Probably the growth had to do with snow, but, as the ground was level, she could not see why the edge of the woods should come just there.
They rode into the forest.
To Helen it seemed a strange, critical entrance into another world, which she was destined to know and to love.

The pines were big, brown-barked, seamed, and knotted, with no typical conformation except a majesty and beauty.

They grew far apart.

Few small pines and little underbrush flourished beneath them.

The floor of this forest appeared remarkable in that it consisted of patches of high silvery grass and wide brown areas of pine-needles.