Lone Tree in a Blizzard

Description

March 2023 As I write this, we’ve just had our first thaw of the winter here in southwestern Ontario. Looks like the rest of the week will be slowly returning us to snowy weather, though perhaps the most intense blizzardy parts are almost done. Of course, there is a good chance that may all change before this hard Canadian winter finally loosens its grip. This image was made a couple of Marches ago during the last major winter storm of the season. As in most agricultural areas, we have many lone field trees in Huron and Perth County. While I go about my days as a rural community mental health worker I watch for them and make images when the conditions seem right. Most often I end up disappointed with the results but this one I like. The tree has such a unique shape and the sky was so cool. The blowing snow in the background obscures the forest a little, making the tree’s silhouette stand out a little better. I often wonder why trees like this one were left by farmers as they cleared the land. This one is medium-sized but often they are quite large. I’m not sure about the species, though the twigs and overall form seem to indicate a cherry or perhaps a basswood. They are often white elms or maples around here. Sometimes I imagine what this land was once like. Archeological evidence suggests that humans have lived here for around 11,000 years. Some of the original Indigenous people in my home area were agriculturalists. In their time, this place was forest with some isolated agricultural tracts. It has only been in the past 150 years or so that crops and pastures with small forest tracts have become the norm. Lone trees are a reminder that after glaciers left our area, Nature’s way was to bring forests to this place. I like to think there will come a time in many of these fields when they will become the ancestors who help create new forests.

Taken By

Doug Gordon

Taken On

February 27, 2025

Tagged

lone tree winter blizzard snow field blue clouds sky storm nature outdoors weather plant tree_trunk fog mist branch atmospheric_phenomenon twig natural_landscape trunk woody_plant grey

Assignments

Weather, Seasons and Sky Provinces