This morning we hiked to an area we haven't been since the fall

I couldn't resist getting close to this exquisite healing-green moss.  It was soft and warm feeling.

Magical water-droplets hung from young moss-shoots that spread up the side of the trunk.

A regal ice-man stoically pondered the coming change of season.

An evergreen tree felt right for this rainy morning-hug. 

It was interesting to learn that the eastern red cedar actually belongs to the juniper species.

The bark had a warm cloth-like feeling.  Its peeling fibrous threads created a rich bark-tapestry of colors and texture.

I was cheered by a friendly branch-being that peeked out to see who had stopped by to visit.  Message:  Each day, any weather, has its own special beauty and charm.  Take the time to be present with it and discover.   Life is good.  Peace

The snow was frozen hard this morning.  It was fun walking without sinking down. 

I was drawn to the  interesting branch formation of this tree.  

It's amazing how the bark adapts to direction changes and new branch-growth.

There was a deeply comforting feeling to this tree high up on the hill-top.

Nearby a cute little wood-being popped out with a cheerful wave hello.

His swirling wood-world evidence of the deeper layers of tree-adaptation.  Message:  Be like a tree.  Follow the light in your own unique way.  Find your strength flowing with life's changes.  Peace

What a beautiful morning to hug a tree.  We set off in a new direction which ended up not being so new after all. 

Two lovely tree-sisters danced together in the breeze.

Their above-ground roots told a story of family survival.

Snow-woven through the long winter 

A secret  hide-away for small woodland-creatures.

While next-door a light-spirit got my attention rustling through the faded-leaf dancers.  Message: Be part of the circle of life.  See the new in the old and the old in the new.  Dance with the light.  Peace

Today was much warmer than it's been for a while.  Time for a change in gear.

My old tree-friend was still deep in the snow.

And a  bearded snow-man looked a little grouchy.

But my heart warmed seeing fine sprouts of new-growth popping out of the tree-moss.  A sure sign of spring coming.

A cool snow-heart sculpted by nature sent its love.

And as he posed, my tree-friend showed me his lovely centered heart.  Message:  Watch for the signs around you.  Be warmed by the simple messages of love.  Know when it's time to lighten up.  Peace

The woods were transformed again by yesterday's snowfall.  Because we are nearing the end of winter I found myself stepping into the snow with greater attention.

The gray-birch bark wore its many whimsical snow-pufflets proudly.

A long-haired bark-maiden appeared.

While a crowned snow-snail made his way slowly across a field of lichen-green.

Nearby a winter-archway showed promise for spring-dawning light.  Message:  Take your time.  Joy is present in every moment.  Ever evolving in infinite nows.  Peace

Every once in a while I have a two tree-hug day.  Today was one of those days. My first hug was a warm-barked elbow-tree next to a burbling stream.  I love this section of the trail, but something didn't feel right so I made the difficult decision to move on.

A  lovely survivor-tree awaited me further down the trail.  

The slot-wound on the larger trunk appeared to have happened long ago in this tree's life.

Sturdy tree-toes gripped the rocky earth.

Making perfect tree-hideaways for squirrel and chipmunk stashes.  Or homes for an illusive faerie or two.  Message:  Give yourself permission to go with the flow.  Trust your inner knowing.  Unexpected magic and healing awaits.  Peace

A glorious not-a-cloud-in the sky morning for this giant of a tree-hug.

A happy and diverse tree-family gathered high above me.

A handsome muscle-armed trunk-man enjoyed his tree-power workout.

While a charming snow-smiled tree-lady and her more restrained partner had me smiling.

A beautiful  blue-sky morning with fluffy new-snow to trek through.  We went to an area we haven't visited in months.  

Overnight the eastern white pine needle-clusters were magically adorned with hundreds of snow-cotton balls.  

The vibration of an airplane overhead caused the snow-balls to lightly shower down frozen-sparkles all around me.  I can't believe I got this picture!

A straight-as-an-arrow tree-arm pointed the way beyond.

While Stanley found a tree-friend to admire in the nearby snow-laden hemlock woods.  Message:  Find your unique direction through the vastness.  Appreciate the magical gifts as they come to you.   Know love is all around you.  Peace

We tramped through the woods with snowshoes this morning for another snowy tree-hug.  

A most amazing tree-survivor.

Miraculous, adaptive and gracefully flowing tree-energy seeking light.

While steady and secure on her trunk-feet.

A giant woody-plant hug in the snow.

Such beautifully balanced energy

A rustic tree-igloo entrance in a magical winter-wonderland.

An ornately bark-tattooed tree-being kept watch.

Amazing bark-displays of one-of-a-kind tree-art

And powerful tree-healing gifts.  Message:  Our tree-friends offer us many lessons in balance, beauty and healing.  Marvel at what is hiding in plain sight.  There is no better time than now.  Peace

It was colder today, so the walk through the woods was a bit easier.  The snow was crunchy hard.

This multi-trunked giant offered many hug-options.

It was a happy feeling tree-family with young and old members united at the base.

A snow-friendly tree-greeter shouted out a hello.

While the afternoon-sun peeked through the trunks.  A cool reminder of winter-light.  

Nearby a highly sensitive branch (on a nearly horizontal long-leaning tree) miraculously found its way to the light.  Message: Hug while you can.  Find strength in what unites.  No matter the circumstance look to the light.  Peace

A difficult walk in the woods today.  Warmer temperatures and rain saturated the snow, turning it into deep slush. Beneath the slush in places were surprise puddles or hidden streams.  I must admit, I wasn't enjoying it.  The tree-hug, on the other hand, was lovely.

