Oak trees hum softly behind me as a cool breeze rustles their crackling brown leaves. After the past week of freezing weather this gentle breeze feels almost warm. It smells almost like spring. Various birds sing, some emit soft quick chirps, others let loose more elaborate melodies. Squirrels chatter loudly as if entangled in some sort of argument. Cars thunder past in the distance, emitting a low rumbling roar, which reaches a peak as they pass, and then fades softly away. Ice stretches out before me, enveloping the lake, like a starch winter blanket. Near perfect ovals perforate this deep gray cover wherever a fountain is found. Dark regions of ice reach out spidery arms, which (look remarkably like the neural cells we cultured last semester – shout out to cell bio!). Did these patterns form when the ice was pierced by human interference, or did this occur naturally?
Closer to the shore the ice is slowly retreating. There is a curious geometry to the ice. Straight lines, shards, lay parallel and perpendicular creating transient shapes. They remind me of the math blocks kids used to play with in elementary school
I take a closer look. Pure white air bubbles lay trapped beneath the surface, along with an oak leave collaged with multiple shades of brown, sandy colored pine needles, and a green spotted piece of bark.
Though I try to focus on the ice, I cannot help but be drawn to a majestic loblolly reaching out over the pond. Bands of light race across its bulk, traversing from branches to needles, as if choreographed to some primordial pulse. My eyes sweep the lake, searching for the source of this ethereal cadence. Ahah! It must be the reflection of the sun glancing off ripples from the lake. I smile slightly at my discovery.
From afar the ice is beautiful, yet up close it is breathtaking. Walking along the path to D-hall I appreciate how it glistens as the sun dances off its surface. Yet, I miss the little things; leaves half frozen, and the intricate patterns created as the ice freezes and refreezes. It seems natural to sit here and write, yet I wonder if I hadn’t been given this assignment would I have still had this opportunity for discovery and reflection?
It’s easy to say I will sit and reflect, yet it is another thing entirely to take the time to follow through. There is so much beauty in the world, but many times we are too focused on the big picture to notice the small intricacies life has given us. Take the time. It is truly worth it.
I had several questions as I was sitting outside, yet wasn’t able to work them into the body of my post. If anyone else is curious here’s one below!
Why don’t some oak trees lose their leaves in winter?
http://northernwoodlands.org/articles/article/why-do-some-leaves-persist-on-beech-and-oak-trees-well-into-winter … the text below was copy and pasted from the article
“Retaining leaves until spring could be a means of slowing the decomposition of the leaves (they would rot faster if on the ground) and that dropping them in spring delivers organic material (think compost or mulch) at a time when it is most needed by the growing parent tree. Even small amounts at the right time could shift the competitive advantage toward these species on poor sites.”
“Others suggest that retained leaves, particularly on young trees and the lower branches on bigger trees, is an effective means of trapping snow like a fence, leading to more moisture at the base of the trees come spring. Still others have hypothesized that persistent leaves might provide some frost protection for buds and new twigs over winter. And at least one study suggested that marcescent foliage could be a deterrent to browsing by deer and moose. Buds hidden by clusters of dead leaves do not get eaten and thus live to become new shoots and leaves in spring.”