By: Dare Euler, Rewild NJ Movement Member
Leaves, those productive energy factories of spring and summer, lay crunchy on the ground at the mercy of blasts from northern winds. They tumble at the base of the trees they nurtured. White almost sepulchral limbs of sycamores claw at gray skies.
Yet in what at first glance seems barren and desolate, the woods have opened themselves to a close, intimate look at what has remained concealed during the verdant months of growth. It is seeing into the soul, the bedrock of the life of the ecosystem. The individual forms of tree species reveal themselves, expressing their identity in structure and bark. Evergreens shout their supremacy of green as the sole reminders of vibrant life still flowing in sap and through roots. The understory clears, giving long sight lines into the heart of the forest. Wildlife routes appear as evident as trails of man. Burrows, dens, and nests materialize attesting to the abundance of life inhabiting the woods. Soil patterns and rock formations emerge from under the canopy in a stark reminder of the strength and foundation beneath.
So when out taking a frosty walk this season of limited light, look with wild eyes at what winter reveals. Enjoy the crisp air and the understated beauty that lets us peer more deeply into the heart and soul of the woods around us. Like an etching, delight in the lines and forms that come spring will again shyly hide behind greenery. Let’s get wild this winter!
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