December 6th. Wet snow last evening coated trees and shaded ground.

 

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Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) will have pink flowers (fading to white) in the spring.

 

The State Flower of Massachusetts, Trailing Arbutus is uncommon and protected in several eastern states. This patch is west of the brownstone bridge over River Road in Colchester. (This is my first sighting of it on the Air Line Trail.)

 

December 7th. Twentytwo degrees overnight and the marsh is suddenly frozen over..

 

December 8th, Sunrise at 7:34 AM.

 

December 12th. Predawn. Sixteen degrees.

 

Bubbles under the ice.

 

 

 

 

 

Swirls...

 

...and "bells".

 

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Beavers have been active.

 

With the tree down, they're working to remove branches.

 

.December 13th. Dawn.  Thirteen degrees.

 

Yes, that is the sun.

 

 

 

More ice over the outlet stream.

 

 

 

.December 16th. Dawn.  The beavers have pruned and carried off most of the branches from their recently downed oak.