Winter's Beauty Is . . .

 Elusive.

She sends you on a search.

You have to seek to find her hidden beauty.

(firepower Nandina)

Unexpected.

She doesn't offer the idyllic loveliness that nature brings in spring . . . 

full colorful flowers

trees bursting forth with little knots of new green leaves

lush meadows.  

Instead, she's . . .

(snow laying in graceful curves in the branches)

A little quirky.

Unique.

Surprising.

A beauty of a different kind.

(Heavenly bamboo)

Quiet.

 Don't expect her beauty to knock you over

like a dramatic sunset.

Her beauty whispers.

Understated.

Almost reclusive.

(tattered pussywillows)

These qualities draw me to winter.

To make the effort

to find and appreciate her uncommon beauty.

(dramatic white berries of unknown origin!)

And to be richly rewarded

when I do.