Tag: Nature Reserve
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Temperature Stress
The year started with moderate temperatures. Nature seemed to awaken from hibernation. But in mid-January icy temperatures and snow arrived in the Alps much to the enjoyment of skiers. The forests were hit with freezing temperatures challenging their resilience. Nature uses brief periods of temperature moderation to return to life and the next challenge that…
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Nature at Rest
All through the middle of December 2023 there was color in the landscape albeit mostly brown tones, in the forests and the plants along the waterlines of the ponds. The temperatures were moderate and although the days were short, the sun was shining on many of them. With the turn of the year cold weather…
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Quiet Days before Winter
Since my last blog, on November 4, 2023 the temperature has further cooled, days shortend to just about 9 hours and the snowline fallen to 1200 – 1500 m (3600 – 4500 feet). Only a few weeks ago, my time with the camera in the woods depended on my other schedules. We had such a…
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Late Fall
The low pressure system over the Atlantic, the United KIngdom, Ireland, the Channel and the coast of mainland Europe delivered strong winds and heavy rain. Flooding is reported fom northern Italy – quite severe in Tuscany. Meanwhile the Swiss alps received snow, some areas, like the Engadin several feet high. The mountain tops surrounding Lucerne…
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Forest Trees: End of life
We tend to admire the beauty of trees at their prime of life. Birch tree at Vogelmoos Nature Reserve I shot some picutres of the end of their life cycle. These trees have reached the end of their life and look pitiful. The visible changes that accompany their demise are varied and reminders of life’s…
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The forest – a community of plants and animals
The forest is not just an assembly of trees: It is a comunity of trees, shrubs, plants and all kinds of animals that need its shelter and support to thrive. This may not be news to anyone but for sure, it influenced my thinking of the forest when I called this fact into my mind.…
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Late Summer
Mid September: The days are shorter now. The sun used to rise before 6 AM in July, now it is close to 7 AM and it is setting before 8 PM. The weather continued to be exceptionally warm with little rain since mid-August. The forest is overgrown with shrubs and bushes. Blackberries and other spiny…
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Butterflies and Bees
Mid July in the Nature Reserve, 20 miles west of Lucerne, Switzerland. It has been a warm summer and on a few days muggy conditions: Ideal for the growth and texture of plants and rich feeding grounds for animals. I spent a few hours in the reserve chasing after butterflies. I spotted a patch of…
Vogelmoos Nature Reserve 