Tag Archives: winter

Oh What a Beautiful Day!

Leave a reply

“Rock Garden and Birch Trees”
Heatherwood Winter

Today was an absolute beautiful winter day. The sky was blue and the temperature was in the mid 40’s. It just doesn’t get much better. I had the pleasure to put on my work shoes and do a little clean-up of some of our broken tree limbs. I then spent over an hour walking around with my camera enjoying the garden and the beautiful afternoon.

With the unseasonable warm weather, most of our snow has melted. Only a few patches of snow in shady areas remain. The colors of Heatherwood’s winter garden brightly shine in the afternoon sun. Year-round there is always interest and beauty in the garden.

Related Images:

200507_LongExp_WtrFall__Kotoji 200506_LongExp_WtrFall_1

Blue Sky Winter Day

Leave a reply

“Japanese Garden Entry Path”
Heatherwood Winter

Blue skies on a winter day raise my spirit. I walk out our front door and turn to my right and see the glorious blue sky above the sunlit ridge. The warmer temperatures are melting the snow. Trees and shrubs are now free from snow. Ground covers are peeking above the snow-patched ground. The partly snow covered pathways entice me to walk through the garden. As I walk along the path I stop to touch and inspect the various plants that have been under snow for the past six weeks. I look and see new buds forming on the tips of the branches. I continue and stop multiple times to just look around me and contemplate the garden’s beauty and the changes that will emerge as the seasons of the new year progress. My spirts rise.

Related Images:

Mid-January Stroll

Leave a reply

“Yukimi and Pond”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Between light rain drizzles we had a few hours of sunshine. I grabbed my camera for my first garden excursion of the year. With the rain and above freezing temperatures, our snow is gradually melting. The pond has been free of ice for about a week. During the winter we leave the water flowing in the small stream to provide aeration for our fish. Hopefully they will survive over the winter.

Related Images:

200507_LongExp_WtrFall__Kotoji 200506_LongExp_WtrFall_1

Winter Textures

Leave a reply

“Winter Yarrow and Grasses”
Heatherwood Meadow

There is always something to see and photograph in the garden. Something as simple as the varying textures of spent yarrow and grasses make me stop and click the shutter. It happened in our garden over 16 thousand times last year!

Now I am paying the price of sorting through and picking the “keepers.” Each year I have been making a “Heatherwood Highlights” photo book. I am in that process right now and have to reduce my 16-plus thousand images down to about 300. I have been working on the project for about a month and am down to around 600. It hurts me each time I through one out. I have a lot more blood to give to reach my target. Wish me luck!

Related Images:

200507_LongExp_WtrFall__Kotoji 200506_LongExp_WtrFall_1

Beauty Is In The Details

Leave a reply

“Winter Perennials”
Heatherwood Meadow

As I walk around, my eyes wander all around. I look in the distance and see the snow covered hills. I look side to side and see the surrounding trees, shrubs, and meadows. I see a path leading to who knows where. I turn around and see where I have been. I look up and see beautiful clouds in the sky. I stumble and look at my feet. I see abstract detailed patterns staring back at me.

Related Images:

200507_LongExp_WtrFall__Kotoji 200506_LongExp_WtrFall_1

More Snow Expected

Leave a reply

“Snow-Covered Birches”
Heatherwood Winter

In my New Year’s Day post I talked about dreaming for the garden to emerge in the spring. But, the weather is not cooperating as the temperature hovers around freezing. The forecast is for even more snow tonight and tomorrow. Oh well, I will have the opportunity to photograph fresh new snow.

Related Images:

200507_LongExp_WtrFall__Kotoji 200506_LongExp_WtrFall_1

New Snow

Leave a reply

“Old Flume”
Heatherwood Winter

Just as the temperatures started to rise and the snow had melted from the roads and trees, we received a gift of another 4-5 inches of new snow. It brightened up the neighborhood and our Heatherwood garden. We now have had snow on the ground for the full month of December. The temperatures are forecasted to hover around freezing for the next week. We are not expecting another snowfall during that period.

Heatherwood has continued to have an unusual beauty this year. Typically the leaves on all the trees and shrubs have fallen. This year, many of them still have their leaves. They provide a beautiful contrast with all the snow.

Related Images:

200507_LongExp_WtrFall__Kotoji 200506_LongExp_WtrFall_1

The Beautiful White Wonderland Continues

Leave a reply

“Birches and Oak”
Heatherwood Winter

After a wonderful White Christmas, the beautiful white wonderland continues. For the last several weeks, the temperatures have remained below freezing and our white winter wonderland continues to display its beauty. Many are not appreciative of the cold weather. Personally, I am thankful to have the beautiful serene snow-covered landscape surround us. I can alway layer up to go outside and enjoy our little Eden.

Alas, today the temperature is predicted to rise above freezing. It is forecasted to continue to warm up. A week from now the white wonderland may be gone, at least temporarily.

Related Images:

200507_LongExp_WtrFall__Kotoji 200506_LongExp_WtrFall_1

White Christmas

Leave a reply

“Japanese Garden Entrance”
Heatherwood Winter

Our wish for a White Christmas will be fulfilled. With our continued cold temperatures, the snow from previous snowfalls has not melted and the frost remains on our trees. In addition we have had several little dustings to keep the snow looking fresh. Our setting for Christmas is a winter wonderland. We will no longer need to dream for a white Christmas. It is here in full glory!

Merry Christmas!

Related Images:

200507_LongExp_WtrFall__Kotoji 200506_LongExp_WtrFall_1