There is something magically
atmospheric, almost sacred about the freezing cold days of winter. Those days
where it is so cold that the forest is dead silent; not a single creature dares
to move in the bitter air, air so harsh it steals the songs from the birds. The
only sound is the pounding of the heart and the crunch of each step. Every
breath is captured by the Winter Queen, she jealously wicks moisture from the
heavy snows, destroying dreams of building snow women, turning joyous potential
to useless grainy sugar. Within moments, cold chills every inch of the body,
the one piece of exposed flesh becomes numb, eyes sting. More than ready to
turn back on this piercing arctic journey, wondering what possessed you to
embark on this glacial expedition in the first place. Then it happens, a
precious fairy tale moment where the sun shines her distant cold yellow light
in the hushed silence. The world sparkles and you become witness to an unlikely
beauty peeking through the snow in the frozen wildflower meadow. Dry, brown,
and brittle as they may seem, they are a glimpse of life to come, proudly
announcing their power and potential. They are the vessels, the glorious
keepers of the magic that patiently waits as winter yields to spring. These
mighty beings hold the seeds to bring forth the rising of plants and flowers.
They are there to welcome back the sun and all of the birds and woodland
creatures. These Winter Botanicals, elegant in their humble beauty, remind us
all that even in our darkest, coldest hours, light and hope are about to bloom.
The Winter Botanicals are part of the Woodland
Wildflower Meadow Photographs by Amy E. Fraser. Images captured in the woodland
wildflower meadow surrounding Amy E. Fraser’s home in the beautiful state of
New Hampshire. All images copyright Amy E. Fraser. All rights reserved.
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