This is a continuation of my previous blog post, Crystal Kingdom, but the images shown below will be more focused on the vegetation and other flora I came across while photographing in the same park during our arctic freeze that is ongoing.
This is what I refer to as the “snake tree.” In actuality, it is a Japanese Maple, bare naked. I had a few photos of it in one of my autumn posts, with its full head of colorful leaves.
Another angle of the Japanese Maple that stands adjacent to a frozen Japanese garden pond.
Red berries of unknown species
I do not know what type of plant this is, but it appears to be an evergreen species with lovely, yellow blooms.
Lots of tree branches with silvery green moss and lichens.
A Contorted Filbert tree with lots of fascinating, twisted, spiraling branches.
Such bright green vegetation! This is what’s left over from the large and tall Acanthus flower. It really does stand out from the rest of the brown and dried-up vegetation. When I first spotted them, an image of bright green celery came to mind.
It looks as though this mushroom had to snake its way through layers of leaves to finally reach the surface.
A large, intriguing looking mushroom growing next to a giant Western Cedar tree.
I found this cute, little guy nestled in the fallen evergreen tips from a giant Redwood tree.
This image and the one below is of fuzzy seed pods from the Clematis flower plant. I had no idea until now!
Frost on Lamb’s Ear leaves.
What’s left of Hydrangea blooms. They look like paper at this point in their life cycle. Notice how the blue color has all but faded to sepia. They have their own beauty about them this time of year; they have somewhat of a vintage-look to them. Below are a few more images.
And last, but not least, is the proverbial “winter rose.”
© Peggy A Thompson
northwestphotos 
That top pick pulled me in – the mushrooms kept me here 😉
Twisted, distorted, tangled, and weaseled,
Nature’s wicked creativity
shines here.
Peace,
UT
*
Your photos are so beautiful and enjoyable; I always enjoy a walk through the Japanese Garden. Your photos are a real statement that you do as well.
Thank you for your kind words. I love Japanese gardens. Each element therein makes a statement in itself.
Beautiful and stark shots, Peggy. That Japanese maple looks otherworldly like that!
Yes, it’s amazing how things change with the seasons! Thanks you for your comments!
That seed pod sure looks like a kiwi fruit.
Yes, it does, doesn’t it! I think that is one of the first thoughts that came to my head, as well. I didn’t even touch the seed pod to see if it was hard or soft or felt fuzzy or bristly. I was just so amazed by the sheer number of them; some were in clusters. I had no idea that Clematis could produce these amazing things. But I knew that particular plant very well, as I enjoy taking photos of its lovely, purple flowers during its blooming season.
Odd coincidence to add to this. When I moved into my current house, the previous owner had planted a bunch of things that needed plenty of elbow room into a tiny corner of the yard. Two were kiwi plants that were working their way into the soffits of my roof. So, the kiwi were given to a neighbor and I planted purple clematis there instead, but I’ve never seen the clematis produce kiwi looking seed pods (yet). Granted mine are only a couple of years old.
I spoke with one of the gardeners present at the time I was at the park and asked him about the Clematis seed pods. He said that the pods are not there every year, only when conditions are favorable, whatever that means.
Interesting! Thanks for that tidbit of info!
You’re very welcome!
What a nice winter (and it’s not even really winter yet!) stroll. I love that first Hydrangea photo – they are wonderful this time of year.
Thank you! Yes, it’s not winter yet and it’s been terribly cold for us here in western Washington! Glad you enjoyed the Hydrangea photo. Such beautiful flowers!