Spring in January!

Aerial View of Lake Waban

As I hovered over my pellet stove last night, catching the last blasts of warm air before retreating to my glacial second floor bedroom [am trying to save on heat so don't turn on the furnace], I tried imagining what it would feel like to step out into 50 degree weather, as predicted by forecasters.

This morning I flung open doors and windows to let what felt like "spring" pour into the house. An hour later, I slipped into a light jacket, gloves and a purple scarf and headed to Lake Waban, one of my favorite walks, about three and a half miles round trip from my front door. The stunning backdrop to the Wellesley College campus, Lake Waban offers runners and strollers alike the opportunity to contemplate the beauty of shimmering open waters, in winter often transformed into a thick layer of ice allowing skaters to glide freely across the entire lake, and the intimacy a winding path through wooded areas and occasional fields.

The light was mesmerizing this afternoon. Time and again I wished that I had brought my camera to capture the flocks of ducks perched upon thin aprons of ice on the shady side of the lake, several pairs of swans elegantly swimming further out and occasionally diving down to catch a tasty morsel, or sinewy branches and leafless trees reflected in the crystal clear water.

About twenty minutes into my walk, I came upon a most surprising and delightful sight. I had noticed that there were white markings on emerging roots along the path, made by chalk or perhaps even paint. Suddenly right in front of me stood a medium sized evergreen beautifully decorated with Christmas ornaments! It felt as if I had stepped into a fairy land. I remember that as a child we sometimes spent Christmas in Germany or Austria at various ski resort. The local inhabitants often avoided cutting down a live pine. Instead, they sought out the perfect tree in nearby woods and adorned it with handmade ornaments as well as nuts, popcorn and other goodies for birds and wild life to feast upon. Then, just as in Hansel and Gretel, the parents left clues for their children to follow until they discovered the magical apparition, enhanced by sparklers. Everyone would then join hands and walking around the tree, sing carols for all to hear.

A couple, led by their two dogs straining at their leashes, interrupted my reverie so I resumed my walk. By then, I had shed my gloves, scarf and opened my jacket. Ducking under unruly branches that almost blocked the way, I kept pausing to take in another view of the lake, the college buildings looming in the distance. The terrain became muddy, just as in Spring, and when I reached the huge stands of rhododendrons, I was amazed to see that many had formed buds! I even broke off a small branch to bring home to see if it would flower.

I reluctantly approached the Hunnewell estate with its Italian garden distinctive for the imaginatively sculpted trees. A few more steps led me pass the imposing mansion where the Wellesley College President lives, and then over the small stone footbridge that leads back to campus and away from the lake.

If tomorrow isn't too cold, I will venture forth again with my camera. Will post photos at a later date. Nothing quite like a touch of "spring" in January to remind one that rebirth of nature is just around the corner.