if the willows are the first to wake up and greet the spring around here, the oaks are the most reluctant to accept the end of fall. they grudgingly let go of their leaves one at a time, often resisting until next spring’s swelling buds physically push them off the branch. most of the leaves in our yard, at least the ones that didn’t get raked into the chicken coop, are currently buried under six inches of snow.  but the oaks keep falling. a layer of snow, a layer of oak leaves, a layer of snow another layer of oak leaves. sounds like a lasagna recipe.  mmmm, lasagna. maybe for dinner? a nice tomato sauce. three italian cheeses. some sausage with fennel . . . wait, where was i?

snow-dusted red oak leaf in winter

saint paul, minnesota

these raspberry canes were dormant, not dead. their dusty violet bark caught my eye this morning, against the white snow of our recent cold snap (35 below zero wind chill last night). that they still had the flexibility to bend into this seductive shape reminded me that i really have no right to complain about the cold.

wild raspberry canes in winter

saint paul, minnesota

all these little wombs holding potential lives inside them for months and then letting them go. i can empathize.

seed pods from all over

my back yard, florida, california, france