Winter Walk in a Suffolk Wood

A gloriously bright and sunny December day, cold and clear; some pictures from a Suffolk wood.
The low winter sun was producing some lovely lighting effects, so glad I took my camera!




I loved the way this mature Alder stood out against a clear blue sky:




Into the wood:




Time to stop and reflect.






Alder catkins:




Along the woodland edge:




Where does the path lead next?

 

Even at this time of the year....thats beautiful.

 

Lovely Pics.

Catkins already:OUCH:

 

Yup, there are plenty showing already, although they're still some way from opening yet.

I see that particular wood almost every day, as it's very close to where I work. It does contain a lot of mature Alders, from December onwards they are covered in those lovely fat catkins. When seen from a distance it gives the whole tree the appearance of being covered in a kind of purple haze.

Put several of those trees together and the effect can be quite beautiful.

From day to day throughout the winter, you see subtle changes in their appearance as the light conditions vary according to the weather and the catkins slowly swell and change colour en masse until they open in early spring.

For me, Alder is one of those trees which looks as good in winter as it does in summer.

 

"Purple Haze"?

Is it tomorrow or just the end of time?

I love an Alder with its cones silhouetted against a clear blue sky.