In 2023 I penned an essay, Summer Kind Of Sucks, in which I expressed my strong distaste for hot weather. My feelings about the overheated season turned around meaningfully in 2024, however, due to the concerted effort I made to change my mindset. I’m still impressed I was able to accomplish the partial transformation, which found me embracing summer with a fairly warm hug and with an unforced smile on my heavily wrinkled face. I’m hoping to do the same when the temperatures skyrocket later this year. It’s very possible I shall.
But what about the other problematic season? Namely, winter. Here, in southeast Pennsylvania, USA, we’re moving toward the end of what has been, overall, a quite frigid winter, one peppered with numerous but small snowfalls. Have I enjoyed this season at all? Barely, because the days when I loved to frolic in the cold air and snow ended decades ago. Ever since then, I’ve gritted my teeth and slogged through each winter as best I could, staying indoors as much as possible. I’m hardly alone in this. I’m pretty sure that winter enthusiasts make up only a smallish part of the adult population.
And yet, good winter moments can emerge. As they did nine days ago when I ventured outside to take a look at the state of affairs in my suburban neighborhood. Unlike the conditions during previous walks I’d taken there this year, the temperature (45° F/7° C) was totally tolerable. Bundled up as I was, I didn’t get chilled at all.
I had something specific in mind for the hike. And that something was to spend time admiring leafless trees, which tend to be extremely underappreciated. I wanted to photograph them too, planning to aim my phone’s camera carefully in order to avoid having any houses or cars or other distractions enter the scenes.
Off I went at 2:00 PM. Though the onset of budding was visible, nearly all of the deciduous trees I encountered were bare basically, and they stunned me. They looked primeval, and would have appeared even more so in that respect had their backdrop been a grey sky rather than the afternoon’s gorgeous blue one. Their trunks and branches were things of beauty, the former as resolute as prizefighters, many of the latter delicate and poised to dance. And the no-nonsense, medium-to-dark hues of the trees made me concentrate on shapes, patterns, angles and intersections much more than I would have if the trees had been in leaf. What can you say? Mother Nature, as everyone knows, is the artist supreme. No large-scale, man-made sculptures surpass the big, bare fellas I tipped my hat to during the walk.
Now, none of this is to imply I might once again become a fan of winter. Cold weather activities, other than walks, don’t interest me. At my advanced age, I’d undoubtedly break a bone or two, or worse, were I to attempt to perform any winter sports. And, seeing that over the last few years I’ve become more sensitive to the cold than before, I’m averse to spending more than 30 consecutive minutes outdoors in winter anyway, unless the thermometer is nicely above 32° F/0° C. In other words, yours truly does not relish freezing his ass off.
Nonetheless, I’ll enjoy venturing outside occasionally for brief periods in future winters, to take in the wonders of Mother Nature. Assuming I remain above ground, of course. Fingers crossed about that. As for now, I’m looking forward to spring’s arrival. Which, I’m mighty pleased to say, will be soon.
Yeah, Another Blogger 
I think my comment disappeared without a trace. Not to be dismayed, here it is again: Lovely photos of greatly under-appreciated winter trees. I do recall shivery months Back East — but we don’t do winter in San Francisco. Maybe you & Sandy should consider a California January 2026.
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Hi Fran. Good idea. We’ve been to California quite a few times, but not in a long while.
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Great photos, Neil. And great descriptions too: “Their trunks and branches were things of beauty, the former as resolute as prizefighters, many of the latter delicate and poised to dance.” Love this!
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Thanks, Audrey. Trees are the greatest, in any season.
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I agree that the leafless trees are wonderful sculptures that are mostly ignored. All seasons have their high points. I love summer but am increasingly experiencing issues with the heat (here, July will reach 45C/113F).It seems that my internal temperature controls are ageing along with the rest of me and don’t work very well any more. Ugh.
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I’m surprised it gets that hot where you live. 45 degrees C is way too hot!
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This valley is a micro-climate: we’re at the very northern tip of the Sonoran Desert. Cheers.
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Lovely.
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Hi Cindy, and thanks.
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Generally, winter has much that is unattractive to me also. The cold has become a bother over recent years and I have bought extra thick gloves for walking and regularly wear two pairs of gloves when working in the garden in the colder months. There is some degree of arthritis in my hands and they become sore and painful very quickly. However, if well wrapped-up, I enjoy a walk in cold weather – not when there is frost or snow on the ground, of course. I’m with you on the beauty of winter trees and particularly enjoy our garden trees as the morning light catches them and as the sun sets behind them. I must pen a few lines about them…but then, I seem to have the intention of penning a few lines about several other topics also!
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One thing I almost always wear in winter is earmuffs. They make a big, positive difference. But I need to buy something that covers my nose!
