Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Ice Storm

I don't know that you can really call it a storm though. It was more of a steady rain, or drizzle at times. Although disappointing that it was not snow, ice can be just as captivatingly beautiful!



When I got up this morning, it was dark. It shouldn't have been- it was well after the time it is normally light. The sight outside was beautiful- iced trees glistening through the fog. It is not a sight you normally see in England, so ice-storms are one of those American things I enjoy as a novelty- like the huge thunderstorms we get in summer.



I stepped outside to try and get some photos- but it was so dark, my flash kept going off, and the beautiful shots I made were ruined by the light. Suddenly the pale air, and crystalline shine of the ice was reduced to water.

This one above is artificially lightened just to show kind of what it looked like.


I ran out later to take a few, but much of the ice had already melted. the air was filled with the sounds of birds singing, and water dripping off of the trees in a constant stream. It's the sound of a thaw- a sound most gardeners anticipate because it is often the first herald of spring.



This early in the year, I don't think it is a true thaw- just the ice from the freezing rain thawing. None the less, the birds are excited- we refilled the feeders for them, so they have plenty. Now if only I could find my suet cage...


I managed second time around to get a few decent shots of the ice-rimmed plants, especially of the red limbed Rosa virginiana. This is one spectacular winter plant with its red limbs and red hips :) Sounds almost like I am describing a person :D.


The sweetgums in the garden, are forever dropping their gumballs into the garden, this one landed in the middle of the rose bush- I am considering painting it for the latest EDM challenge (#208- draw something out of place).




"Ice
on the earth, bitter
black frost, and a winding sheet of snow
upon her withered breast, and
deep within me, dread
and ice."
- Jessica MacBeth, excerpt from "Initiation"- Winter Poems



5 comments:

Theresa said...

Beautiful!!!
I miss white pines, ice covered or otherwise.

Sharon Sweeny said...

Love your pics of the ice storm. No stranger to that, me (live in Minneapolis). I'll definitely be back to check out your garden. Can't wait until the season starts. Check out my blog href="http://www.moxiegardener.com"

Spinneretta said...

Thanks Theresa- I'm guessing nothing like that up there huh? :)
Sharon: thanks :) Love your blog, will have to look at it more :)

Entangled said...

Your photos are beautiful. I went out yesterday after lunch to see if I could scrape the ice off the driveway, but gave up after a short time. Hoping the sun will take care of it today.

momof3girls said...

Your pictures are wonderful! We don't have any ice here. :( I can send you pictures of sand if you'd like. LOL! I really enjoyed seeing and reading your post.