Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Winter Woods

 
 
We've just finished a long weekend here, what with a 'PA' Day on Friday and 'Family Day' on Monday.  Yesterday was sunny and bright, so my son and I decided to take the dog for a long walk in the woods.


 
Winter is still hanging on tightly in our region.
 
 
But I like walking in the woods in the winter.  The crunch and squeak of the snow under your boots.  The cold fresh air.  When we first started out the sun was actually warm when we got out from under the canopy of pines and firs.  But under the trees, there was a chill and stillness.


 

 
The creek is frozen over more now than it was in January.  Not frozen enough for walking on however.
 

 
Just a bit of open water where it's running fast.
 
 
The banks were heavy with icicles from a thaw a week ago ...
 
 
The dog and my son stopped long enough for me to take a shot of them ...

We prefer to hike on the less-used trail.


Didn't see another person back there, but there was evidence of another sort of life ...


 
... beaver live in this area, and I see they've been busy at these large trees.
 
 
Beautiful lighting through the cedar woods lining the creek ...

 
Then back into the pine forests, where you can feel the temperature drop and the cold creeps across your shoulders.

 
It was late in the afternoon as we finally made the turn to head back.  The sun was lowering, and the shadows were lengthening.

 
It's so quiet back here in the woods.

 
A very still day, with just an occasional brush of a breeze, setting the snow to flurry down off the higher branches and sparkle in the sun.

 
The sun cast great relief patterns on the bark of these old trees.  I love how the 'sepia' function highlights the texture of bark.

 
You'd think this tree had a disease, but no, this is it's natural state of flaky-looking bark.

 
The birch tree with its papery bark curling off in places.  I'm glad no one has marked up this tree.  Often people like to peel the birch bark off the tree ... because they can.  Do they know it will kill the tree eventually?
 
 
Another birch with a rough side.

 
Tiny fungus growing along the lines of the bark on this young tree.
 
 
This next one is an ancient maple ... huge!  I wouldn't be surprised if some small owl lives in this hollow left by a rotted out branch.
 
 
And maples, of course, bring us to this!
 
 
Yes, that's maple sap you see starting its early spring seeping.  The sap starts to run fully in March (usually).  We need sunny days which warm the trees and gets the sap moving, but cold nights.  My parents collected sap for many years on their property, and we always had our own maple syrup ... this was one of the hardest things to see go when they sold their country home.  It was a big family deal for us to all come out and help with the 'boiling down' which we did right there in the woods.

 
Well, we're almost back now, just a little bit longer.  Oh, just a couple more shots ... I can't resist these hollowed out ghosts of trees.

 
But someone has had enough of my picture taking.
 
 
And the light really is fading now ...


We've been hiking for three hours ... I think I heard someone's tummy grumble.


Goodbye craggy old trees ... till next time we visit.
 
 
Thanks for stopping by.
 
Wendy :)
 
Sometimes along the path I like to stop and imagine what it would be like there in the woods in the dark.  We used to hike through our own woods in the dark in the winter with the moon shining on the snow.  So magical.  So cold!  We took our toboggans to the village park on the other side of the woods for night tobogganing.  The woods were a different place at night ;)




20 comments:

  1. The pictures of the trees are outstanding! They each have a sense of their own personality...and the light filtering through...wow! How wonderful that you have those memories of collecting sap with your family! To have access to this much beauty is awesome! I can only hope that we get our children out to the forest as much as possible (we live in a city) so that they can experience the silence and beauty of nature. Love that you got to spend this time with your son! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. We grew up with woods all around us, and the 'Bruce Trail' just across the road. As a kid I spent summer vacations at a friend's cottage just outside Algonquin Park which instilled a deeper love of the area. We live in town, but find conservation areas all around. My kids were brought up spending yearly camping trips in Algonquin and we visit the woods in our area often. It can be done, and it's so worthwhile :)

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  2. What a fun walk with so many interesting things to see. We don't have beavers in this area. So, I'm amazed at how much damage they can do! Wow!...your own maple syrup? That's so cool! That would be fun! We don't have trees like that here either.

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    1. Beavers play a big part in the eco system creating wetlands. It does seem a pity to chew through these huge trees, doesn't it. There's another area in this park with a whole mess of large trees chewed ... amazing feat. I wonder how many were having the feast. I've never actually seen one during our visits. We have big festivals here for the maple syrup run ... and probably even bigger festivals in Quebec who are more noted for the syrup.

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  3. Icy snow! What a contrast to the warm weather over here in Australia...I wouldn't mind a snowy day...just a little break amid the warm summer days and rainy weather :-)

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    1. I know of a fellow blogger's husband who came to Ontario from Australia last weekend ... I'm curious to hear how they found the weather after being in your summerland. Be careful what you wish for ;)

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  4. Wow - you live in a beautiful part of the world. I love those tree pics, you should have an exhibition of them. x

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    1. Thank you Daffy :) I do love Ontario's scenery. I think this will be the only exhibition my photos will ever get.

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  5. Beautiful atmospheric pictures, Wendy! They are making me feel very shivery just looking at them ... the sunny weather we had here yesterday has disappeared ... oh well, Spring can't be too far away!

    I love your pictures of the trees, the bark is so different on each one.

    Have a lovely day and stay warm!

    Love Claire xxx

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    1. Springtime weather is always flip flopping around, isn't it? Our temperatures finally got to +2 and rain, but this morning I see fresh snow and we've plunged back to -10C. I'm glad you liked the tree bark ... wasn't sure if you would all find that interesting :)

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  6. Looks like you had a wonderful hike in beautiful nature! Lovely photos, the woods looks so quiet and beautiful. I loved the tree photos, and also enjoyed reading the story about how you and your parents used to make your own syrup.
    Thanks for sharing :)

    Have a wonderful day, Wendy!

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    1. Thank you for all the lovely comments Hilde :) This is a favourite conservation area of ours.

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  7. ~ I love trees Wendy...Always have done! I have been known to hug a few in my time....YOU could loose your selves happily in these woods....I bet You do all your thinking whilst out walking here! Looks like you are still in the grips of Winters clutches too....But WOW what a wonderland you live in!! With kind thoughts...Maria x

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    1. At one point in our hike I was taking a pic (of tree) and lay back in the snow to get the very top of the tree in the shot. I forgot how totally comforting lying in the snow is ... a big feathery pillow ... and I was on a hill, so it felt wonderfully calming looking down (& up) at the forest. I could've spent quite a while like that, but for fear of other hikers coming across me I got up ... reluctantly ;)

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  8. What an enchanted wood, quite magical..I find so much peace when walking through the woods, I am transported into another world..
    Thank you for sharing your walk and for your kind words
    Keep warm
    Thea x

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed your virtual walk here :) Wendy

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  9. What a lovely area. Sounds like a fun walk. I'm waiting for the snow to pass before I head out though. ;)

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    1. With today's temps you might be waiting a bit longer!

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  10. Wendy, this is such a lovely set of photos! What a wonderful walk. I am sure your son will treasure these times with you.

    I thought I was already following your blog until I realized I never see your blog posts on my blog feed! I am sorry! I love your comments and visits to my blog and I love to see what my blog friends are up to! Your blog is lovely! I can't wait see more of your photos.

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    1. Thanks for popping by (and following!). It was my son who insisted on the walk this time, he loves the woods as much as I do :)

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