Determination Thursday, Jan 21 2016 

Modern Photos acairfearann 22:33

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There is, sadly no scale in this image, but suffice it that a man a bit over six feet can easily stand beneath this tree which has a diameter of about 8 inches where the ‘trunk’ actually starts.

It might be better to ask what this is?  This is a perfectly well formed black birch actually, much healthier than its compatriots of the same age growing around it.  It has a nice full and balanced crown.  It just started in a slightly unusual location.  Namely at the top of a pine snag about eight feet tall.

This second picture shows its growth clearly. You can see through the old snag, which provides no structural support at all.

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One can see where the legends of walking trees come from.  Fancy meeting this in woods (once the snag falls out) on a moonlight night?

 

Shades of a painting Friday, Jan 15 2016 

Landscapes and Modern Photos acairfearann 20:03

I recall by a Canadian painter done in the mid twentieth century of a snag up on Lake Superior. Not quite framed right, but I wasn’t there to do artistic photography.

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Forest Edge Monday, Jan 4 2016 

Landscapes and Modern Photos acairfearann 17:56

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I hadn’t really noticed the colours in this photo when I was taking it, to focused on documenting the stream course for the land trust.

(I wish those were healthier hemlocks, but one can’t have everything.)

 

Satan’s Kingdom Friday, Dec 11 2015 

Landscapes and Modern Photos acairfearann 21:20

Sometime, when I have more time, I will walk this trail (I know exactly where it goes). Preferably on a relatively ‘unpleasant’ day so as to reduce the number of people making like corks in the river below.  Winter is good.  Perhaps a bit treacherous given the rocks and water.  I have never seen so much liverwort in one spot in New England: just up around the curve was a cliff where the sun never hits and a convenient spring way up at the top is a constant source of water. Impressive. Easily a hundred plus square feet and so old that it was spongy to the touch.

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Rocks, Folded.

 

Forgotten Road Thursday, Nov 19 2015 

Landscapes and Modern Photos , acairfearann 22:33

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Summer Glories Past Tuesday, Nov 17 2015 

Landscapes and Modern Photos acairfearann 21:27

On days such as this, when the trees are bare, dark bones and sunset comes down hard and fast, the red blade of night.

Photographs such as this are a remarkable reminder of the passing seasons

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Valley Fog Tuesday, Nov 3 2015 

Modern Photos acairfearann 22:30

One of the oddities of the nearby river system* is that it can produce a heavy fog bank: warm water mixing with cold air, but limited to a single valley because it is also mixing with a another river branch which will generally have colder water.*

Consequently it isn’t uncommon to start out at a 1000 feet with clear blue sky, then see this ahead and below the next hill:

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Which will become this:

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And end up as this at 400 feet:

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Before clearing out completely in about three miles.

*It isn’t a valley: two main rivers, several minor rivers, four (technically five) reservoirs, and two distinct river types squeezed into a few miles.

*It really depends on how much water is needed and where.

 

Evening Fire Wednesday, Oct 28 2015 

Esperanza and Landscapes and Modern Photos , , acairfearann 12:03

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Connecticut Thursday, Oct 15 2015 

Landscapes and Modern Photos , acairfearann 17:52

is not flat!

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Yes, off to the right is water. Yes, I ended up down by it. Then I wandered over and climbed up and down the other side. Apparently, I am in better shape than I thought I was.

(I cheated, I drove around to the other side to do that bit!)

 

Lower Farmington Wednesday, Oct 14 2015 

Modern Photos acairfearann 21:41

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I could post pictures of apples, bushels upon bushels.  Or of lovely fall color here in the hedgerow. Or the garden that desperately needs work! But my current focus is on this river one way or another. So, the lower/mid Farmington flowing east but about to turn north towards Tariffville.

The shadow is an old railroad bridge, a big old railroad bridge. The old New Haven and Northampton Canal Line, a Connecticut dream.

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It isn’t a pretty bridge, which is a pity. It would be interesting to see it at flood stage, which is what it was designed for. It was rebuilt after the 1955 Flood and was designed to withstand similar flooding without damage. The 1955 Flood stage is just slightly less than halfway up the pier. It was abandoned in 1991 and is now open to pedestrians.

 

 

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