Last evening I took a walk through our forest. The last rays of sunlight were still penetrating the forest canopy, at least for just a minute or two. Click on the image for a larger view.
Category Archives: Our Forest
Pioneers
We have a line our young beach and birch trees that are pioneering our field. When we first moved to Maine, our field had been kept cut. We stopped that practice. One benefit was the blackberry briers that sprouted. The other was to watch the forest reclaim the land. This image was taken in the near infrared, which gives the foliage its radiant appearance. Click on the image for a larger view.
Summer 2017
This is the forest at the edge of our field in the near infrared. Here are the same trees in May in natural light. Click on the image for a larger view.
Blue Spruce—Edible Plants
Blue spruce, picea pungens, is native to the Rocky Mountains, but can be found as ornamental trees throughout the United States. The young shoots can be used to make tea high in vitamin C. This bitter, resinous drink is surprisingly refreshing, although it is not uncommon for people to add a sweetener. Click on the image for a larger view.
Earth’s Endless Effort
Trees are Earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.
—Rabindranath Tagore
The Green of Spring
New foliage is so vibrant. Our forest practically glows with the yellow-green of new leaves. Our landscape was so different at the beginning of May. These last two weeks have almost made the grey winter seem like a distant memory. Click on the image for a larger view.
Spring Ablaze
This weekend was beautiful. The spring foliage is almost complete. Fern carpets our forest floor. When viewed in near infrared, this new world is incandescent. Click on the image for a larger view.
New Neighbors
I went out to our field last night to see the sunset. To my surprise, two beautiful horses trotted up to me, apparently looking for something to eat. They soon lost interest when they realized I had no food. Click on the image for a larger view.
A Spring Wind
A cold front moved our unseasonably hot weather out of Maine. Friday was a pleasant 70°F with a dry air and a strong breeze. This wind enwraps and enraptures us, as if the spirit of spring is inviting us to laugh and dance with the trees. Click on the image for a larger view.
An Explosion of Green
Our forest has transformed. The top image was taken on May 12th. The middle image was taken on May 15th. On that day, the temperatures reached 70°F. Today was even warmer. That is the last picture. The blue sky is being hidden behind a canopy of green. Click on the image for a larger view.
Spring Trillium
Red trillium, or wake robin, is appearing on the forest floor. It is one of the first flowers of the season, taking advantage of the light before the foliage returns. Trillium is a striking plant, but its scent of rotting meat is for a slightly different audience. Click on the image for a larger view.
Wild Plum, Spring Blossoms
This spring has been wet and gray. The foliage is just starting to appear on our trees. However, our wild plum has come into blossom. This is our messenger of spring. One corner of our land glows with these brilliant white flowers. As the blossoms mature, they turn a deep pink. Click on the image for a larger view.
Spring Lights
Young trees in our field in near infrared. Click on the image for a larger view.
Spring Lights
The spring foliage of young trees in our field. The foliage is white because the image was taken in the near infrared. Chlorophyll is highly reflective in infrared. Click on the image for a larger view.
Green
Our forest in July. After a long winter, it is hard to imagine the intensity of the canopy foliage. Click on the image for a larger view.
Trees
Click on the image for a larger view.
Receding Ice
Our forest floor. This has been a warm week and the snow pack has mostly receded from the forest. Click on the image for a larger view.
Spring Thaw
Sunday was warm and sunny. Spring could be smelt in the air. This trend is expected to continue through the week. Winter finally seems in retreat. With the melting snow pack comes our vernal streams and ponds. This water is clear like glass. Click on the image for a larger view.
Tracks
When taking Hikari out at night, we mostly hear the wind in the trees. Most animals keep a distance from the house because of our dog. So it is always a surprise to hear the sound of a large mammal being startled, as happened the other night. The next day, not only we found evidence of the animal, but also of its other two companions. We often see small herds of deer this time of year, but they usually avoid the area around our house. Click on the image for a larger view.
April Fools Day, 2017
When we woke on April 1st, we knew the joke was going to be on us. We received another 5″ of snow. However, Sunday would make up for this set back, it was sunny and 50°F. Click on the image for a larger view out of our bedroom window.
English