Friday, December 5, 2014

The Freeze-Up Begins

Regardless of the amount of snow we get (it seems to come and go with the weather), once temperatures stay mostly below freezing, the freeze-up of wetlands, ponds and streams begins.  If you're in search of reflections, as I was, you're out of luck!

I thought I'd catch at least a few reflections as I drove around a few days ago photographing barns and fences, but this wetland was completely iced-over.  Certainly not thick ice yet, my foot would have plunged right through, but complete, with wisps of snow blowing around on top, accumulating against last summer's dried brown vegetation.

It amazes me that denizens of a wetland like this can survive, perhaps hibernating, in the mud beneath the ice and frigid water.  Some frogs even partially freeze and then wake up again in the spring like magic!

This was the closest I came to finding reflections in water.  This is a year-round spring, which never freezes in my experience, and varies only a little in flow over the year.  You can see the snowflakes in the air, and I'll undoubtedly post a winter picture of this wrapped in white eventually.

The closest stream to us, which actually isn't in the valley at all, is the Rocky Saugeen, quite close to the headwater springs.  It has frozen well in from the sides, but with a fairly strong flowing current, hasn't frozen down the middle just yet.

Oh, and I finally did find my relfection when I turned around and noticed it in the window of our shed.  I'm going to have to become more creative in my photography!

Linking to:
/

15 comments:

  1. lovely shots..even without reflections...and great reflection in your window!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The frozen wetland is pretty, even if there was no reflections.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've always liked the look of wetlands in winter. Beautiful shots!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very nice pictures indeed. I enjoyed seeing what it looks like there today, and can imagine it in another month. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. You did get some great shots, and love the tree in the window!

    ReplyDelete
  6. A silver pathway in the river's middle, reflection superb. lovely series in all, Jean.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Boy that looks lovely but cold!! BURRR! Love the reflection you caught in the window. Have a lovely weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think your photography is perfect . Wonderful photos . I love just getting out there and getting lost in the beauty of nature ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good weekend !

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the greys, golden tans and whites in these photos. Reflections are indeed difficult to find this time of year but I think you've solved the problem for this week. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Brrrr! Looks so cold. And that's a fabulous reflection shot - nice work!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love your marshland photos. The colours are so soft and neutral (like many homes these days). I noticed the ponds have frozen here this past week or so and yesterday I noticed the head pond (lake) above the Mactaquac Dam has a light icing and snow. It won't be long before the snowmobilers will be crossing it. It's always a dare for the first one to cross and they are proud of their accomplishment!! Scary.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Perhaps you'd like to become more creative from a purely photographic standpoint, but I find this a very interesting little series on the kinds of swamps, wetlands and water courses that are so familiar to us. It seems to me that they tend to get photographed from spring through fall when there is more colour and more activity, but you have really captured the essence of early winter in these pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a beautiful reflection.
    Still warm here and rainy. I'd much rather have snow. At least it is pretty to look at.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well the search was as much fun as the find!

    ReplyDelete