The Warm WinterFebruary 28, 2016

In 2016, New England was struck with a surprisingly warm winter. The minimal amounts of snowfall, along with surprisingly warm temperatures, some days were over 60 degrees. The strange weather had a drastic effect on the look of the enviroment towards the end of February. The enviroment contained an interesting combination of ice and water, along with trees not covered with snow and leaves still remained on the ground from fall. The springtime feel of a running river, the winter feel of ice, and the abundance of autumn leaves give the enviroment a new look unknown during the average winter.

Cold Running River

Running water in February is a surprising sight to see. Winter, and its cold weather, usually freeze up rivers, leaving running water for spring summer and winter. The stream, never covered by ice, gives the forest the feel of spring, along with winter and fall from the enviroment around it.

Ice on Water

A combination rarely seen. On the aveage winter, streams would be frozen up with little running water, the weather was not cold enough to freeze the river, but cold enough as to

freeze other water and form icicles. The strange image of water in two different forms gives a surprising aestetic which shows a transition between the cold winter and the warm wet spring.

Barren Trees

Late Februrary is usually the time when trees, normally covered with snow, are undeniably beautiful. On the contrary, this winter left no snow for the trees, leaving them barren as ever. The empty trees along with the dead leaves below make the late winter seem like November.

Dead and AliveOne defining idea of winter: Everything is dead, all the flowers and leaves are gone because of the

cold weather. Winter 2016 brought an exception to that stereotype, with a comination of both dead plants, suffering from the cold days, and other herbs which are flourishing when they would

normally be dead and covered in white snow, waiting for spring to arrive so they can rise an bloom again.