With temperatures up to 73° two days ago, yesterday’s temperatures were a pleasant surprise (says the lover of winter), fluctuating around 30° with nothing registering higher than 31°. But it was raining lightly with very little icing, and no snow. That was a weird disappointment. Last night though ice happened. My world was covered in diamonds as I got ready for my day. I was elated.

My Witch Hazels (Hamamelis virginiana) near the back of my studio looked dazzling in their dressing of ice. This small tree is a rebel in the world of flowering trees, blooming in October and November, hanging onto those blossoms for a couple months. Witch Hazels are native to eastern North America. Here in the mountains I see many of them in the higher elevations. They’re one of the host plants of Spring Azure butterflies.