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I haven’t gone there yet – just the gloves.
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I’m very much sunshine girl
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Hi. I can tell, from your blog posts, that that’s true.
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Thanks
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Those trees even without leaves are looking so majestic. I am sure with leaves, they give cool shade and look beautiful too 💚🌳
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Hello, and thanks for stopping by. I really like flowering trees. When they bloom, in spring, the masses of flowers are fantastic.
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Thank you, Neil, for your beautifully written tribute to nature and trees in winter. I love everything about trees, but I prefer spring much more than winter, as I hate cold!
Joanna
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Yeah, I guess that winter is my least-favorite season. Autumn is my favorite.
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Thank you, Neil, I love autumn too!
Joanna
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Your photos capture the abstract quality of leafless trees. Winter trees are great subjects for color or black and white photography.
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It’s estimated that there are about three trillion trees in the world. I would have guessed that there are more than that.
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Winter’s great for photos though!
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True!
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To me, even if it’s cold or hot, a walk on a sunny day can still be a nice experience. Good for you on trying to change your outlook, mate.
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Hi. We live very near to an enclosed shopping mall. I go there to walk sometimes when it’s really hot outside, or really cold or raining.
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I agree with you about gritting one’s teeth and slogging through the winter, and I know what you mean about winter enthusiasts! Your photographs of these trees are truly uplifting. 😊
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Hi, and thanks. The trees were very cooperative!
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“Freezing one’s ass off” is totally a downside to winter Neil. But I admit that I like walking when it’s frosty as long as I’m outfitted in layers, and more layers and my ears and hands are covered and I have a box of tissues in my pocket for my runny nose. I find that I notice things in winter that I would never see otherwise. I’m glad you chose to broaden your POV and that your ass is still intact and functioning 🙂
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Circa 1962, I took part in a Boy Scout winter campout in upstate New York. It was frigid. I was told that the temperature went down to minus 27F one overnight, which is insanely cold.
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I don’t think that would be allowed now. Rain and mud yes but negative temps… someone would be in big trouble.
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I understand what you are saying about leafless trees. I also do not like winter, but there is a beauty to a naked tree. Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Hi. I’m going to admire the bare trees around here a few more times this month, because, before long, leaves will be sprouting.
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This is such a wonderful post. I find that one of the most wonderful things about the natural world in winter is the trees. I love them when they are covered in bright new leaves, resplendent in their green robes, but in winter, I get to see their skeletons; they are exposed. The shapes & textures of winter trees are endlessly fascinating. They are still colourful with different bark decorated with moss & lichens. It is also much easier to capture details which would be impossible to see in summer. You can also see more of how they live together; the spaces between them show a close existence & recent tree research has shown that in woodlands, they co-operate & help each other. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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You describe all of this beautifully. Thanks for adding your insights. I appreciate it.
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🥰🥰🥰
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I love the way bare trees look in the winter, especially against a blue sky. You took some beautiful pictures of trees.
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Hi. The woods that surround you are, I’m sure, gorgeous in winter. Your state is dense with trees.
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Yes, Maine is dense with trees. 80% tree covered, I think.
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I’m to the point in winter that I’m sick of it but I agree with you that the naked spare tree branches do look beautiful juxtaposed against the sky. I like something in all seasons, but am really ready for spring.
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Ditto. Today my wife and I will go to the Philadelphia Flower Show, which is a huge, annual event. And it also is a harbinger of spring.
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I do love winter trees. Great pics. I think it’s great that you are working on changing your opinion of your least-liked seasons. Is it proof positive that you can teach an old dog new tricks?
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Hi. Old dogs can be surprising at times! Still, I doubt if I’ll ever enjoy winter too much in the future. Thanks for stopping by. Take care.
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I really enjoy leafless trees; it’s as though they’ve been stripped down to their bones. Differences among species become more obvious, like bark texture and limb arrangement, and its fun to imagine them enjoying a little rest before the time to begin budding or blooming begins again.
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During the walk I wrote about, I saw one tree that for some reason had retained a lot of leaves. I used a phone app to identify the tree. It’s an American Beech.
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I despise the cold, but have learned to accept winter as part of living where I live. It’s certainly a lot milder than it used to be, and without winter, spring wouldn’t be nearly as sweet when it arrives. 😀
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Spring is approaching, for sure. Next week, one or two days in my area are predicted to have highs of about 60 degrees F (16 C).
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Nice trees! I’m glad to hear that you got out of your den for a while. 🙂
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Yeah, I’m not a total couch potato.
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“Grammy Writes” (who I also follow) agrees with your take on winter trees – see https://wordpress.com/reader/feeds/79297292/posts/5560583226 . And I agree on your take on winter itself, especially as we age. I brought my winter hat/gloves/scarf to the South thinking they’d just gather dust. I’m almost embarrassed to admit how often I’ve used them considering it rarely goes below freezing down here.
