The Shape of Snow

Monday we woke to a pristine world, with about six inches of fluffy snow covering everything.  Early in the day, it stuck to the trees, and buildings, but it soon melted as the sun came through the clouds, and good luck if you were out there without sunglasses.

What a wonderful day for the end of February. It was sunny, bright, white, clean and very mild.

I love this old choke cherry tree between Wheelhouse and Cedars cottage.  The snow outlined its shape perfectly against the sky.

In winter, these twisty branches provide perches for our bluejays and chickadees, ravens and woodpeckers.  In summer, it is a profusion of green, a haven for birds, and as the fruit ripens on the tree into the autumn, it becomes a mecca. This is one of the best places to bird watch for the pileated woodpecker -- sitting in a chair on Wheelhouse's deck, with your feet up and a cup of tea in one hand, binoculars or camera in the other, and let the bird come to you!  It's truly a beautiful tree for all seasons.  Winter is just the season that best shows off the true shape of these lovely branches.