I was born in what is lovingly nicknamed the Banana Belt of Ontario. This flat, intensely agricultural area is nestled in by three lakes: Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake St Clair. Despite the relatively warm climate, serious snowfalls were common, and I grew up loving the endless white expanses and tall accumulations against our farm buildings in winter. It was childhood heaven.
Each year I reconnect and fall in love again with winter’s stark beauty. Today I share ten good reasons, none of them cliché, to embrace winter’s cold cold heart. Here goes:
1. Contrast – what is life without it? We would never appreciate light if we didn’t know darkness. Or heat, without frozen fingers. I love black and white compositions.

Winter Woods #1
I made this sketch right after a local hike, using big markers to keep from getting too fussy.
2. Nature has fun with it – brilliant splashes of colour are more intense against a snowy backdrop.
3. Native plants go to bed until spring – they need rest. Good example for all of us.
4. There’s more going on than the eye can see – stuff is happening under there.

Fissure #3 2011 16X20″ Seeds, fungal spores, insects and other soil organisms burrow down, some die, some hibernate. Roots keep working.
5. You can see farther, especially if you are already short.
6. You don’t have to worry about deer eating your apples before you do.
7. Conifers are still working. They are at the helm!

WINTER MOON #1 2010 12X9″ Conifer leaves are resistant to cold and moisture loss. On cold dry days, their needles curve in to reduce their exposed surface. They continue to photosynthesize, only more slowly, as long as they get enough water.
8. Night skies are enchanting.
9. Whether you love pruning or not, there’s no need to do it in February. You can, but you don’t have to.
10. And we all know: spring will follow in due course ……