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Hi. There’s nothing good about being chilled. Better to stay warm.
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Nice tree shots. I particularly enjoy visual patterns and have always loved the intricate patterns of nature, in particular trees. Keep up the good work. And stay warm!
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Right, the patterns in bare trees can be dizzying, but in a good way.
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I have made my peace with winter, but may like it less than I do now as I continue getting older. And because I am one who prefers the indoors to the outdoors, winter gives me plenty of reasons to stay in my favored place. 🙂
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Yeah, I prefer indoors to outdoors too. But now and then I like taking very long walks, spending three or more consecutive hours outside.
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Absolutely know what you mean, Neil. On my recent road trip, I passed by PA without stopping or even slowing. The weather through the entire area was frigid.
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We’ve had a cold winter, overall. It got into single digits during some overnights. But a warming trend now has begun. Spring is on the way!
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That was a lovely reaction to those bare trees. I read it twice for sheer pleasure.
No ice and snow here, thank goodness….
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Afternoon, Helen. Does Costa Rica have seasons, or are temperatures more or less the same throughout the year?
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We have seasons, one wet, one dry. Normally at least warm all the year round, but this year we have had cold fronts coming in from the Atlantic which has driven the population to woolly hats and jerseys.
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I love how trees align themselves to the seasons and the rotation of the sun. We humans seem to do all we can to distance ourselves from such devices. Your photos seem to bridge that absence. Groovy! 🏄♂️
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Hi. Thanks for adding your thoughts. I think you’re right. Most people create artificial environments for themselves. Most of us are not one with Nature.
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Used to love winter. Don’t so much now, mostly because, like you, I feel the cold much more. But thanks for reminding us of winter’s aesthetics.
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Hey there, Sam. Nature can be beautiful in winter. But the cold does suck.
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Beautiful photos! Keep up the good work!
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Hi Joyce, and many thanks. I appreciate it.
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I’ve found the annoying thing about getting older – and I’m in my seventies – isn’t getting chilled faster but taking a longer time to warm up! Trees are simply amazing. Thank God for trees!
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Hi. Trees are the best. Articles on the internet say that trees first appeared around 385 million years ago.
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Your trees are beautiful abstract sculptures. I don’t like winter much either and am pleased that spring is on its way.
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My wife and I were in Philadelphia today. Went to the Philadelphia Flower Show and then to dinner. When we got home at 9PM it was plenty cold out. Winter isn’t over yet.
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Neil, my aging body is also averse to cold weather 😦 So glad that you decided to give praise to Mother Nature’s leafless trees. The blue sky made a perfect background. Stunning photos! My favorite is the last shot featured that says “I’m standing firm in the good times and the bad.”
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Trees have a lot of character. They are among the best features of Planet Earth, I think.
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I agree, Neil. Some of them have been here long before the founding of our nation.
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Hi Jerry, and thanks for sending this video. Take care.
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How about in between the hot and cold with a good dose of Autumn which is my favourite season. For me, by the end of each season I’m ready to embrace the next one. Winter walks are good for the soul.
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Autumn is my favorite too. Partly because my birthday is in October. And partly because I love the changing colors of tree leaves.
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A colourful birthday 🙂
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Wonderful photos. And I can relate to winter. I like to admire the fresh snow from inside, looking out a window!
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Hi. I shoveled snow quite a few times this winter. Fortunately, each snowfall was pretty small.
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I love seeing trees and shrubs without their leaves. They take on an entirely different character. In the midst of winter it’s hard to imagine them with leaves, and whenever I see them with leaves in summer, I have a hard time remembering what they looked like bare. It’s really quite magical.
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Do you go birding in deep snow?
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Not really in deep snow, Neil. But occasionally after it snowed a few inches. Everything is made more beautiful by snow!
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I always enjoy winter when I can leave. I mean visiting a ski place is great for a few days. Otherwise um no thank you. We had a few days of below freezing and it was torture. Always welcome the spring.
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Hi. Yeah, winter is a pain. You know what I wouldn’t mind doing on a snowy day, though? — having a snowball fight! I haven’t done that in many, many a moon.
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My last was at Lake Tahoe 20 years ago. A fun time.😀
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I used to romanticize about snow and winter. Of course, being a Florida native I have never had to endure winter on a daily basis…..until my kids moved to Pittsburgh. I fully appreciate and understand why snow birds flock to Florida in droves not for our politics (I hope) but for all that Florida sunshine. Florida winter is absolutely delightful, and you my friend would love it.
We did recently have a snow event. A real one here in North Florida. Shut us down for days. All we had was sand to put on the roads and no infrastructure for snow and ice. By day 3, I was done.
