Category: Nature

And soon it will be spring

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This weekend was a lot warmer than the last weeks and yesterday was the first day in March which, in Norway, is considered as the first month of spring. I like March, not only because I was born in March, but I like that the days are getting longer, the air is warmer and soon the forest starts living again. Birds are singing and the trees are budding, the snow is vanishing day by day and a walk in the forest is again possible.

Besides knitting a walk in the forest is my way to mindfulness, it has always been that way. The forest makes me breathe and my mind gets to rest from busy thoughts. Shinrin-Yoku (“forest bathing”) is used in Japan as therapeutic relaxation. It works, if I am stressed or in a bad temper a walk in the forest makes me feel much better, it gives you new energy. You should try it, if you live in the city a walk in the park will have the same effect!

February 2025

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It has been a long time since my last blog-post. I have no excuse other than I stopped photographing as much as I used to and this led to less photos for my blog-posts. Having a puppy also took a lot of time, but this was not the reason. Lately I have started to miss blogging and I have started to bring my camera when I am out hiking with my dogs.

Last September I attended to an arrangement in Oslo where Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson spoke about the Norwegian forest. She is a scientist and professor at NMBU in Ås (Norway). She spoke about the importance of conservation of the forest and about the plants, moss, insects, beetles and mushrooms (and many more) that has its role in keeping the forest alive and in balance. Her speech was based on her book “Skogen – om trær, folk og 25000 andre arter” (in English it would be something like: “The forest – trees, people and 25000 other species”.). If one of these 25000 living beings disappear it can have serious consequences for the forest and the environment. Her speech was very enlightening and interesting and it made me think that hiking in the forest is kind of my way getting to know the forest and after listening to her speech (and also reading her book) I wanted to learn even more.

The photo below is a close up of a birch tree with green lichen (I do not know which it is). Both the color and shape is beautiful. I wonder what can be the purpose for this lichen growing on the birch?

Autumn leaves

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I have always loved trees and the forest. Where I grew up the forest mainly was spruce, pine and birch. But moving closer to the Norwegian coast, where I live now, oak is also common. I think oak is one of the most beautiful trees together with maple. I like to photograph the oak leaves the whole year around, its shape is so beautiful. And the branches on the tree are so elegant and gives the tree such a wonderful shape.

Now it is November and almost all the leaves on my favourite oak trees has fallen to the ground. They are still beautiful, resting on the the field covered with frost, snow or droplets.

Soon the leaves will be covered with white snow and the trees stands naked until spring arrives and gives new life to next years leaves. I am looking forward to that.

Norwegian November

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Winter can be a beautiful time with frosted leaves and and a drizzle of light snow over the green moss. But often it is heavy rain and constant lack of color. The sunrise is late in the morning and the sunset is early in the afternoon. But sometimes the sun shines and the trees covered with frost sparkles in the sunshine.

If you walk slowly and take time to notice your surroundings you will find colors or beautiful details like in the photos below. The little mushroom surprised by the first snow and a frosty night. A forgotten red apple outside an abandoned house and the ice crystals on the dry, brown fern leaves.

Colors of spring

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This winter felt like an eternity. It was cold, dark and too much snow. The winter was beautiful, yes, but every thing that lasts too long becomes kind of boring.

In Norway spring normally starts in April, but the snow kept coming and the winter seemed endless. Finally in May the temperature rised and the snow started to melt. And then everything happened in a higher speed than I am used to, nature exploded.

Just the other day I took a little hike in the little forest just outside my garden and the blueberry flowers were in full bloom. So spring arrived late this year, but now everything is just fine.

December vibes

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Nature changes when winter arrives and cover the forest with white snow and the leaves, still on the branches, is decorated with frost. It’s just like the forest prepares for the Christmas holidays.

Little droplets

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December is here. The first snow fell in November but it all was washed away by the rain a week later, leaving little droplets in the green moss. Sometimes you can see the mirror of the surroundings in these little droplets. Take a closer look the next time you take a stroll in the forest, maybe you find a hidden world in a droplet.

The old oak

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Old trees are fascinating in so many ways. Especially oak trees.

I often wonder : “How old are these trees?” and “what did the landscape look like when they were little saplings?” Think of all the history and development they have experienced through the years.

The appearance of an oak tree changes all through the year and display different kinds of beauty and color in each season. It is fascinating how the oak tree dressed up in white after the first snowfall. The white snow, resting on the branches, makes the beautiful shapes of all the crocked branches visible. Even though the pattern of the many branches is very intricate the white snow somehow gives the whole oak tree a calm expression. This is one of my favorite impressions of winter.

The first snow

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It is late November and the other day the first snow started floating in the cold air. Quiet it fell to the ground like someone was sprinkling icing sugar over the landscape. The grainy, tiny snowflakes covered the dead, brown plants and brought back the shape of the leaves. Mushrooms was decorated with a layer of white ice crystals. The first hint of winter has arrived and soon the whole landscape will turn completely white.