The Dead Forest
When you go for a hike after a long winter
It wasn’t a long winter for us. We had escaped this cold season and spent the last six months in Africa’s summer. But in the meantime, this forest had transformed. From a lively, lush green piece of scenery, it turned into a dry and cold place.
“The dead forest”
My husband says out loud what describes it best. It does indeed look like this piece of land is dead. All the green has vanished. Nothing left from the forest we left behind in October last year. The flourishing beauty.
Dead branches and trees are all around. Blocking the trail here and there.
The air is cool but fresh. It’s remarkably warmer than the day we arrived. It was 6 degrees and raining. We were freezing. But today the sun came out and actually made a difference.
I put one layer too much on. But how should I know? I first need to adapt to the new climate zone. I’m still in the African vibes. Walking barefoot all day long.
Some mice are running around on the forest soil. Birds are singing in the trees. Waiting for spring’s weather to change. More worms to come out of the ground and more life to appear in this forest.
The only trees providing some green to the landscape at the moment are the pine and fir trees in between all the bald broad-leaved trees. These evergreen trees don’t change throughout the seasons. They grow seeds and drop them again. But the tree stays the same.
But if you look closely you do see signs of life. The first signs of spring. An indication of what my next article will be about…
More about seasons in life…
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Anne Bonfert is a traveler. Photographer. Writer. Teacher. Skydiving instructor. Adventure enthusiast. Nature lover. And fell in love with the African continent.