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When I head out for my morning hike I am glad to have a layer of Northface fleece under my Patagonia jacket.  An icy winter chill is blowing through the park  lowering the temperature into the teens.  The sun is radiant in a spectacular “Hot Springs Blue” sky, it is a perfect day for a long winter hike.  As I reach North Mountain the first thing I notice is a patch of frost covered vines.  Rising up from the vines is a lovely surprise beautiful tiny blooms, Purple Deadnettle.

Heading up the the Floral Trail I see Frost Flowers blooming on the Trail edges.  They are caused by moisture extruding from cracks in the base of a dead plant stem. The ribbons of ice are pushed out the dead stems forming the beautiful shapes as found in my photographs.  I hope to capture many more this coming winter. The straws (deceased plants) suck up the moisture and create spectacular ribbons of ice. To learn more please read my old blog entry Ice Ribbons and Frost Flowers.

All along the Lower and Upper Dogwood Trail colorful rocks sparkle in the Morning sun.  Painted by Nature in rose, orange, grey, pink, white, yellow and black each rock is a work of art. Coated in morning frost the quartz and newly forming crystals are the jewels of the winter Forest.

When I reach the Goat Rock Trail the sun warms my face and I close my eyes for a brief morning meditation. As I turn to head up the trail the sound of a soft crunching in the leaves catches my attention.  I look up to see one, two, three, four and then a fifth Whitetail Deer.  Each moving gracefully up the hill above me and turning to see what I am doing on the trail below.  Usually I see groupings of three Does moving through the park, this was the first herd of five.

Further up the trail splashes of purple appear among the leaves and twigs covering the Forest floor.  Velvety Bird-Foot Violets have emerged from their sleep in subtle shares of purple and violet.  Gracefully bowing among the Violets are sheer blossoms of False Garlic.  Spring is unfurling in the icy cold of winters breath.

My wonderful hike concludes as it began with a Robin observing my presence from the Fountain Trail.

Have a wonderful time on the Trail…
Love to ALL!
Lee