Happy Holidays!

(Merry) Christmas Fern

Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) – The common name refers to the practice of gathering the distinctive glossy green fronds that are still on display in the landscape during Christmas time as a holiday decoration. Collecting a few fronds to include in your holiday decorations won’t harm the plant since the older fronds will be replaced with new fronds in the spring.

O’ Tannenbaum!

O Tannenbaum – Princess Pine (Club Moss) adorned by Canada Mayflower berries

As delicate as a snowflake

Miterwort (Mitella diphylla)

What are your favorite winter solstice plants? Read more.

Season’s Greetings!

Morning Stroll through a Bejeweled Mooney Carrese Forest

After yesterday’s sleet and freezing rain followed by today’s sunny skies, it seemed an opportune time to take a leisurely walk through the Mooney Carrese Forest. Mooney Carrese Forest is located within Veterans Memorial Park in the Town of Clifton Park.

Backlit by the morning sun, the views did not disappoint.

Glazed White Pine (Pinus strobus) – Can you count the number of needles in each bundle?

Winterberry under glass – Glazed fruit of Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Prehistoric forest – collection of clubmoss, whose species have existed since before the glaciation of North America

Glazed bright red pedicle of Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

Bejeweled Mooney Carrese Forest

More winter wonderland scenes are forthcoming. Hope you seize the next “photo op” that Mother Nature offers.

Happy trails!

‘Tis the Season of Wintery Scenes

Welcome to winter!

The winter solstice will occur on December 21. The season offers opportunities aplenty to view our winter landscape from a number of perspectives –

Up close:

O Tannenbaum – Princess Pine (Club Moss) adorned by Canada Mayflower berries

From afar:

View of St. Regis Mountain (part of Adirondack Mountains) from Heron Marsh trail at Visitor Interpretive Center near Paul Smiths, NY

Time of day (and with shorter days, the opportunities pass quickly!):

Winter Twilight

Contrasts within winter’s whiteness:

In the abstract:

Adirondack winter scene

As a medium for imprints:

Turkey tracks

The arrival of this new season will mark the return of the shortest days of the entire year.  How do you want to enjoy the outdoors with those few hours of daylight?

Here is a list of winter outdoor and online activities to consider:

• Winter Solstice Sunset Hike (12/21/2021 @ 4pm)
• Ursids Meteor Showers (nightly through 12/24/2021 with peak overnight on 12/21/2021)
• Winter Break Walk to Hight Point at Thacher Nature Center (12/23/2021 @ 1pm)
• Quadrantids Meteor Showers (nightly between 12/26/2021 through 1/16/2022 with peak overnight on 1/2/2022)
• Pine Bush Grab and Go: Scavenger Hunt Adventure (12/28/2021 @ 11am)
• Pine Bush Grab and Go: Nature Journaling Adventure (12/29/2021 @ 11am)
• Pine Bush Grab and Go: Winter Signs and Tracking Adventure (12/30/2021 @ 11am)
• First Day Hike:
  • Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (1/1/2022 @ 10:30am and 1pm)
  • Grafton Lakes State Park (1/1/2022 @ 11am and 1pm)
  • Moreau Lake State Park (1/1/2022 @ 11am)
  • Peebles Island State Park (1/1/2022 @ 10am and 1pm)
  • Saratoga Spa State Park (1/1/2022 @ 10am)
  • Thacher Nature Center (1/1/2022 @ 10am)
• Discover the Pine Bush (1/6/2022 @ 2pm)
• Moonlight Hike (1/15/2022 @ 5:30pm)
• Moonlight Hike (1/16/2022 @ 5:30pm)
• Full Moon Hike for Adults (1/18/2022 @ 6:30pm)
• Protecting Birds from Window Collisions (online event 1/19/2022 @ 7pm; you must register in advance)
• Beginner Snowshoe Hike (1/22/2022 @ 1pm)
• Winter Snowshoe Discovery Walk (1/22/2022 @ 3:30pm)
• Discover the Pine Bush (1/23/2022 @ 1pm)
• Winter Wildflower Sowing (1/23/2022 @ 1pm)
• Snowshoe Hike (1/29/2022 @ 11am)
• Winter Bird Walk (1/30/2022 @ 1pm)
• Winter Snowshoe Hike (2/5/2022 @ 1pm)
• Winter Snowshoe Discovery Walk (2/5/2022 @ 3:30pm)
• Moonlight Hike (2/15/2022 @ 6pm)
• Moonlight Hike (2/16/2022 @ 6pm)
• Winter Life of Bald Eagles (2/19/2022 @ 1pm)
• Great Backyard Bird Count (2/20/2022 @ 1pm)

Happy trails!