he said
yes, it has been
a winter
The First Throw
The thing to consider about weeping willows, is that they are inherently mischievous.
There are many stories to support this thought. Tales of entanglement, trickery and enchantment. Stories also, of their wisdom.
If you lived much of your childhood beneath a graceful willow, you know the stories of wisdom are true. You will know, too, of their affability.
But, when you stop beneath a snow-laden willow on a day in late winter, you might be reminded of their playfulness. For the trees are awakening.
And while you are veiled in its beauty – when you feel encompassed and safe; it will start the battle then.
For what is wisdom, without humour?
it’s been a winter,
he said
yes, I love that it’s been a winter
© Karen McRae, 2013
draw and shoot 
Wonderful.
Thank you, Lois.
Beautifully stated.
Thanks, Allen.
I love willow trees too. They are among the first to awaken from winter and the last to go to sleep, holding on to their leaves as long as possible. I think if I were to reincarnate as a tree I would like to be a willow, graceful, mysterious, tenacious and flexible.
They are beautiful all year round, aren’t they? And I always think of them as so connected to the river, a shared connection in a way.
Have you noticed that they build their own soil to expand their range. The next time you are in a willow grove notice how the fallen branches form a mat that traps other organic matter and creates new areas for them to grow in. They also secrete a rooting hormone that enables them to propagate themselves. If you simply push a green branch into a moist environment it will take root.
Reading speeddemon’s comment made me chuckle. These trees are among my favourites (especially the weeping willow), but they are a pest along Australian waterways where broken branches self root and also grow too easily from seed.
After reading a couple of Louise Penny novels your winters scare the h…. out of me! Your photos wonderfully illustrate them, and I totally admire your ability to make these minimalist, stark and moving images under those conditions.
Oh there are harsh days, for sure. It’s quite lovely this week, just around freezing. The trick is to dress properly!
Thanks for your comment, christian. : )
So wonderful, playful and beautiful.
Thanks, Bente! It’s warming up here a bit – makes one feel more playful – hopefully for you too, soon!
Such a beautiful, wonderful piece Karen. 🙂
Thank you, Adrian, I’m glad you think so. : )
Nicely written and imaged!
Thank you.
Humor is not only for laughing = show the reality and make people to see,
“Yah, it’s true true in deed”, is also the humor.
So, see it is still winter = Yah, it’s true true ! 🙂
I like your choice to give shallow but clear enough depth and the out of focus
back ground —– the right balance !
Thanks, Yoshizen. The playfulness of nature! : )
Absolutely wonderful interpretations of these willows Karen!
Thank you, Phil. I love willow trees, I’m glad you like these.
glad to see more of your words Karen, they are your photographs’ twin.
Thank you, I struggle with finding words much of the time.
We grew up near a willow tree – it really did have this spirit – i remember hiding in it and feeling it was like a soft see through veil..great words Karen, and images that show the dark and light as always..
Hi Cath, yes willow trees do have something special about them. I spent many hours hidden in a willow as a child (a good place for book reading!). Thank you.
Karen – a charming post full of whimsy – winter has finally shown up in the Missouri Ozarks – snow flurries and just plain cold – but the weatherman has promised sunshine and 50 on Sunday – can’t complain too much! Happy 1st day of March to you – K
Thanks, Kathleen. I hope you are having a warm weekend!
So true about the weeping willow. They personify so much of what one is feeling on any given day-reflecting back, gentle mocking? Graceful and lovely. Wonderful Karen.
Thanks, Elena. Yes, gentle mocking is a good way to phrase it. : )
Karen, absolutely stunning, as always. The weeping willow tree is my favorite tree.. grew up with them. I even named my first website after my childhood memories… mysilverwillow.com. Thanks for awaking many memories and thoughts. Beautiful series.
Hi Erica,
Ah, we have shared a similar childhood experience. : )
They are magical trees, aren’t they? I will go climb your willow now… : )
Thank you!
I love it when you write words for your photographs. Both so compelling. I have a peripheral sense of trees’ mischievousness, now that you mention it. Like they’re moving around behind my back, pulling faces. And doesn’t aspirin come from willows?
Yes, aspirin does come from willows. I think that proves they are full of magic, doesn’t it?
Thanks, Anna!
A heavy, wet snow left a coating on everything with surface, in every direction. Each twig was covered. Then the day warmed…and the playful PLOP! of the trees became a game we played together…I stepped, the tree plooped, I looked up, the tree looked away, I looked down, I felt a plop on my back…I looked up again and the tree winked.
That’s it exactly, Scilla. You have met with a similar tree…
lovely and playful writing!! Beautiful images! Have a great weekend Karen!
Thank you, Mimo!
Dreamy.
Thanks, Helen.
Splendid! I spent many an hour beneath a weeping willow. They are good friends.
Indeed they are, Lemony! : )
Wonderful! Just brilliant – words and images. And willows – they’re so full of significance, but I haven’t thought of them this way. thanks!
Thanks for your comment, I’m glad you enjoyed this!
Lovely Karen and I bought my house because it has a magnificent weeping willow tree in the garden which is just know coming into bud 😀
That sounds lovely, Helen. We don’t have enough land here for a tree with those long-reaching roots but there is one close by.
Weeping willows winter wisely.
Wonderful!
Witty! : )
Sure has and with out photography I may never had made it through smiling 🙂
I know what you mean. It makes you look at the work in a different way. : )
🙂 it sure does
Gorgeous textures. Amazing. 🙂
Thank you, Nandini!
I have just read a book about Canadian winters and I’m not sure I would survive! You always manage to capture the softness, the beauty and the magic in your images, like that of a child waking up to the first snowfall, but then there is also an edge there too which reminds us that nature can be playful, and cruel as well as wondrous. Funny that the book made me think of your images. You seem so connected with nature, which is wonderful and heartwarming. I love your words and pictures of the mischievous willow!
Emily, the trick is to dress in thick layers and keep moving! I do get sick of the bundling up, though, spring is most welcome!
Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
I shall always love your winter, thank you for so much!
Thank you, Patti!
Haunting images of the winter the was.
Yes, still sort-of here, but slowly melting away. Thanks, Ray.
So beautifully writen and I love these photos 🙂
Thank you, Jocelyne.
Love the poetry here in text and image.
Thanks very much, Richard!
I fall more in love with your photos and words with each visit, Karen….
Such a nice thing to say, Scott. Thanks very much.
from my heart, Karen…and you’re most welcome
great works…It is a spectacle like seeing the dream completely.
A lovely comment, thank you!
Gorgeous writing Karen!!! 🙂 **
Thank you, Xandre, I’m glad you think so. : )
But remember these enchanted things are also healers – they are the source of the wonderful aspirin.
Yes, this is true. There are so many reasons to appreciate them.
when i was a kid we had a tiny garden plot close to the apartment building we lived in. we grew vegetables and flowers and used sticks of stripped willow branches as supports for sweet peas and other plants. one spring one of the ‘sticks’ grew roots and came to life. we kept it in the ground and made beds around it so it could become a tree. a year or two later we moved and i only got a chance to visit the place twenty years later. the ‘stick’ was still there, now a proud willow…
Yes, they are easy growers! That’s a nice story. Maybe you will get a chance to see it again…
Stupendous! Come visit me and read my poem. These beautiful photos are fitting for it. Great passage.
Thanks for your comment!
Your images of winter have become my images of winter. Beautiful. I live in San Francisco/