The snow shrinks back, it creeps uphill leaving behind a wet death–soaked yellow and brown grasses which had long before succumbed to winter’s cold grip.
But winter tries to make a comeback. The snow descends, lower and lower–winter tries vainly to re-establish its deathly grip…but I wonder, is it death, or is it purity? When about winter, how can the deaths of so many plants be so beautiful to behold when covered in white?
When I look at these Berner Oberland landscapes–filled with fresh water, snow, ice, I am amazed by their inherent wealth and health. I am awed by their physical presence.
For decades I lived around that Empty Quarter arid sand desert of my most recent posts; but I needed refreshment, I needed recharge, so I regularly retreated to these water rich mountains.
These two geographies, one lifeless and the other full of life, put me in contact with the extreme ends of the water continuum of life.
Landscape astounds me.
Landscape journeys enthrall me.
Amanita muscaria pushing up from the forest floor.
On the northern hemisphere forest floors, this is the season to discover and examine mushrooms and toadstools.
Mushrooms are edible fungal growths taking the form of domed cap on a stalk, while toadstools are similar but traditionally poisonous. This world of the forest floor is a dangerous place for casual and naive human visitors. Beware.
Amanita muscaria from underneath…now where is that dwarf?
With its bright red, white-spotted cap the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) has delighted people since time immemorial. It is inedible (with a psychoactive asterisk, a risk) and yet considered one of the most attractive and most familiar species of fungi–a subject of many myths and fairy tales–valued also as a good luck charm.
Its white-spotted, red cap covers the head of a dwarf who carries out all sorts of mysterious activities in the forest.
Correct me if I am wrong but anyone who has silently walked through a rich, multi-layered forest knows that there are movements that strangely occur…movements on the edge or just beyond the capacity of our senses. Algernon Blackwood’s short stories examine those areas.
I’ll say no more. But I would appreciate the comments from readers who themselves have experienced, in the forest, that which cannot be explained.
Mini-meadow in the lawn–heart pounding variety–spring promise in early April.
Or, both and…
All my life I have seen cool weather grasses from Chicago to Detroit to Boston to the UK to Belgium; but I have never seen like I see in these photos– the Thun and Brienz lakes area of Switzerland.
Everyone’s house has a very small yard which usually includes a vegetable garden, fruit tree or two, flower garden and a flat trimmed lawn area.
In the spring the usually flat trimmed lawn area reveals this just opening array of wild flowers–kind of mini-meadow like.
People cut around these bouquets of wild flowers until the flowering is finished, then the lawns are fully cut.
Next year the wild flowers return. Both lawns and meadows, as I see it.
Anybody seen something similar?
Cool season grass, early April in northern hemisphere following a steadily mild winter.
Crystal Vision is a landscape story. It is a novella, literary fiction.
The past reaches for today
In Crystal Vision, George Moleson, an emerging professional, leaves his landscape architecture roots in Southern California, to build his international career, becoming a key person on a huge new town project located just near the Tropic of Cancer, on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.
After six cosseted years on that project, a quick succession of personal and professional events batter George. They untether him; and he embarks into the labyrinthine mists of landscapes…landscapes the nature of he had never ever imagined.
Read Crystal Vision preface and the ten Episodes’ summaries.
From Bern to Bernese Oberlands Jungfrau Region
Mountains, Plants, Water, Sky
Humans in the Mountains
Then please tell me if you like it or have any questions about it.
Thank you for your time and interest in the landscape.
