Monday, December 28, 2009

A Sunny December Morning


Here are some pictures that include something that has been in short supply lately -- sunlight. The wonderful thing about winter sunlight is that it is cherished when it appears; one can bask in it, rather than sheltering from it as is often necessary in summertime. Also pictured are "sugar frosted" rose leaves and a landscape that looks like it has been glazed with a thin layer of pewter.

















Still a few blueberry leaves hanging on! They look like natural Christmas ornaments.


Swamp cyrilla, always the last tree to lose its colorful leaves.


Standing at the old house site, looking across the big perennial bed to the neighbor's pasture.


Teddy bear paws (Scirpus cyperinus), a member of the sedge family


The winter landscape has its own unique brand of beauty.


25 comments:

  1. It all looks beautiful to me Sweetbay~~The winter sun makes the sugar frosting sparkle...I was glad to see the sun here, too...but it's been a while since we had anything as pretty as your day has been. Happy new year! gail

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  2. Hi Sweet Bay! Great pictures as always! Love them all! Have a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

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  3. Oh my goodness! Your frost pictures are so beautiful! We had some frost earlier last week, but it quickly melted...

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  4. Jack Frost was at his most creative here - love the sparkling landscape! Visions of sugarplums, indeed :)

    Wishing you a very happy new year!

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  5. Spectacular frost photos Sweet Bay. I wish it looked like this in winter here ~ these are more like our fall landscape (except my yard doesn't look near as nice)! I'm glad the sun returned for you. You're so right about wanting to bask in it ~ I'm not a sun bather (anymore) but I feel like laying out on a warm winter day. It feels so good.
    Thanks for your comment about the kestrel today and making me realize I had incorrectly identified the hawk photo. It took me by surprise ~ all I've been seeing lately is the sharp-shinned (I had photos of one in an earlier post). This is the first time the kestrel has been in my yard this winter. Not sure now whether to be excited or fearful about seeing him. The small birds don't stand a chance now!

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  6. Wow, what spectacular photos. Just beautiful!!


    FlowerLady

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  7. I love how the frost grows upon itself. Your pictures make it great to see the ice crystals. Really love the rose bud ones.

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  8. Another post full of wonderful photography. And yes wasn't it nice to see the sun on Sunday. It seems to have been a long time in coming.

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  9. Your sugar-frosted rose leaves look good enough to eat! I also love the photos of the frost-encrusted goldenrod and maple leaves. Happy new year (ish)!

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  10. SweetBay you took a lot of beautiful brrrrr sugar coated pictures. Plus your property is gorgeous for starters. I especially loved seeing the red leaves at the end of all the frost.
    I FINALLY got all bundled up yesterday and went out to take some brrrrrr pics myself and came home with squat! Will have to try on a better day.
    We always have some beautiful days in January and I get early spring fever - but ya don't dare step outside cause ya know you'll freeze your bumper off.

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  11. Beautiful photos. I love the name Teddy Bear Paws. Some plants have the most charming names. The winter air is so dry here we seldom see frost like that except in the very late fall.
    Marnie

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  12. The winter landscape has its own unique brand of beauty, and so has your photoes. Your Garden look as wonderfull as ever with the glimpse of sun on the frost :)

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  13. Beautiful, Sweet Bay! I've been out snapping a few photos myself and enjoying the winter sunshine as well. Love all your "sugar-frosted" foliage. Wishing you a happy New Year!

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  14. Your beautiful photos never cease to delight. Happy New year SweetBay! Thank you for sharing all you have with us this year and may 2010 be the best and filled with good health and much Joy! Diana

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  15. Lovely light in your frosty photos... just beautiful and still colorful! I love seeing your bucolic landscapes... The horses look snug in their warm blankets! All a painterly paradise. Best Wishes for the New Year Sweet bay! Carol

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  16. I may have made noises before along the lines that you have inspired me to buy my first rose. Well, you have. Though Nancy Lindley (formerly local rose expert, now retired in Thailand!) gets some credit, too. And I wanted you to know I've gotten as far as pick the variety: I really wanted an easy to care-for rose that has long-season bloom, fragrance, and, if possible, tolerates some shade. And I really like single flowers, and I'm not wild about red roses, nor (for the most part) pink ones. (You can see why I never thought I liked roses!). So I had narrowed it down to Veilchenblau and Golden Wings, and finally decided to go with Golden Wings! Now I just need to find a vendor. Thank you for all your wonderful photos of roses. Even if the particular cultivar didn't speak to me personally, your photos are so wonderful that I was inspired. Happy new year!

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  17. Beautiful photography, the close-ups are stunning. The frost is so pretty when the sun is shining on it.

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  18. Fantastic pics. Love that "sugar" on the plants. Brings back memories.

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  19. Yes, the winter landscape does have its own beauty, and you captured it well!

    Have a safe and good New Year!

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  20. Beautiful snow crystals! Your shots are gorgeous! The sun has been hiding behind clouds up here as well. On the first sunny day I am heading out with my camera on a winter photo hunt!

    Happy New Year!

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  21. Muy guapas las fotos del hielo ¡que frio!
    Saludos desde España y Feliz Año Nuevo.

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  22. Sweet bay, honest to goodness....those photos made me lean back and say, "Wow!"

    Can I please live with you on that beautiful land and have you teach me photography? And you'll have to buy me a new camera, too. I'm not asking too much of you, am I?

    The photo with the red blueberry bush leaves does not look like it could be real.

    An amazing post!

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  23. I can tell by your words and photos that you have a poet's heart!

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  24. Beautiful morning shots! The images with the frost are gorgeous. I was in NC when I took my shots...on the interstate near Pilot Mtn. I think in Airy...the previous post was in NC also. My daughter lives in Raleigh.
    Happy New Year!

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  25. I agree winter does have it's own beauty.The rose shot was especially beautiful.
    We are on a storm watch -high winds and either snow or rain for us.

    I wish you all the best for a healthy and happy new year!

    Carolyn

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