-covered Hackberries.

Beautyberries grow wild in the lower areas of the woodlands, providing a food source for squirrels, deer, birds and other wildlife.

© 2016 Day by Day the Farm Girl Way…