Annalia S.'s photos with the keyword: winter

Didn't make it in time to post an HFF yesterday, but still wanted to say hi to everyone and wish you all a happy new year! In the photo, a persimmon tree against winter fog.

I took this picture several years ago near a bend of the Piave River that is known as Fontane di Nogaré from a subterranean spring that feeds the river at this point. The mountains in the background are the Belluno Dolomites. It's a beautiful place and I will let you enjoy its charms for a moment before I tell you what is wrong with this picture. What is wrong is that this was taken in December, a time of year when, at the very least, the mountain tops should be laden with snow. Climate change has made the sight of the naked Dolomites more and more common in the last several winters. And no snow on the mountains in winter means no water reservoir feeding the rivers in spring and summer, which in turn affects the irrigation of the Padana Plain, the bread basket of Italy, where most of our crops are grown. This was the first year I remember when there was absolutely no snow on the mountains, not even a sprinkling, but since then it has become a fairly common sight, along with dried out lakes and disappearing mountain streams. Sights I never would have expected to see in a land that when I was a kid was so rich in water that waterfalls were an ubiquitous sight whenever we went hiking.

Today Italy remembers its pandemic victims. The date was not chosen at random: on this day, a year ago, a convoy of army trucks filled with caskets took away the bodies of those who had lost their lives to Covid from Bergamo because its morgue could no longer handle them. (A photo of the convoy moving through Bergamo's empty streets is published here: tg24.sky.it/politica/2021/03/18/draghi-bergamo-giornata-nazionale-vittime-covid ) A reminder of how the virus caught us unprepared and overwhelmed us. Until recently, Italy was one of the countries with the highest life expectancy in the world. Perhaps a combination of diet, life style, genes, I don't know, but it was not uncommon any more for people, women especially, to live into their 90s. My own mother was a few months short of 93 when she passed away, her second sister reached the age of 92 and the youngest sister just turned 90 this year. Until the pandemic struck she was still an active woman, drove her car (in Naples' hectic traffic, mind you!) went to fetch her grandchildren from school and donated her work to a charitable institution for disabled children. Now, of course, she's confined at home, hoping the vaccine will come and allow her a bit more freedom of movement. My aunt is one of the lucky ones, though. Today we mourn all the ones, young and old, that the pandemic took from us: not only the 103,432 who died from confirmed covid, but also those who were not tested, those who did not receive proper care because the hospitals were/are overwhelmed, and those who could not overcome the sadness, the loneliness, the loss of their livelihood. Today is for mourning, Tomorrow we must try and do better at protecting ourselves and those around us. This thing will not be over until it's over for everyone.

Shadows and reflections form a composite impression of park trees on the side wall of the neighbouring Industrial Technical Institute (with PIPs). Have a Happy Fence Friday everyone!

One of the restored buildings of the former insane asylum in San Salvi Park. HFF everyone!

Along the Arno River, downstream from the city, on a misty winter morning. I liked how the mist softened colors and made for a perfect background for the tree silhouette. In the Pip: people (and a dog) take morning walks along the river despite the humid weather; in the distance, almost hidden by the mist, the newly refurbished pedestrian bridge that connects the Isolotto area to the Cascine Park.

With no snow or hoarfrost around here, I was looking for some alternative designs in white for my wintertime photography. It was only after I had this close up of the bark of a white poplar up on the screen that I noticed the white designs looked like fairyland creatures, little ghostly gremlins with eyes, limbs and pointy ears. It took me back to when, as a child, I was prone to seeing fairies, gnomes and goblins pretty much every time I stepped into the woods. Too bad we seem to lose that imaginific power as we grow up ... except maybe through photography! Or is it old age ? :)

Just a few leaves still hanging on, before Winter really got down to business. I liked the morning light playing amongst them.

After days of rain, winter bare trees and fences reflected in a puddle at the Anconella Park. Happy "We Can Upload Again!" Fence Friday, everyone!

Several fences with nearby trees caught my eye while on a walk at the riverside park. In the main shot: public tennis court at the park. In the first pip: a fence-bedecked riverside building by an interestingly shaped tree; In the second pip: a colourful mini construction site by the park fence; In the third pip: fences and trees with the houses on the opposite bank as background. HFF everyone!

winter in the woods of Tuscany

Some leaves I picked up in the fall and forgot inside a basket. They lost their bright fall colouring but I liked the more somber winter palette.

One more HFF for you today. Hope everyone is having a good Friday! Dried up leaves caught between a chainlink fence and the corrugated fibreglass privacy screen.

Behind a rusty fence, the last light of the day gives a bare tree a crown of gold. HFF everyone! Please see large.

Hoarfrost turning the grass in the lawn into lace!

The low winter sun selectively lighting up the branches of a bare tree in my garden seemed to make an interesting abstract.

In its own somber way, even winter can be colourful! This is the bark of a platanus tree decorated by lichen.

Viale dei colli is the winding avenue that from the river climbs up the hill to Piazzale Michelangelo (Florence’s best known scenic point). This is the city’s most exclusive residential area, with many old mansions in various styles (and various degrees of repair) and with fences and gates to match. Here are a few (see PIPs) - HFF, everyone!