Seasonal changes in the biosphere are easy to observe. We all do it with various enthusiasm and intensity. Even completely urbanized human beings can't help noticing that the parks changes character according to seasons. Those of us living close to nature are embedded in the biosphere in a way that forces us to notice. We are all subject to biospheric impressions.

In fact, biospheric impression is just a fancy name on the appreciation of plants like noticing the first leaves in spring, smelling and picking flowers, gathering berries and enjoying a spectacular fall foliage.

I passionately gather biospheric impressions – I chase and collect them systematically and have developed certain rituals over the years. Obviously, discovering the first spring flowers is a major event as is finding wild strawberries.

I have made a collection of the 2008 biospheric impressions from Åsa. You can learn about the biosphere in Åsa, obviously, and I'll reveal my compulsive biospheric traditions, some of them bordering on fanaticism (which is growing very popular these days...).

Hepatica Nobilis - Liver Leaf

First thing first. Hepatica Nobilis, or liver leaf as I've learned it is also called, is my favorite flower. Every year I carefully monitor my secret places where they arrive the earliest. Normally that is. This year hepatica nobilis showed up particularly early, mid february, and as can be seen above it was sugared by the last cryospheric remnants before they finally formed blue carpets in the forest. 

Coltsfoot appears at the same time as liver leaf, often a little earlier. These flowers I found just outside my house beside the beginning of the trail I normally use entering the forest. 

Wahlbekken

Wahlbekken is a creek that I pass almost everytime I go for a walk or run in the woods. In the spring it is looking like this, expanding almost around the little bridge making me jump ashore.

Wild strawberries are normally abundant in Åsa. This year was no different and I enjoyed snacking berries on my numerous hikes in the area around the house. It was a good mix of sun and rain so the berries were even exeptionally big and tasty. Cloudberry, however, is more sensitive to weather conditions and this year it had been too cold and the young berries didn't make it to be as juicy as the one on this image. There weren't many of them.  All the more tasty, you can imagine! 

Campanulaceae - Bluebell

I call it the bluebell, but it looks like that is the name of a tiny version of this flower. This year they were abundant and I could find them all along Haakenrud road where I live as well as many other places in Åsa. I even spottet a late bloomer today, late September, but normally they live their lives in June/July.  

Haakenrud rainbow view

Midsummer view from Haakenrud. The fields are lush green and the light spectacular this time of year. If you look carefully you'll see a fraction of a rainbow on the extreme left just above the hills.

The Haakenrud Poppies

These bright colored poppies are extraordinary. They are spreading in the old unattended garden without any problems at all. Even fire can't kill these spectacular flowers. They last a few weeks and I enjoy every moment of their lifetime.

Mini - The Watch Cat

During summer we hardly see the cat inside. Mini, the great cat, is out watching the property. Each year sheep manage to get through the fences and feast on the fields. That they are not welcome to do. I am not fond of their attacks on my tomatoes either, so it is good to have a watch cat...

Damtjern 

Damtjern is my preferred local lake. It is a small refreshing lake that is clean and less populated than Steinsfjorden. If I walk from home I have to climb steep hills for around an hour or so. By car I'm up in 10 min. Often I go there with my bike and continue on the numerous dirt roads in Nordmarka/Krokskogen.  On the image above my son is diving from the dam into a warm reflecting lake July/August. Below you see Damtjern as a silent fall lake just before the sun sets.

Moose territory

Every time I go for a walk or run in the woods I see animals. Often times that guaranteed animal is a moose. I have been so consentrated climbing the hills - read close to coma from lack of air - that I almost physically crashed into a moose. Moose poo is all over the place to such a degree we have lunch in the midst of it without even noticing. You can always count on seeing a moose track or two like on the image above. 

This particular place with the tree beard is almost a sure thing of a place to look for moose. If you turn 180 degrees releative to the images here, you'll see an opening in the woods where the moose like to "gras".  The images are taken in April and September and illustrate the changes of colors and slight alteration of branches during the 6 month between them in time.

Åsa with a view

...to be continued...