The Last of Winter in Wisconsin

Ice Out - Not Yet © 2015 Bo Mackison

Ice Out – Not Yet © 2015 Bo Mackison

The snow is melting. A fine layer of sand coats many of the road surfaces, but the ice is gone. Heavy winter coats are back in the far corner of the closet, though the lighter winter coats are still front and center. Although there are a few piles of snow in parking lots, most of the snow is gone.  The last remains of winter remain on the lakes.

It was a long, cold, unrelenting winter. Once the cold in early January took hold, there were no warm spells, and even  ten days ago we were still seeing -2˚ in the early morning. But a week of sun and warming temperatures, and winter has disappeared and a muddy early spring has arrived.

Only the lakes are still winter bound. And parts of the larger lakes are still covered with 12-15 inches of ice.

Not ready for winter to warm into spring? Head down to the lakes for a last look at winter’s grip.

Autumn Reflections

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Reflection in Indian Lake © 2007

“Beauty is a primeval phenomenon, which itself never makes its appearance, but the reflection of which is visible in a thousand different utterances of the creative mind, and is as various as nature herself.”  ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

On a calm, misty morning, these autumn colors were reflected in Indian Lake. Photographed at Indian Lake County Park in Dane County, Wisconsin as the sun peeked over the hill. October 20, 2007

 

Double Yellows

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Double Reflection © 2007

Deep blue lake trapping
Reflection in calm waters
Double yellow orbs.

Just after sunrise on a calm, mid-October morning.
Indian Lake County Park in Dane County, Wisconsin