Copper Planter with Snow

Copper Planter © 2007

There are 16 of these huge planters flanking the doors of the Wisconsin State Capitol Building, and the state fathers are most kind and budget money for lovely flowers to decorate our Capitol. In spring the planters are filled with tulips, in summer, pink petunias and in fall, lovely yellow chrysanthemums. But in winter, Mother Nature gets in the act and she fills the containers with lovely mounds of snow. (No charge!)

State Capitol Building, Madison WI


Rotunda

Rotunda, Wisconsin Capitol © 2007

A early morning trip to the Wisconsin State Capitol Building in downtown Madison yielded some interesting photographs and designs. This was a warm place to be on another snowy, blowy, cold winter’s day.

Icicles

Icicles © 2007

Whether the eave-drops fall
Heard only in the trances of the blast,
Or if the secret ministry of frost
Shall hang them up in silent icicles
Quietly shining to the quiet moon.
~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Icicles at -7˚F. They are not dripping. They’re not even anticipating dripping. They’re very, very cold. Another winter scene from Owen Conservation Park in frigid Madison, Wisconsin

Winter Lights

Winter Lights

Winter Lights © 2007

World of illusion
  Black and white, and white, and white.
Illumination

Snowfall in Madison, WI as of December 6th, 2007: 6 inches of snow followed by a one inch ice layer followed by another 6 inch snowfall. This makes for interesting walking. Either you sink into 6 inches of snow and slide on the ice, or you sink into 6 inches of snow, crack through the ice and lurch forward as you drop another 6 inches. This photograph was taken only 5 steps from my back porch. Maybe you can understand why I chose to go no further than 5 feet for a photo. On the positive side, I only fell once.

Ah, winter. I celebrate your return.

Kudos to Madison

A Bit of Winter

A Bit of Winter © 2007

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. ~ George Santayana

On the Prairie Path in Owen Conservation Park, Madison, Wisconsin, as the last autumn leaves hold fast to the tree limbs amidst the first of winter’s snow flurries.

In my October 31st post I noted large construction machinery leveling land in the southwest corner of this conservation park. I left a message with my alderman complaining about infringement in our conservation parks, but did not follow-up as I should have. I now discover that the City of Madison has not succumbed to the pressures of outside development, but is instead improving the site. I do acknowledge that Madison is one of the most environmentally-conscious and progressive larger cities (200,000 city population, 500,000 metro) I have ever lived in, so I should have given it the benefit of doubt until I checked the facts.

I recently found out that the city is constructing three storm-water/wildlife ponds in the park to replace an eroded channel to Lake Mendota. This water way currently carries tons of sediment to our largest downtown lake (9842 acres) every year. Soon, Owen Park will have three new wildlife ponds to attract the aviation population. Sorry, Madison. I jumped to a wrong conclusion when I should have checked my facts first. Kudos to Madison, instead. I will follow up as the project moves forward.