In the heart of winter, all of us—plants, animals, and we animals known as humans—engage in some form of adaptation to make it through the cold season. The magic of what’s happening all around us makes for beautiful words and images.

On Saturday, January 25, from 1-5PM, join the Chocorua Lake Conservancy at the Cook Memorial Library in Tamworth for a Winter Wonderland Crankie Workshop with naturalist and artist Lynne Flaccus and writer/artists Peggy Johnson and Juno Lamb. In this workshop, we’ll learn about winter ecology and how plants adapt to changing temperatures and the snows of winter, and create poetry and art to share our knowledge. Can plants photosynthesize? What is that popping sound you hear on extra cold winter nights? How do plants keep from freezing? How does snow cover help plants survive? We’ll express our learning in communally written haiku that will form the script of the crankie we’ll paint together: a long scroll of images that gets rolled up and shown like a movie. (Crankies, called panoramas in the 19th century when they were all the rage, are an early form of moving picture.)

The workshop is free and all ages are welcome—kids 10 and under, please bring a helpful adult with you. Voluntary donations to cover the cost of materials are appreciated and keep projects like this alive. Let us know you are coming in advance, if you are able, by emailing jlamb@chocorualakeconservancy.org. 

About the Presenters:

Naturalist and CLC Stewardship Director Lynne Flaccus has 30 years of experience in land conservation and stewardship, managing protected properties, studying wildlife, and educating adults and children.

Peggy Johnson loves her work as a librarian at Cook Memorial Library, and as music director at Melvin Village Community Church and of Sandwich Singers. She is a poet, artist and book designer and maker.

CLC Director of Programming and Outreach Juno Lamb is a writer, interdisciplinary artist and community facilitator.