Crispy Cold

There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you . . . in spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.  ~Ruth Stout

Browns and Blue

Though I’m not quite ready for the snows to come, I’m wearying of brown in all its many variations. It’s nice enough with a dose of sunshine and blue skies, but already I am missing the bright colors that were in the gardens only a few weeks ago. And now snow is predicted for Wednesday, just in time to cause Thanksgiving travel woes.

Detail of a Fern

On a hike yesterday in the woods at Owen Park in Madison, I came across a field of ferns in the woods. I love the delicacy of these plants. And green–so nice to see a sea of green again!

rain drops, ice drops

All the world looks like it’s coated with a glaze. I wonder when the oaks will finally give up and drop last year’s leaves.

Soon it will be time to replace the browns in the landscape with greens. I did see quite a bit of the Irish green yesterday, it being St. Paddy’s Day, but that isn’t the green I’m waiting for.

This Plant Wears a Fancy Cap

Some photographers are sharing their photos of wildflowers in candy-pink and sunny-yellow.

In Wisconsin, the wildflowers are wearing crystals for dressing-up.

December Fog

Madison has already had 35 inches of snowfall, and until today most of it was on the ground. Then a warm front moved in and a heavy fog settled on everything. Now there are bare patches of muddy earth peeking from the patches of snow.  But it made for a fun afternoon of photography.

Until the rain began to pour.

U's for Umbrella, May Apples' Rendition

V is for Vane, a Cow with a Vision

W's for Wiener-mobile, an Icon It's True

X is for eXercise, on a Bike with a View

For the final installment, see  A Wisconsin Alphabet – The Finale .  Or start at the beginning with A Wisconsin Alphabet – A through D.

Queen Anne's Frosty Lace

Here’s the Queen with a bit of decorative hat. There is beauty even in the changes of the seasons, though I am fond of autumn’s color and mildness, and haven’t yet had my fill. I will have to keep autumn’s memory close by being satisfied with the photographs that stay – no matter how wild the weather gets outside.

Caught

Autumn is definitely upon us. Everywhere I look there is evidence of summer’s long past retreat and autumn’s complete domination. Two of the trees in my yard are totally bare. Brown, crunchy leaves are spread under their empty branches, and while I find it rather satisfying to stomp through the noisy litter, I’m not too thrilled at the prospect of the raking job that is on the agenda for this week-end – that is, if it doesn’t snow as is predicted.

My red maple is still fully dressed, and lovely. Deep reds at the very top meld into bright reds and then orange-reds towards the bottom of the tree. I’ve been waiting for the sun to shine to take a few photos, but without any luck. It’s raining now, and I haven’t the heart to even check the weather report for tomorrow.

Lots of photographers seem to be attracted to the simple leaf this week. I’ve seen a few outstanding examples. A pair of brown leaves here, and here is another favorite, with a great twist, and then one more product of autumn’s touch, and finally one with a foreign flavor.

How soon until we are all taking photos of that white fluffy stuff?  Too soon, I’m thinking. Way too soon.