sel.
Make that Teasel.
Winter here in eastern Pennsylvania seems particularly depressing at times. The bright colors of Spring, Summer and Fall give way to the depressing browns and grays of Winter. And the snowstorms of my childhood seem to have been replaced by the ice storms of my adulthood. I still go out and wander about trying to soak in what wonders of nature remain in that bleak landscape. And I always have my trusty Canon DSLR with me. But now, in winter, I have to look small. I look for beauty in the little things.
At least once a month, I find myself back among the old stand of Teasels – one of my favorite wildflowers precisely because they are there waiting for me year around. Oh come winter, they are no longer in bloom. What we have left are the dried out seed pods standing staunchly in the wind, unbending in the face of these Pennsylvania ice storms.
As I walk along the trail, I know they will be waiting for me just around the corner. And they never fail. Here is an image of my faithful Teasel standing strong after an overnight ice storm back just before Christmas.
(This image is Copyright Ed Vatza 2009. Usage without my prior written approval is prohibited.)