Seasonal Scenery – Weekly Photo Challenge
“To one in sympathy with nature, each season, in turn, seems the loveliest.”
Mark Twain
“Spring time is nature at its best.”
Lailah Gifty Akita
Our challenge this week is to illustrate the seasons, either literally or metaphorically. I’ve chosen some captures that to me are a clear announcement of each season’s arrival. Here on Kiawah we are on the cusp of spring. Flowers are beginning to bud, birds are reinforcing their nests, and bobcats are readying their dens. Above, a beautiful egret in full breeding plumage prepares for spring’s next generation.
“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”
William Shakespeare
A pair of bicycles on Kiawah’s 10-mile beach brings to mind the warmth of summer. While most of the U.S. delights in summer’s sun, those of us in the south tend to find ways to escape her humid heat. Interestingly, while many of our full-time residents head north for at least part of July and August, those are the two busiest months for visiting tourists, who come from their inland homes to enjoy our beautiful beach with its cooling breezes. Proving once again that it truly is all relative.
“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.”
William Cullen Bryant
Autumn on Kiawah brings a burst of color quite different from those of our many years in the north. There, reds, oranges and yellows create dazzling landscapes, while here our seasonal changes take a more subtle approach. The marshes turn to vast fields of gold while inland the pinkish-purple of our sweetgrass makes its all-too-brief debut. A major difference vs our friends in the north however, is that while our plants and grasses may change color less dramatically, they continue to flower and bloom throughout winter – delivering color throughout the year.
“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”
Percy Bysshe Shelley
In 16 years of living in the south we have seen snow only twice, and only once did it say for a full day. Despite the very rare extreme cold, I did venture out to capture its beauty. We worried at the time that its severity would create lasting damage to our plants and grasses, but nature once again proved her strength and within days everything was back to normal.
As my husband and I were thinking about leaving behind the bitter winters of our northern home, we agreed that having four distinct seasons each year was important to both of us. While I might complain about the occasional cold, or my husband about the heat and humidity, we remain convinced that seasonal changes are a special element of our lives here on Kiawah….especially as we enjoy the arrival of this year’s spring!
You take amazing and captivating photos. Loved your photos. Love them all. And thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you found something interesting. Your blog is beautiful and informative. Have to connect with you to see more… 🙂
Maybe because we are just coming out of the cold of winter and summer gives off the absolutely opposite feeling ~ your warm, relaxing in life “Kiawah Summer” photo stands in perfect juxtaposition to the brilliant, cold and sterile feel of your “Winter’s Wrath” photo. I’ll take summer 🙂
You and me both Randall!! Thanks for your visit and comment – you’ve captured my intent perfectly with your words!
I agree, four seasons is a requirement for us as well. We left the humidity of the east coast, however. The rains of the Pacific Northwest seem much more tolerable…
Love the collection. Snow scene is stunning!
We’re headed to the PNW this summer for a month. Seattle, Portland, the Oregon Coast, Vancouver and Victoria. Will we cross your path along the way Jane????
Let’s make that happen! 🙂 All your destinations are fantastic- you will love them all!
I’m sure I could cope with Winter’s wrath to live in such a beautiful place, Tina. Even for 2 days! 🙂
Thanks Jo – 2 days is about the perfect length of winter for me too 🙂 Happily this year’s winter was quite mild and we’re now into a lovely spring. Woo Hoo, LOVE spring!!!
Me too 🙂
To you dear 🍸…once again beautiful shots and words…a true gift!!! Here’s to spring on kiawah😜
Amen to that April – it appears spring may actually have spung
Beautiful interpretation of your seasons and, as usual with very appropriate quotes.
Thanks so much Pauline, glad you enjoyed.
Excellent seasonal choices, Tina. That snowscape is so unique for Kiawah. Was that three years ago?
Thanks Jane – yes it was that ice storm a few years ago. There was so much beauty everywhere but I’ll admit I was glad it was short-lived 🙂
El Niño is messing with our beautiful seasons this year… Glad you reminded me of how special each season really is!
My pleasure Linda – yes El Nino can definitely hit us where it hurts!!
I just might have to borrow that Mark Twain quote for my ‘sign off’ on email!
Borrow away Lindy! I liked that one too 🙂
All such beautiful images and examples of your seasons. Like you I prefer to live where we have four seasons, though these days they do seem to blend into one at times (wet, wet, and wet…)
Have a good week Tina 🙂
Thanks Jude! Hope you’ve dried out by now 🙂 We’d been in a drought for years until last year, and this year was our wettest ever. Go figure!!
I love nature and nature shots… so I am surprised that my favorite image in your collection here is the shot of the two bicycles on the beach. Go figure!
Thanks John – a bit out of my usual genre as well but gotta go where the mood drives you right?!
I always thought we only have 2 seasons down here in Florida. However if you look hard enough you will notice nature signals its seasonal changes in very subtle ways. Every season has its positives but by the end of summer I can’t wait for that first cold front of the year.
Much the same here Eduardo – subtle changes are much more appreciated than the sudden appearance of winter in the northeast if you ask me!
The announcement of the season is aptly conveyed by the fabulous photo of the pair of bicycles! The colour contrasts of blue /red and black /soft white also metaphorically announce change of seasonal colours. Well done!
Thanks very much Veena!
