From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on December 24.
Wishing you all a belated happy solstice and a Merry Christmas. A rare white Christmas this year! Between deluges of rain and the current wintery state, botany walks haven’t got off the ground, but I am hopeful that we will get out to look at plants in the coming spring.
In the meantime, there are many winter-interest things to look at for the observant naturalist. I found some nice ice formations a few days ago in Roy Morrison Nature Park, and the snow is great for studying bird and mammal tracks!
A few winter-themed photos [click a photo to enlarge it]:
- Ice patterns over sword fern and maple leaves
- Hoar frost detail
- Icicles on Morrison creek
- More icicles on Morrison creek
- Raccoon tracks, note raccoons walk with their hind foot beside their fore foot (hind foot on the left, hand-like fore foot on the right)
- Deer tracks
- My favourite species of Christmas tree: the western white pine (Pinus monticola). So much charm!