Tag Archives: Heatherwood

Leaves on Trees ?

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“Winter Trees With Leaves”
Heatherwood

Winter scenes this year in Heatherwood look quite different than in years past. This past year we had a very warm summer that lasted well into October. Then we had a cold snap that delayed the display of fall color. The cold spell continued through November which left leaves on many deciduous trees. Then the snows and frost hit in early December. Now we have snow and frost covered leaves still hanging on the trees. The additional weight has caused several branches to break. Hopefully the leaves will fall soon leaving bare branches to provide their normal beauty to the winter scene.

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Winter Wonderland

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“Hoarfrost-covered Evergreens”
Heatherwood Winter

The cold temperatures and the early morning fog continue. The result is a hoarfrost covered landscape. It is 2:00P and still only 17 degrees. And, it is forecast to get even colder during the next couple of days.

The hoarfrost accentuates the beauty of the evergreens and deciduous Japanese maples that are still laden with leaves. It is truly a winter wonderland. The weeping white pine in the background watches over the smaller foreground trees. It is time to go take a quick stroll with my camera to create a few more images.

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Brrrr!

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“Hoarfrost in the Garden”
Heatherwood Winter

Winter is not officially here yet, but Mother Nature has a mind of her own. This week the high temperatures will remain below freezing. Mid-week is forecast to be in the single digits with the lows dropping down below 0. It is cold! I went out to do a little photography of the beautiful hoar frost on the trees and shrubs. After only a half hour I came back inside because my fingers could no longer operate the camera.

Heatherwood is like a dreamland with a light fog, hoarfrost, and snow-covered ground. We stand at our window and look out over the landscape admiring its beauty. Maybe tomorrow we will bundle up and take a stroll through the snow covering the garden.

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Winter Scene Framed

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“Snow on Lower Yard”
Heatherwood

Since this image was created, we have had two additional snowfalls and the temperature has remained below freezing. This creates a winter wonderland in our Heatherwood garden. I really need to get out in the subfreezing weather and create some additional winter snow highlights.

It is a little over two weeks until Christmas. If the weather continues as predicted, we will have a “White Christmas”!

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Winter Mushrooms

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“Snow Covered Yarrow and Rudbeckia”
Heatherwood Meadow

When I first saw this clump of snow-covered yarrow and rudbeckia, I thought that they looked like a field of mushrooms. Mary thought that they looked like a field of cotton. What is the purpose of a garden but to enjoy, dream, and imagine!

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Still Hanging On

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“October Glory Maple & Mountain Lantern”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

This scene is from the top of the garden above our “Perch” sitting area. The leaves of the October Glory are still hanging on. Last year at this time, they had all fallen. They make a nice contrasting interest against the white snow. The yellowish Wintersonne Mugo Pine on the right has not attained its winter color yet. In about a month, it will be bright yellow. Just out of view on the left side of the image is a winterberry holly. In the winter, the leaves will fall, leaving clusters of bright red berries. The combination of other Japanese hollies, winterberry hollies, and green and yellow conifers, along with the Japanese mountain lantern will provide an attractive winter garden vignette. We just need to give it time.

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First Real Snowfall of the Season

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“Almost Winter”
Heatherwood

Yesterday we got our first real snowfall of the season. When we got up, 4-5 inches of snow covered the ground. It was beautiful.

It is great to be retired. Instead of shoveling out the car to go to work, I grabbed my camera and strolled through the garden making tracks in the pristine layer of snow. It was a much nicer way to start the day. Snow plowing could wait until I got finished enjoying the fresh snow.

I purposefully set out to do my best to create images that represent the beauty of a winter garden. I focused on shapes, forms, residual color, and contrasts. Hopefully I was able to create enough images for a winter garden chapter in by annual Heatherwood Highlights book.

Today’s image focus is shapes and forms, contrasts of the white snow on the evergreens, and the contrast of a lush garden environment against the barren background hill. The scene is one of my favorite views year around from our garden.

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Happy Thanksgiving

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“Fall Color”
Heatherwood Autumn

Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday. I remember the wonderful times up at the Ranch with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Ben, all of my aunts and uncles, Mom and Dad, and 4 of 5 of my siblings. There were 15 of us back then in the 50’s. Our family has now grown to about 75 comprising four generations: aunts, uncles, our generation, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins, and all the spouses. Back in the 50’s we were all together up at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s. Today, we are spread out over Washington, Oregon, and New York. I miss the old days when we were all together, but time passes and new experiences open up. Each day adds to my list of memories of a wonderful life.

There is so much to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Oak Leaves

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“Scarlet Oak”
Heatherwood Oak Grove

The autumn color on our scarlet oak just did not turn to the bright red as it has in past years. Just as the color started to change, we had a cold snap with temperatures dropping below 20 degrees. The color change stopped at orange. This fall has been quite different. Many of our trees still have green leaves while others have dropped all their leaves. Some of our maples are half red and half green. I think the trees are all mixed up.

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