A lovely seasonal series. I love the winter one. It feels very special … especially if you’ve only had snow twice in 16 years !
Thanks WC – it was indeed a very special time for us. I had snow many times when I lived up north but found this particular storm more beautiful than any we’d had up there – maybe because of the rarity, or maybe because the flowers and foliage had these incredible layers of ice encasing them like plastic covers. It’s quite a memory for me.
I love the bicycles on the beach Tina and that winter scene is all the more beautiful for it’s ethereality! 🙂
Thanks Adrian – I’m a seasons gal for sure but Iceland puts me a bit over the edge on cold tolerance! I admire your tenacity!
Tina, your pictures are gorgeous, especially the ones of autumn and winter. My husband and I have begun talking about where we would like to retire, we usually do not consider going south because of our love for the four seasons. Your photos show me that it really depends on where in the south one chooses to settle. It must be lovely, living on an island. We hope to retire on the water someday, a lake preferably, so we can just pull our kayaks down to the water each morning for a paddle. xx
Thanks so much Grace. Yes we looked from Georgia through North Carolina at anyplace that had water (beach, lake, river, marsh) and golf. We’ve been here 16 years now and really love it. There are definitely seasons but they are much milder than those we had in the north – and I think it’s such a beautiful area combining a beautiful beach, wonderful marsh, rivers and creeks – and LOTS of kayaking :-). Had never heard of it when we started our exploration but loved it immediately. Good luck in your search when the time comes!
Thank you, Tina! It looks like a beautiful spot to retire. Do people vacation there as well?
Oh heavens yes Grace. It’s quite a prime vacation spot!http://m.kiawahresort.com
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Lovely color and composition, Tina. Beautiful shots. Now, Kiawah is on my list of places to visit!
Thanks Patti – one thing for sure about Kiawah, there’s no shortage of photo ops!!!
You have captured the beauty of each season. As we have been discussing between our two blogs, I do seem to complain about them even while loving them 🙂 so can appreciate that you have acknowledged your occasional grumble.
Thanks Amy – yep I’m an admitted occasional grumbler but I wouldn’t want my weather any other way!
Agreed 🙂
Beautiful images Tina. We live on the Virginia coast and get some cold winters too. But like you my husband and I love the seasons
Thanks Nora – love Viriginia. You guys get a bit colder than we do but neither of us gets nearly as much winter as some others do. And that’s just how I like it!!
Beautiful interpretation of this week’s challenge. I love all of your captures. Literally bursting with colour and life. It really is funny how some of us long for warm weather in winter and cooler weather in summer. I for one am a summer person all the way 😀 It’s not cold enough to snow here in the city of Melbourne. But, if we wanted to see snow we could take a two hour drive up to the mountains in winter 🙂
I’m with you Mabel – if I need a snow fix, I’ll drive or fly to see one! I’d much rather be too hot than too cold any day!!
Beautiful series Tina! I love each of your seasons! Funny I used to live in NY – snow snow and very cold winters – here in Paris the winters are pretty mild compared to NY – snow is rare – this year for some odd reason I would have liked just a touch of snow – sort of miss the ambience of a winters snow. And now I am anxious for the Spring!
Well, I agree maybe one short-lived snow each year would be nice but no more! And springtime in Paris? Doesn’t get much better than that!
Mark Twain was so right…I love your photo series.
Thanks very much Charlie!
I enjoy winter, too, Tina, although I’d like a bit more snow than we’ve had this year. I like the bike shot, with it’s invitation to adventure, and that winter shot. We’re not into spring here yet, but I expect it won’t be too far away.
janet
Oh no, NEVER more snow for me Janet!! I love to visit my family up north and that usually gives me my snow fix for the year :-).
Beautiful
Thanks very much Michelle!
wonderful images and words!
Many thanks for your visit and comment!
Thanks. Cuzzin
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Miss you Cuzzin’, thanks for popping by!!
Four season change is imperative to me, too. The anticipation of the next season comes right when fatigue with the current one is setting in.
So that last image is of snow? What a fabulous contrast against the sweet grass!
Yes, I agree 100% about the timing of the new season Laurie! and yes, snow indeed. Twice in 16 years – that makes it a treat and not a drudgery!!
Tina, I especially like winter’s wrath. It’s otherworldly.
Thanks Jane, it was an amazing day, wasn’t it?!
Wow! Kiawah looks especially beautiful in winter, stark, but beautiful. I love the changes that each season brings, though they don’t seem to be nearly as dramatic in my neck of the woods
Thanks LRS – it’s very seldom stark here since we always have foliage. That’s why I so enjoyed shooting that one freezing day. Appreciate your lovely comment.
The secret is out ! Kiawah is always beautiful in its own way!
You got that right Girlfriend!!!
Such wonderful images Tina. I think having the 4 seasons is good for us. I know I love the change that comes and makes you appreciate what you just had.
Absolutely Jo – I agree we appreciate each season more for having come thru the previous one! Thanks for your visit and comment.
Cracking images
Thanks Rob!
That is so true, Tina. Every season holds a different magic and announces a new arrival. I love it that way! (even when I complain : ) )
We agree 100% Sandra! Thanks for stopping by
You should be a salesperson for our wonderful island. All seasons are beautiful. Your photos are fabulous.
Awwww, thanks GirlFriend!
Beautiful images.
Thank you Rupali