Subtle Significance & Whisky Frost

Lake Marjory – A secluded and somewhat secret spot, at least it was to me.  Although it's technically called a lake, it functions more like a seasonal pond.   Today there is plenty of water after the long wet winter combined with early spring rains.  Already the many shades of green are beginning to blanket the shoreline. Grasses, lily pads and insects re-enter the landscape now that warmer temps and longer days are arriving.  This could be a vernal pool and by definition it certainly seems to fit that bill.  Although subtle, the distinction between a lake, pond or a vernal pool are crucial to the plants and animals that call them home.  Covered by shallow water from winter through early summer, vernal pools are completely dry by August.  These vital environments provide much needed habitat for many species – frogs, ducks, water bugs, plants, dragon flies and damsel flies.  They all frantically breed, hunt and strive to survive while this short window of perfect conditions lasts. 

Birds benefit from this feast of plenty and I delight in the diverse sounds of bustling and buzzing that surround us.  Dragon flies are mesmerizing acrobats and I try to follow a single winged wonder only to be immediately distracted by decoys and look-a-likes whizzing faster than my eyes can track.  Trees at waters’ edge cast the most amazing reflections and a few dozen photos are mandatory.  Jazzy cannot resist the opportunity to get her paws wet (and muddy). Despite all this activity, calm, peace and serenity wash over me. We enjoy our moments as the only visitors.  Lake Marjory isn’t large or easily accessible – no boats, very few people, too shallow for swimming. Minutes from my home, its quiet perfection transports me to another world, far away from loud, big, bold and noisy.

Associations are necessary for my brain to categorize and remember all kinds of useless and useful stuff.  Lake Marjory reminds me of one of my favorite spices:  Marjoram.   On this occasion, my connection proved to be pretty spot on.  Marjory, it turns out, is a name influenced by this very herb – Marjoram.   A close cousin to oregano, marjoram’s taste is quieter, softer.  Marjoram is subtle; Oregano is bold.   Surprisingly hard to find in stores I recently discovered that marjoram will easily grow in my garden.  As both marjoram and oregano reside within the mint family, I need to be careful where it gets planted.  Mint and all its relatives can be extremely invasive.  A beautiful pot just outside my back door, easily accessible from the kitchen, will work perfectly.      

Recently I ran into a neighbor and fellow nature lover as he and his dog began their walk.  Among other talents, he is a gifted writer and specializes in historical stories, pictures and connections.  I highly recommend checking out his blog:  www.billbored.org.  You will not be disappointed and I guarantee you’ll learn something new as his words guide you down memory lane and beyond.

His wealth of knowledge was shared freely on our walk and I was grateful for this chance encounter. Fascinating and informative, he graciously stepped into the role of field guide and I was an eager student. Pausing at a spot I’ve passed by a million times, my attention is directed to a stately sapling growing happily from an old stump.  Appearing similar to all of the other trees, I’m aware looks can be deceiving.  Following his instructions, I gently touch the very top of the growth.  “Feel that?”  He smiles.   “It’s very pokey” is my reply.   He adds, “It’s a spruce tree.  Their needles are stiff, unlike the nearby fir, which are soft and pliable.”   Unexpected nature lessons are the best and as we compare and contrast between spruce and fir trees, he expands upon their unique characteristics.  Spruce is light and flexible, making it perfect for aircrafts.  It has one of the greatest strength to weight ratios.   “The Spruce Goose!”  I declare.  “Yes, exactly." He continues, "Made from a perfect natural material and many people invested heavily in spruce back then, only to lose their shorts when Aluminum came along.”  Sad but true story.  I want to retain this information about the spruce tree so I create a quick and easy quip:  Spikey Spruce.  That is how I’ll remember this tree.   An unmistakable difference; subtle, substantial and profound. Thanks, Bill!

When conditions are just right; when temperature, moisture, humidity and fungus collide, we are graced with the Whisky Frost.  Some call it the Frost Beard or Hair Ice, as it’s more commonly referred to.  A rare and uncommon sight as the requirements are very specific.  Temps must hover just below freezing, moisture must be high and a fungus called Exidiopsis effusa helps these wondrous icy filaments to take form.  When I first observed this beautiful expression of nature, I thought it was some type of fungi or mycelium and

my assumption wasn’t too far off base.  The fungus in damp, rotting wood maintains the ice structure by shaping the water into threads, preventing it from clumping into crystals, thus creating artistic wispy puffs of pure white.  It looks remarkably like angel’s hair and quickly melts once touched by the heat of your hand or when sunlight warms the delicate structure. Fragile, dainty and each one unique, like snowflakes. They are extremely photogenic and I take advantage of their generosity. Marvelous expressions of elements working together, creating beauty, displaying their art. A blending of subtle details are required to produce this effect and as I snapped photos and sent them to my in-box, I labeled them “Whisky Frost”.  A fat finger, an inability to spell, a missed key, a brain blunder.   The intended 'wispy' became whisky and I rather fancy this name.  A subtle, but crazy variation on the original word.  Way better than 'frost beard' or 'hair ice'. I think artists should be in charge of bestowing names on something this miraculous. Just my opinion, of course :)

Subtle differences have the power to change composition, environment and direction, delivering unexpected results or a shift in meaning altogether. Features can be softly hidden and still drastically alter outcomes.  These stories and observations from the trail are simply fun examples of life’s nuances and the significance of subtleties. Beautiful reminders of nature's wonder and the power of small details.