Finding nature in the city
Winter bud (Photo by Amanda Cashin Photography)
With snow and ice covering the ground here in Toronto, I find myself often daydreaming of warm weather and colourful backdrops throughout the city. My biggest city struggle in the winter is appreciating the natural elements close to me, especially when it’s covered in a blanket of snow.
But somehow no matter what the weather, no matter what the setting, my dog manages to find nature’s treasures: sticks, stones, grass — you name it, he’ll find it (even if it is under a foot of snow). He’s shown me how easy it is to not only find nature throughout the winter, but he has opened my eyes to the typically dismissed scenery found throughout the city where we live.
Some examples of these typically disregarded scenes are in the slideshow, below.
-
Click on the image to enlarge.Bare tree (Photo by Carly Digweed) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Snow tips (photo by Carly Digweed) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Sparkling snow (Photo by Carly Digweed) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Bare branches (Photo by Carly Digweed) -
Click on the image to enlarge.City sight (Photo by Carly Digweed) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Look up (Photo by Carly Digweed) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Changing colours (Photo by Carly Digweed) -
Click on the image to enlarge.Winter stroll (Photo by Carly Digweed)
If you make an effort to notice the little things — a tree in front of a shop, a plant on someone’s doorstep — you’ll begin to gear your focus away from the concrete and the cold, to these beautiful things that you might not normally see.
Even a snowflake landing on your nose can spark nostalgia and all-around good feelings. Last week I saw a half-melted snowman that had its carrot nose still intact and I felt a surge of happiness overcome me. Call me crazy, but my dog felt it too...
Have you had a similar experience? Share what nature-based joy you’ve found throughout your city in the winter in our comment section below!
About the Author
Carly Digweed was NCC's digital marketing coordinator.
