Earlier this week, Alex (one of our new Hubbard Fellows) and I spent some time exploring a frozen wetland in our Platte River Prairies.  Thin clouds diffused the sun’s rays and created wonderful light for photography.  The wetland was mostly iced over, but there were a few areas of open water (we flushed a few dozen geese and ducks as we arrived), and we had to step carefully and listen for cracking sounds as we walked…

In some places, leaves and stems warmed by the sun had melted the ice around them, creating fascinating patterns and textures in the ice.  Cattail seeds blew softly in the breeze, and a few perched gracefully where they had landed on the ice.  Intriguing branching patterns of crystallization were also scattered about on the surface of the frozen wetland.  About an hour after we arrived, the bright light dimmed as the clouds above us thickened.  We took our cue and moved on to other places and tasks.