• Tuesday-What'sUP January 20 - 09:45 pm

If you get outside to explore the woods on skis or snowshoes, you'll discover some of nature that you don't really notice in the summer or fall, like the little shapes on the snow in today's photo from David Roberts. I'm not sure what they are, but I'm assuming some type of seedling, perhaps from an oak tree, since that looks like it might be an oak leaf half buried in the snow. Without the snowcover on the ground here UP North, those jewels of nature would be lost on the forest floor and go unnoticed. Just the same, in David's second shot, if the ground leading up to that woodsy edge were green with grass, you might not notice the distinct line the trees and brush form where the bush begins. So, there's another reason to be thankful for snow, the hidden beauty it reveals.

Nice pictures today, winter is such a peaceful time of year!

I got this email recently, and if all the Pasty readers would click on the link...WE'd feed a bunch of animals!! Please consider doing this!

HAPPY INAUGURATION DAY!!!


"Hi, all you animal lovers. This is pretty simple...

The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (How about 20 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals' for free. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.
Here's the web site!"

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

There is a Bush that leaves in Washington DC today.

yes

Those little shapes on top of the snow (the ones that kind of look like little bitty oak leaves) are actually white birch (paper birch) female bracts. Though the seeds themselves are shed in early autumn, the bracts persist until they are knocked off by winter's wind & cold.

See "Michigan Trees" for reference:

http://books.google.com/books?id=zoSRtnHWO9AC&pg=PA254&lpg=PA254&dq=paper+birch+bracts&source=web&ots=zyx_R_TWXH&sig=6-gm156yCjCY8C6At09MJeE1ONw&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result

(I pulled out my copy as soon as I saw the picture.)

Can I get a degree if I remember all the science stuff I read on pasty?

WE ALL NEED TO SAY PRAYERS FOR OUR NEW PRESIDENT. EVEN WE WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM. I KNOW I WOULD NOT WANT THE JOB.

Hi
While not as flashy as yesterday's pictures, these are nice winter studies. I particulary like the green in the foreground contrasting with the white, gray and black in the background.

You guys taking such great "snow" pictures make me envious.
Living in SW Virginia as we do, all us ex-yoopers can do for snow
these days is to view it online. We miss "real" winters!

Again, nice pics. Nice 2 c a little overlap in the seasons (Autumn leaf in the snow).

Its great to take the time to really look at what
may be passed by so quickly...Nice pics. Quick
question...Does anyone have any suggestions on a
good or better type of snow shoe to get. I have
done some hiking thru deep snow but it would have
been nice to be on snow shoes.

Mike,
Call around some of the winter sports stores to find out more about snowshoes. You probably want longer, narrower ones. One U.P. company custom makes them for your height and weight. The older style "bear paws" are uncomfortable if you are on them for a longer period of time because your feet are spread out more to compensate for the width of the snowshoe. Good luck!

Hei Mel, MN I have a birch tree right outside of the kitchen window that does the same. The little bracts cover the car if it's parked too close. And they really stick! That tree is interesting in the spring, too.

Ann, Thanks for the info!

Ann, thanks for the info!