Winter Woods on the Cusp of Spring, Central Vermont

Technically speaking it was mud season when I arrived in Vermont on March 26th, 2022. All of the snow had melted and all of that water had made a muddy mess of dirt roads and driveways. The air was warm, in a relative, New England kind of way, and even the earliest signs of spring in the plant life were weeks away. This limbo between winter wonderland and verdant explosion of foliage would generally be considered the least picturesque time of year, but for a nemophilist there is always beauty to be found in the forest. As it turned out there was some snow while I was there, which inspired me to get into the woods with my camera. Below are a few favorite images from those walks.

I actually started this post last April when I got back to Washington, but I was so grief-stricken from the recent unexpected passing of my Mom that I barely got started before giving up on it. Right now in New England everyone has had quite enough of winter, and is eager for signs of spring. I know my Mom would be just as ready for spring as everyone else, if we were lucky enough to still have her with us, but I also know that she would appreciate the simple beauty of these photographs. Indeed, she was so good at recognizing and savoring the beauty of everyday moments, which really are the focus of most of my photography. I hope that you will find some beauty here, and more importantly on your own wanders, or just outside your door or window.

Spruces with American Beech, Paper Birch, Red Maple and Witch Hazel. Last year’s orange leaves identify the beech, the straight gray trunk of the maple is to the right of the birch and the wily Witch Hazel leans out from in front of the maple.

Paper Birch with Yellow Birch in the background.

Here the Yellow Birch is in front, with Paper Birches in the background. Golden green moss adorns the base of the Yellow birch and dark green in the background is courtesy of spruce saplings.

Eastern Hemlock and Paper Birch.

Shadows cast by Sugar Maple and Paper Birch.

Yellow Birch by a lichen-crusted outcropping.

Stream waterfall with icicles and Yellow Birch.

Tree Clubmoss. Neither tree nor moss, but more closely related to the latter. Like mosses the Club Mosses, or Lycopods, are spore plants. The strobilus seen at the top of this plant is the spore-bearing structures, the “club” in their common name.

Mature Eastern Hemlock in a stone wall by the road.

More Eastern Hemlock in the same stone wall.

The Worcester Range seen through Paper Birch and Sugar Maple.

Thanks for taking a look. If you would like to see more Vermont winter woods photos let me know in a comment below and I’ll post another series soon. Also, if you want to see and read about spring highlights in western Washington please visit my home page and sign up for my newsletter.