I have always taken that scene to be Gandalf's perception of the rings effect on Frodo, who'd owned it now 20 years, however enhanced by the Morgul-knife, Sauron's greater activity, and so forth.
I have taken it in the whole to be a sign of
Frodo's as a representative of purity. The ring is unlikely to corrupt him like Smeagol, or the wraiths, but will hollow him out, leaving only emptiness. Again, it was something only noticeable by Gandalf because he looked, and it is not unlike Frodo's ability to interact with Galadriel on a higher level or to control Gollum. The Ring is having an effect, a mostly draining and depressing one to be sure, but not necessarily a directly evil one.
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The hoes unrecked in the fields were flung, __ and fallen ladders in the long grass lay __ of the lush orchards; every tree there turned __ its tangled head and eyed them secretly, __ and the ears listened of the nodding grasses; __ though noontide glowed on land and leaf, __ their limbs were chilled.
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