Carrie is leading a class at the Wilderness Center about winter pond ecology.
Ephemeral Beauty
red trillium, Trillium recurvatum, Trillium reliquum (endangered), Wake Robin,also called Stinking Charlie for its odor which some say is like rotting meat, an indigenous Maine wildflower, woodlands Phippsburg
red trillium, Trillium recurvatum, Trillium reliquum (endangered), Wake Robin,also called Stinking Charlie for its odor which some say is like rotting meat, an indigenous Maine wildflower, woodlands Phippsburg  , For a list of protected and endangered wildflowers in Maine see http://plants.usda.gov/java/threat   Wildflowers should be left undisturbed where they are found. To uproot and attempt to transplant them puts the species at risk. Wildflowers are dependent on very specific soil, water and light requirements which a home gardener can rarely reproduce.
red trillium, Trillium recurvatum, Trillium reliquum (endangered), Wake Robin,also called Stinking Charlie for its odor which some say is like rotting meat, an indigenous Maine wildflower, woodlands Phippsburg
Ephemeral - Snow Lace
One of the things I love about photographing snow and ice is the highly ephemeral nature of the subjects.  Each little detail arises from a unique history of weather conditions for that particular place and time.  Literally seconds after I took this shot, the central portion of the delicate snow sculpture had collapsed.  The day before, there had been a smooth pile of snow atop this porch railing several inches high, with no slumping or carving (knitting, tatting, crocheting)

DP041-2013.  Posted February 10; processed ditto.

Taken February 6, 2013

Heartfelt thanks for all the generous comments to yesterday's post of the red crossbill, and to others of my photos on smugmug that you singled out.  You picked out some of my personal favorites, which made me feel really good.
Star Magnolia, flowering ornamental tree with pure, white flowers, Phippsburg,
See photo in original gallery.