With the first official day of winter only about 10 days away, the landscape in Western New York is certainly looking the part thanks to all the recent snow we have received (and are still getting!) from a big Nor’easter that has moved its way up the coast. I took a walk this morning on some of our trails here at RTPI and captured one of my favorite scenes: eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) dripping with snow. While I was photographing the trees, the winds picked up causing the snow to come swirling down from the branches and needles, making the trail look a bit like a snow-globe. Even when things are covered in the white, fluffy stuff the beauty of the flora and fauna of the area is still very evident. All the species that we commonly see and enjoy while we are in the great outdoors serve a purpose and are in need of proper stewardship and protection. This season, I hope you can get out and enjoy the snowy region and can join us as we work to conserve the many species present in winter.
Elyse Henshaw
Conservation Technician
