The Hazel Bird Nature Reserve is a Nature Conservancy of Canada property. Every year, our hiking club visits this interesting tall grass prairie, sand barren, oak woodland and black oak savannah. I love seeing it when there is snow on the ground. You can see the progress of their restoration easier then. This morning, I was amazed at how tall the little oak trees were getting.
Prairie grasses were splaying their arms wide as we walked up the fairly steep hill. It's like they were saying, "Welcome!"
Some winter mornings are perfect for hiking in the snow. Today was one of them. The temperature was right around freezing, so the snow didn't stick to our boots.
Don't you just love people who find any reason to celebrate? We made it up the hill! Yay!
Maybe she had a better view than I did. Looking back to where we came from, it was an accomplishment to celebrate.
I had the urge to go back and put red Christmas decorations on these spreading junipers. A little extra colour would brighten the scene, don't you think?
It's interesting how the grasses bunch up visually along each little hill. Do you see the heavier lines of grasses?
We were chatting about winter colours today. Here's an example of just a few colours in just this one scene. Can you find them all? The grey one might take some sleuthing.
It seems that around every corner there's a different ecosystem.....
...... and interesting things like two different types of oak side-by-side.
Our leader made sure that we had time to take a break to enjoy each others' company.
Hazel Bird Nature Reserve is free to visit. There is beauty to be seen in every direction.
Even looking down.
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth
find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature --
the assurance that dawn comes after night,
and spring after winter.”
Rachel Carson
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