almost

i found this guy on the deck under the sliding glass doors. juncos are one of only a few year-round avian residents here in the north. the others include:  nuthatches, chickadees, woodpeckers (downy, hairy, red bellied, and pileated), cardinals, and blue jays. we are only a week or two from the earliest migrants (grosbeak finches) returning. it makes this loss doubly sad that we were so close to the end of the winter hardship for this wild creature.

dark eyed junco (Junco hyemalis)

seed pods forever

seed pods are my love language. if you are ever wondering what to get me for a birthday present, just find me a good seed pod. this screwbean mesquite seed pod from the palm springs desert was my favorite thing i brought back from my trip a couple weeks ago. imagine my delight when i saw this jester’s cap bouncing in the breeze above our dinner table.

screwbean mesquite seed pod (Prosopis pubescens)

constraints = creativity

it’s that time of year. twigs and stems. that’s what i have to pick from . but as all artists know, constraints are key. and this composition of winter branches exceeded my expectations.

winter twigs

a very difficult simple photo

one might think that finding a photo opportunity like this would be easy in minnesota. it is not at all. several conditions have to occur at the same time to make this photo: 1) the snow has to be wet enough to cling to even the smallest branches out on the tips, 2) there must be very little to no other clutter around the branch, 3) the sky must be white or i need an assistant to hold a white background for me, 4) said assistant cannot be clumsy and accidentally knock the branch with the white background (which happens almost every time), 5) i must get out after the wet snowfall, but before the first winds arrive, and 6) i must be willing to stand in thigh deep snow to several minutes to get the shot. so, not so easy. i hope you like it.

pinks

this collection of dried flowers almost looks as though it could have been shot six months ago in the garden. here in the north, we don’t really turn the corner toward spring until march. but for some reason, i am noticing the longer days and the occasional (almost) warmish day and really feeling it this year. i still have this very quiet feeling that 2022 will be an important year. a positive year. a year of growth and opportunity. i am ready for it.