Today the frost at Sun Rising was beautiful. It wasn’t deep enough to deter any tree planting, the sun quickly melting and warming the ground, leaving pools of frost in small areas of shade. With tree planting over the coming week or so, we are hoping the temperatures don’t drop any further, however.
Tree Plaques in Hoar Frost
I can’t walk as far as the lake, but the boys went down without me and reported back that it was frozen thick, as was much of the water in the brook. Already the first part of the season’s cycle is with us : I shall get them to take photos over the coming days of cold weather so that in the summer months, when the area is green and full of life, we can remember these cold white days.
At the birdfeeder we’ve been seeing a good number of tree sparrows – a newcomer to the feeder. With their sharp black cheek marks, they always seem very distinguished to me, as if smartly dressed. Some local pheasants have made a little circular run beneath the feeder, and walk around picking up the spilled grains, and it had grown muddy in recent weeks, but today it was frozen solid. It didn’t deter them though, and I watched them quietly and methodically walking their little circle, pecking at the earth.
Winter has arrived, and the grasslands feel quiet beneath the frost, but still there is a wonderful hum of life in the hedgerows.
