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Today we have more lovely landscapes from Peter Lindsay. His IDs and notes are indented, and you can click on the photos to enlarge them.
In response to your call for photographs I am attaching a second batch of photographs I have made in my adopted home of south-western Manitoba.
The subject of the first four images are depression ponds and sloughs in different seasons. These bodies have no natural inlet; the water collects from the runoff from snow melt in the spring. During hot and dry summers they often completely disappear.
Hoar frost:
Lone trees don’t often fare that well on the prairies. The dead tree in the next image stands in the bottom of a depression which is frequently flooded in the spring and dry for most of the summer. It disappeared a few years ago; probably carried off by the waters during the spring flooding.
The next two images are of Quaking Aspen (Populous tremuloides), one of the most common trees of the aspen parkland region in the Prairie Provinces of Canada, as well as the extreme northwest Minnesota. They form clonal colonies with all trees sharing the same root structure. The colony in the first photo is on the very edge of a large grazing field. The second photo shows a colony of four trees. Did the rest of the colony die off, or is this the beginning of a new one?
The last three images show one of my favourite windbreaks, or shelterbelts, in western Manitoba. These trees originally served to hold moisture and prevent topsoil loss. They also offer some protection and nesting sites for birds. This windbreak, although somewhat deteriorated at one end, is over one kilometre long.
Beautiful! Very artistic!
Ditto – thanks for sharing them.
Lovely photos of the seasons. Beautiful country.
A strong fantasy effect – like some symphonic recording artwork – plus nature basics – viz. windbreak – delightful!
Very nice photos. South eastern Manitoba I have seen long ago around Lake of the Woods. Other than a fishing trip many years later it was the only time I made it to Canada. I suppose North Dakota would be closer to the land and views around your parts. I spent a bit of time in Jamestown, North Dakota but that was also many years ago. (summer time)
I really love these photos. They make me want to see these places in person!
And may I also just add as an aside, “hoar frost” is one of my favorite terms. It sounds (and even looks) almost ominous, and certainly chilly.
There’s an A. A. Milne poem with “hoar frost twinkles” in it. I think it is in a poem that comes to Pooh. First time I heard of “hoar frost” was that poem.
While I’m here
There are fascinating live oak windbreak features on some coast regions I’ve seen.
hoar is an old English word for frost. So the phrase is somewhat redundant. Most people use the term for icing effects from freezing fog, which seems to be the case here.
Absolutely stunning! Thank you for sharing them.
Those are gorgeous. Well worth the embiggening. 👍
Manitoba here I come. Thanks for sending!
Beautiful photos Peter! Thanks!
Excerpt From Winnie-the-Pooh, by A. A. Milne, chapter 8 (possibly) :
…
On Thursday, when it starts to freeze And hoar-frost twinkles on the trees, How very readily one sees That these are whose—but whose are these?
…
These are great photos – thanks for sharing. Manitoba is one beautiful place!
Beautiful. Hope I’ll be able finally to drive through there again this summer/fall.
These are amazing!
The photos give a sense of wide-open spaces, very nice feeling.
Beautiful and elegant – I enjoyed every one! Thank you for sharing these!
The windbreaks remind me of Monet’s haystacks. Beautiful.
Many thanks to all of you for your kind remarks. The natural landscape of south-western Manitoba continues to be a source of inspiration for me.