For the Beech Trees

Another sign of spring unfolding, the beech trees are beginning to loose their leaves. All winter they hold on, singing in the wind as they rustle each other, and becoming paler and paler as the winter retreats until they are almost transparent. The new buds push the old leaves off, their frail structure often curled up on itself. They give such soft and tender beauty to the winter landscape. So this for them. With thanks.

For the beech trees

At The Pond

Signs of winter are in fast retreat. Bits of dirty snow lying about, mostly close the the edge of the woods. The ice on the pond gets darker by the day and is pulling back from the edges. I can hardly wait to hear the peepers. The beech trees are beginning to shed their leaves, which have given me such pleasure all winter, as their color fades to transparent. The tall stocks of echinacea have lost most of their seed leaving behind the broken heads denuded of bristles.The pond ice is beginning to show cracks, traversing its width and length. More beautiful marks to watch.

At the pond, March 20

Signs of Spring

I think Winter finally got my letter as today there are encouraging signs of spring. Patches of bare grass, a crocus flowering over the septic tank, my granny's snowdrops peeking out here and there, and perhaps most tender of all are the beech leaves beginning to dot the snow. The beech trees hold on to their leaves all winter providing a soft rust color to our white landscape and when the new buds are ready in the spring they push the old leaves off. Although I can't hear it, JB tells me the the sound of the beech's rustling leaves on winter walks is a treat.

Signs of Spring