I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape. Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn’t show. ~Andrew Wyeth
My idea of winter sports has always been a good game of chess in front of a warm fireplace. Yet there is no denying that the longer I garden, the more I appreciate the garden in winter. As the plants turn a crisp gold and then a rough brown, the eye focuses on the paths, the arbors, the bare trees and shrubs -“the bone structure of the landscape.”
The details of plants become fascinating in a new way. The rose hips ripen and soften as the weather changes
while the cone in coneflower suddenly makes its presence known.
Milkweed pods open and release their seeds, carried by gossamer wings.
An early morning stroll through the garden is dramatic in the winter sunrise.
And when snow arrives, those bones suddenly don a frosty gown that transforms everything.
It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it. ~John Burroughs
We had an especially pretty snowfall last week that I was able to capture on video – enjoy the winter wonderland.
“Snow was falling,
so much like stars
filling the dark trees
that one could easily imagine
its reason for being was nothing more
than prettiness.”
~ Mary Oliver
composerinthegarden 
Love your garden always puts me in a peaceful frame of mind . can’t wait to see more.
Gus
Thank you, Gus – I hope someday you and Shirley get to see it in person!
You can add videographer to your c.v. under “areas of expertise,” Lynn. My compliments to you and your assistant (Pixie).
So kind of you to say that, Kerry! I am trying to up my videography game – just bought a new camera and gimbal which I used in this video. It is fun and a new challenge for me. Pixie says thank you, she knows just when to photobomb the camera for best effect. 🙂
Good quotations. Several of the scenes in your video are reminders that falling snowflakes look dark against a gray-white sky.
Hope you didn’t suffer any damage up there from the deep freeze this weekend. (I’m late replying to your post because an ice storm down here left us without electricity—and heat—for three days.)
Oh Steve, so sorry to hear that you had a blackout in the winter storm! We got lucky here this time – bitter cold but no damage or outages. Now the temps are headed back to the 50’s – weird weather this year.
It is surprising how dark the undersides of those big (most an inch or larger!) snowflakes were from below – like the underside of a leaf. I’m hoping we get another pretty snow like this one – so many more scenes to film 🙂
A photographer’s equivalent of “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade” is “When nature hands you an ice storm, make ice pictures.” That’s what I did, and what I hope more snow this season will let you do.
Wow, you really made some amazing lemonade Steve! Stunning ice photos; even the fallen tree was impressive.
I love the cone in coneflower suddenly making its presence known. 🙂 And looking up at the snow falling – that’s true rapture, isn’t it? What a contrast from those golden-light days to the softly falling snow. And it’s good to see the snowdrops! Yes! 😉
Lynn, I never realized how much of a cone there really is in the seed head once the seeds are gone! Yes, that snowfall was magical – I was hoping for a few more like that but now we’re headed back to mild temperatures. Still, it’s only February and we should have a few more. The weather has been crazy bouncing back and forth between subzero temps one week and spring temps the next. Pixie doesn’t care so we are out there wandering the garden and woods most days 🙂
I remember times when the weather bounced around like that in New York…and it seems like weather extremes are the new normal so we may as well get used to it – if that’s possible! 😉 Let Pixie show us the way, right? 🙂
True, we have always had a freeze thaw cycle here in SW PA but it has gotten much more extreme – it really does seem to be the new normal, sigh . . .
You have captured some of ‘winter’s sometime smiles’ beautifully here. A magical view of trees in their snow-dusted winter tracery. Enjoy your warm fire and chess! Thank you for this lovely film and music.
Richard, do you get snowfalls where you are? I wish we had more of them this year, they are always so pretty. We just had our chimney rebuilt so I am enjoying the fireplace again and trying to win a chess game now and then. Thank you so much for your comments and taking time to watch the video.
Parts of Britain have had unusual snow blizzards recently, but not here on the south coast. Your video is something to treasure. Glad to hear about the fireplace and chess. I used to enjoy playing my grandsons!
Oh, what a lovely video, Lynn! It expresses exactly what I see and feel out in nature. Thanks for sharing it!
Eliza, that’s exactly what I was trying to do – give the sense that the viewer is in the garden and moving through it rather than just watching it. So glad you enjoyed it!
I very much enjoyed your video, and it prompts me to look and appreciate winters far away. What a gift to be able to put music to the video.
Keep warm and stay cosy, I’ve read more very cold weather is on the way in the Northern Hemisphere.
Thank you, Gerrie – a very different climate than yours! I’ve been making friends with winter this year but I always appreciate seeing posts of Australian gardens blooming during what is our winter time. We have very cold weather here but it is much colder farther north – we’re staying in and keeping cozy with Pixie by the fireplace.
I noticed the joyful Pixie in the garden.
That’s a lovely video Lynn. You have a beautiful garden in all seasons.
Thank you Jude – I’m beginning to make friends with winter 🙂
It’s the woodland, winter trees are so beautiful and more so when draped in white. It all looks so peaceful.
I liked your look at the beauty of the ‘brown’ garden.
Winter brown is underrated, isn’t it? I love the way it catches the winter light.
Those are beautiful winter scenes in your garden. The days that snow drapes branches and lines fences are magical indeed.
Thank you Lisa – I love it when we get a snow like that.
Inhale Exhale Centerd wonderful way to start the day. Thank you.
Exactly Sue – thank you.
Such a beautiful and important part of the year’s journey. Thank you for this rich meditation, Lynn. Your music, words, and imagery are always deepening gifts. Grateful. XO
Thanks you, Kitty – I’m learning to accept those cold dark days and finding beauty in them too.