Silent Sunday – Winter Burned

Posted on March 23, 2024 by Eliza Waters
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About Eliza Waters

Gardener, photographer, naturalist, writer
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58 Responses to Silent Sunday – Winter Burned

  1. Joanne's avatar Joanne says:
    March 23, 2024 at 11:33 pm

    So I’m assuming winter burning is a thing that happens in extreme cold? I am learning plenty about the effects of extreme temperatures which are the opposite to ours in Australia!

    • Eliza Waters's avatar Eliza Waters says:
      March 24, 2024 at 8:50 am

      Technically, ‘winter burn’ refers to plant damage due to extreme cold and wind, often evident on evergreens like rhododendron, which will brown the leaf, often killing it. In this case, this is a beech that holds its leaves until spring, when the new leaves emerge and the old ones drop. They are already dead, so the scorched look is more from the way they dried out.

  2. carolinestreetblog's avatar carolinestreetblog says:
    March 24, 2024 at 1:17 am

    Beautiful images! Nature is unique, even in its imperfections.

  3. Pingback: Silent Sunday – Winter Burned | Purplerays

  4. Anne's avatar Anne says:
    March 24, 2024 at 2:12 am

    This is a fascinating photograph.

  5. greendreamsswe's avatar Maria says:
    March 24, 2024 at 4:08 am

    Fragile beauty. An extraordinary photo Eliza.

  6. Alice's avatar Alice says:
    March 24, 2024 at 6:31 am

    I’m not aware of that…any moisture on the leaf magnifies the sun’s stronger-at-this-time-of-year’s-rays?

    • Eliza Waters's avatar Eliza Waters says:
      March 24, 2024 at 8:08 am

      Not really, I think it may be a fungus that eroded the leaf, but it looks like scorch. ‘Winter burned’ refers to how we feel after yesterday’s storm, ha! Our world is made of glass this morning!

  7. Barbara Rodgers's avatar Barbara Rodgers says:
    March 24, 2024 at 6:46 am

    They look so delicate, yet must be strong to have endured the winter for so long. Beautiful image, Eliza!

  9. automatic gardener's avatar automatic gardener says:
    March 24, 2024 at 8:39 am

    But still hanging on. Did you get any of the snow?

  10. Marian St.Clair's avatar Marian St.Clair says:
    March 24, 2024 at 9:45 am

    Our beech leaves are still holding on…but not for long now. Love their winter color.

  11. neihtn2012's avatar neihtn2012 says:
    March 24, 2024 at 9:52 am

    It must have been really cold. I will try to see if we have anything like that in our back woods.

  12. Tails Around the Ranch's avatar Tails Around the Ranch says:
    March 24, 2024 at 10:48 am

    Eliza-you have an amazing photographic eye. Love this image!

  13. ke01341's avatar ke01341 says:
    March 24, 2024 at 11:20 am

    So lovely!

  14. Debbie's avatar Debbie says:
    March 24, 2024 at 11:31 am

    Great photo, Eliza! It’s kind of sad imagining what could have happened to cause this, but at least we’re confident these leaves will eventually drop and new life will spring forth, right?

  15. krispeterson100's avatar krispeterson100 says:
    March 24, 2024 at 12:22 pm

    Well, I guess winter’s cold doesn’t offer protection plants from burn damaged foliage! Have you been caught in the most recent cold snap I heard about on the news? That’s no way to start the spring season!

    • Eliza Waters's avatar Eliza Waters says:
      March 24, 2024 at 12:32 pm

      Not sure what is the cause of this scorched look, though this isn’t from cold. I was at a loss of what to title this photo, so went with winter burned, more about me than the leaf, lol!
      ( True winter burn is a desiccation from wind/cold extremes, which will cause leaf and stem dieback.)
      Yeah, we had a mix of snow/ice/rain yesterday followed by low 20s last night…. the world is glittering today! Spring is on hold, sigh.

  16. sandyjwhite's avatar sandyjwhite says:
    March 24, 2024 at 12:26 pm

    It really does look scorched.

  17. theshrubqueen's avatar theshrubqueen says:
    March 24, 2024 at 1:15 pm

    My Florida brain kicked in for a minute – I thought it was a Bougainvillea flower! NOT. Interesting how white that is.

  18. Jane Lurie's avatar Jane Lurie says:
    March 24, 2024 at 1:30 pm

    What a terrific image, Eliza, and yes, what a contrast to SoCal right now! 🙂

  19. Tina's avatar Tina says:
    March 24, 2024 at 3:08 pm

    You always post the loveliest photos. They’re simple, but beautifully reflect what’s in nature. 

  20. Birder's Journey's avatar Birder's Journey says:
    March 24, 2024 at 3:25 pm

    What interesting effects! I must read the other comments and your responses to learn more about how this happens. ☺️

  21. belindagroverphotography's avatar belindagroverphotography says:
    March 24, 2024 at 6:00 pm

    It is amazing how some leaves hang on no matter what. Very nice photo, Eliza!

  22. Born To Organize's avatar Born To Organize says:
    March 24, 2024 at 11:20 pm

    This is a stunning photo, Eliza.

  23. pbmgarden's avatar pbmgarden says:
    March 25, 2024 at 7:44 am

    Love the subtle color of the beech leaves and the rusty effect of the burn. Excellent composition.

  24. shoreacres's avatar shoreacres says:
    March 25, 2024 at 8:16 am

    It does look like scorch, but it’s far more attractive! I liked your description of the color as butterscotch. Combined with the ivory of the leaves, it’s beautiful.

  25. Dale's avatar Dale says:
    March 25, 2024 at 12:10 pm

    What a perfect photo! The leaves separating the dark from the light… Beauty!

  26. tomwhelan's avatar tomwhelan says:
    March 25, 2024 at 9:27 pm

    The red burn line is a striking addition to the wintered beech leaves.

  27. Jet Eliot's avatar Jet Eliot says:
    March 30, 2024 at 11:19 am

    I had to read your comment to understand what the burn was about, Eliza. I’ve lived so long in wildfire country that it looked to me at first like another fire had gone through. I’m glad you explained. Cheers my friend.

    • Eliza Waters's avatar Eliza Waters says:
      March 30, 2024 at 2:44 pm

      Thanks, Jet. ‘Leaf Scorch’ is a botanical term that can have multiple causes, including “soil compaction, transplant shock, nutrient deficiency, nutrient excess, drought, salt toxicity, herbicide injury, and disease injury.”

  28. Belladonna's avatar Belladonna says:
    April 10, 2024 at 8:05 pm

    That makes the leaf sooo pretty!

Comments are closed.