A reflective icy glaze glistened on the smooth bark.

Rivulets of melting ice flowed down bark-crevices and under thin leathery ice-crusts.

A different kind of shine than summer rain-shine.

Fantastical frozen-glimpses of wintering-lichen and bark color-magic.

And on a nearby tree-neighbor, there was a remarkable ice glazed bark-painting of a red-man listening to his pet rooster.  Message:  Sometimes the walk is hard going.  Persevere.  Spend time in reflection.  the magic is there.  Peace

On yesterday's walk I was drawn to the very distinctive bark of this tall-one.  My guess is it's a black locust.

Long deep furrows towered on one side. 

While imposing chunky ridges intersected randomly on another.

Its relationship with the snow was rather simple.

I was happy to see a special bark-angel made her home there.  Message:  So much is possible in nature.  We just need to open our eyes to see it.  Find your warmth.  Angels are everywhere.  Peace

It was warmer this morning, 20 degrees, and I was drawn to the golden warmth of these over-wintering beech leaves.

A beautiful tree-maiden was proud of her special place in the woods.

The energy danced and sang out crisply through the leaf-family gathering.

The branch-manager was apparently in awe, too.

And these delightful leaf-lovebirds were the stars of the show.  Message:  I hope you had a Happy Valentines Day!  Peace

Another very cold morning tree-hug.  

I was greeted with a sparkly branch-wave from a friendly tree-lady.  She must have noticed how far I tramped through the high snow to come say hello

And how precious, a tired Big Bird snow-being found a safe place to rest on an understanding tree-mom. 

A very cold morning walk and tree-hug today.  It was around 10 degrees!  I was grateful for the layers of warm and protective gear I was wearing.

An interesting story unfolded with a tree-youngster growing in a way that required its tree-elder to adapt and make room.  

I thought about how much we don't know about the tree-world.

Such as how vast stores of tree-intelligence are passed on through countless generations.  

Then there was a sweet moon-faced bark-being that smiled so gently at me.  Message:  Step into the world of nature with gratitude and awe.  Open your heart to the wisdom and generosity of the tree-realm.  Be touched by their pure love.  Peace

This is the snowiest winter we've had in a long time.  I'm grateful I have the opportunity to experience it with all my new tree-friends (and FB-friends too!)  

Amidst the trunks a snowy tree-room with a view.

A snuggled down tree-bear napped with his snow-cap and blanket.

Deep winter-snow worn well.  

 A three mile hike today through the snow to visit an old tree-friend.

A most expressive tree-being.

His unique tree-features tell a story of birds and bugs and invisible organisms.   Of tree-adaptation and healing over many, many decades.

While a mighty snow-crusted tree-god bestowed his warm-hearted blessings on this cold winter morning.  Message:  Stand in your wholeness, no matter the scars of life's journey.  You have earned your unique place in the world.  Be blessed.  Peace

Another  snowy tree-hug this morning.

Deeply textured bark as far as I could see.  

Great tree-dinosaurs frolicked in their tree-top snow-land.

A elderly trunk-being bent over with age.  While a future great-one stood tall nearby.  

Much unseen work being done as ancient tree-wisdom is passed from old to young. Message: Be grateful for the wisdom that comes your way.  Honor those that came before you.  Love, nurture and celebrate those that are next in line.  Peace

Walking through the woods is getting a little easier.  I found this curvy wild-cherry beauty off the trail.

She wore her form-fitting puffer snow-jacket well.

A solitary snow-thumb glowed resplendently in the winter-sun.

This tree is identified by it burnt potato-chip bark.  Extracts from the bark are used in cough medicine.  Anyone remember Smith Brothers Wild Cherry Cough Drops?  Made in Poughkeepsie!

A warm-bark tree-hug this morning while a gentle snow fell.

I was drawn to a lovely tree-maiden with raised arms welcoming the crystal-gifts from the heavens.

A rugged bark-mountain range waited patiently for its snow-caps to arrive.

And just as I spotted the tree-hunter high above me gunshots rang out from a distant gun club.  True story.  Message:  We are in magical winter-times.  Embrace what you can only experience this time of the year.  Dress warmly and step out to receive your precious gifts from nature.  Peace

A snow-queen sitting on her royal trunk-throne beckoned me over for this morning's tree-hug.

The warmly glowing sun was invited, too.   A precarious request for a snow-being.

Overhead a tree-princess danced gracefully on a snow-cloud.

At last a blue-sky day in the woodland.  Message:  May your inner light prevail.  Face the challenges in your day with confidence and grace.  Keep dancing with the sky.  Peace

This morning's walk led me to this leaning tree where the first branch became an upward trunk.

On board was a  grinch-wood-being who complained about the snow.

While a mossy bark-kitty kept watch for any moving-thing.

And for the weathered bark-owl it was just another day.  Message:  Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn.  Choose your reaction wisely.  As best you can keep the peace.  Harmony

On today's snow-hike one of my favorite trees showed off her elegant winter-gowns.

The bright snowy-light made the contrasting bark-textures even more vivid.  And intriguing.,

A 'Great Seal' bark-eye peered out over a perfectly snow-drifted V-shape.

While a shape-shifting bark-being revealed her varied tree-viewpoints.

And a wise and handsome trunk-being expressed his gratitude to for the deep snow's assurance of plentiful spring-waters.  Message:  Open your eyes to the beauty and wisdom of nature.  Appreciate its infinite gifts.  Feel her welcome, home.  Peace