Tree Ferns Silhouetted Against Winter Fog in Jerusalem

Bright late-afternoon light falls through a thin layer of fog, casting the silhouettes of several tree ferns against a pale sky. The unfurling croziers rise in tight spirals from the forest floor, their dark outlines sharp against the washed-out background. Winter conditions are evident in the bare, dormant ground cover surrounding the ferns, against the evergreen texture of the fronds. The scene sits on a fern-lined path, where the muted colors of the dead season soften the edges of the foliage. Shadows stretch long and faint across the earth, at the base of the plants in the cool, still air. One curled frond tip catches the edge of the light, defining the curve against the mist.