Winter observations

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]:

  1. Ice patterns over sword fern and maple leaves
  1. Hoar frost detail
  1. Icicles on Morrison creek
  1. More icicles on Morrison creek
  1. 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)
  1. Deer tracks
  1. My favourite species of Christmas tree: the western white pine (Pinus monticola). So much charm!
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