Monochrome Winter Jewels

While I find myself complaining about the grey skies of this season, they do sometimes offer an opportunity to slow down and look at the finer details. I took this shot while out for a wander, and I felt that stripping away the colour really helped focus on the textures.

I love how the water droplets cling to the underside of the twigs, looking like tiny glass beads. It’s a quiet reminder that even when the trees look dead and dormant, there is life waiting just beneath the surface.

Interesting Fact: Those tiny buds you see along the branches are actually fully formed miniature leaves and flowers, wrapped up tight in protective scales. They are essentially hibernating, waiting for the precise combination of daylight hours and temperature to signal that it's safe to unfurl. Nature is always thinking ahead!