Those are really nice photos of your suburban wintered trees. I always love the sky that surrounds the leafless trees.
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Hello there. How much snow did you get? I guess that any amount of snow in Florida throws a lot of people for a loop.
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I love the way you framed (or cropped) those photos! And your writing, too, is so good: “the former as resolute as prizefighters, many of the latter delicate and poised to dance.” Lovely!
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Thanks a lot, Paula. You’ve made my day!
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Loved your post, Neil!
Trees are beautiful no matter the season, but during the winter we get a glimpse above ground of what their roots might look like below.
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Evening, Jan. I guess that most tree roots go way below the ground surface. Otherwise, trees would be falling over right and left.
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I love the trees in all their bare splendor; you definitely have an artist’s eye and imagination, Neil.
Though I, too, am looking forward to spring (we’re about to spring forward, right?), we have on occasion had snow on my April birthday. And that was before we infuriated Mother Nature!
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I hope it doesn’t snow in April in my area!
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I am a big fan of warm and even hot weather. The existence of Winter makes me appreciate the coming warmth all the more. I like your strategy of embracing whatever good you can find in the seasons.
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Hi Geoff. Last summer was the first one in quite a while that I actually sort of liked, despite the high temps. I’m going to try and have a good opinion of summer 2025 too!
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I was just chatting to another blogger who lives in Canada about how beautiful Winter is, but that even so, we’re always glad to see it go! It really is pretty, especially with new fallen snow, but like you, I get tired of being so darn cold! Come on, Spring!
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Spring arrived much earlier than usual last year here in southeast Pennsylvania. That is, some trees and shrubs began blooming early (around March 12 or thereabouts, I think). I’ll be curious to see what happens this year.
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Being a septuagenarian, outdoor enthusiast, I share your revulsion for frigid winters. That said, 100 degree plus summers don’t turn my crank either. Limits for cycling have narrowed from 40 – 100 degrees to 50 – 90 degrees as age has turned me into a fair weather cyclist. Thankfully, I can always turn to reading your blog when the weather confines me indoors.
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Read my stories while you’re riding your bike! (but keep your eyes on the road too!)
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Beautiful photos, Neil. Although I am not usually a fan of winter, it does have its moments.
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Right . . . winter scenery can be great. But cold weather isn’t great!
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I do much better in the cold than the heat. When we hiked down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, it got hotter and hotter the closer we got to the Colorado. I became dehydrated and found it increasingly difficult just to walk in a straight line. When we summited Mr. Whitney a few years later, it was cold, the higher we got there was snow, and I felt like I was on top of the world! lol Of course, one does NOT want to freeze. I was in the Goldilocks zone. You took much better pics than we did on our days-long trip. Those trees really are starkly beautiful.
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Hi Stacey. Your experience at the Grand Canyon was a scary one. It reminds us to stay hydrated!
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A dedicated snowbird now, i have forsaken the winters I used to love. Like you, I suspect, I prefer to be in shorts and tees, and sockless to boot!
Loved the comparison you drew between prizefighters and dancers!
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Hi. The weather predictions say we will have a couple of warm, sunny days next week here in the Philadelphia area. I’m definitely looking forward to that.
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Hailing from Australia and living in Brisbane, we don’t do much cold here and if it gets below 5C, people start layering up, ha, ha. 😉
The cold I’ve been recently is in Ukraine during the month of December, where it got down to -20C for a couple of weeks. I love snow, but not the cold. The locals we volunteered with were stressing that we came from Australia and didn’t have enough warm clothes to wear. They were so kind and brought in a bagful of warms for us, then wanted us to take the clothes when we were leaving – so humbling.
Love your winter photos, Neil.
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Trump is poised to throw Ukraine under the bus. Hopefully, that will not happen. Trump eats it. I’ve detested that guy since mid-2016, which is when he was first running for office.
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He’s definitely doing that and now our opposition leader Dutton (another evil thing) is poised to do the same if he gets in!
I’ve never warmed to Trump.
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I live cold but dry sunny winter days🥰
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Hi there. I think a lot of people feel the same as you do about that. Have a great rest of the week!
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I love summer and fall but here in Michigan we rarely have a spring that’s long enough to appreciate. When it’s sunny outside though, any season is beautiful.
We don’t have many sunny days in winter so I increasingly find ways to escape for a few weeks and recharge my stores of vitamin D.
I endorse your strategy of finding beauty in the barren trees. My mother and grandmother seemed innately wired for such practices and I try my best to emulate their example November through April.
Cheers to spring around the corner!
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Howdy. I live near Philadelphia. The forecast for next week shows two days with highs in the 60s. That’s A-OK with me.
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