Figure 1 – Broken tree in Pond

The weather on Thanksgiving this year was “Picture Perfect” in Massachusetts – high forties, clear, and crisp.  We took the time to explore the late fall wetlands in Lincoln.  The Massachusetts landscape is dominated by glacial topography: drumlins and kettle ponds.

Figure 2 – Fallen trees in pond

The autumn has lingered, with the color persisting into late November.  Even now there are a few trees, mostly oaks, showing leaves.  This combines with jet black and highly reflective ponds, powder blue skies, and lichen coated bark to project delicate pastel shades wherever you look.  The after effects of hurricane Sandy are twisted, snapped, and fallen trees limbs.

Figure 3 – Tree lit by November sun

We emerged at one point into a massive sunlit meadow, now used for community farming, then followed a ridge line back into the woods only to find a marsh with strangely twisted trees lit gloriously by the late afternoon sunshine.  Such places always remind me of a famous, now known to be inaccurate, mural at the American Museum of Natural History, showing the then imagine Jurassic Swamp with giant brontosaurus grazing on lush vegetation.

It was a glorious afternoon and I took at least one photograph that I was happy with.

Figure 4 – Sunlit marsh