Hues of Hibernation
Photos and story by Christopher Helzer
W
inter landscapes in Nebraska tend to be dominated
by the grays and browns of dormant vegetation.
Periodic snowfalls can provide welcome highlights on
those drab landscapes, but even the white snow eventually
turns a dull gray and then melts away completely.
Finding other colors during winter requires attention to
detail - spotting a flash of red as a bird flits from one gray
tree to another, or noting the subtle blue tones in an
Opposite: A Rorschach image appears in the burned bark of a ponderosa pine tree at The Nature Conservancy's
Niobrara Valley Preserve.
Above: Wild rose leaves often persist well into the winter, adding a dash of red color to brown prairies.
DECEMBER 2016 • NEBRASKAland 57
