Prolific Signs of Spring

“Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade.”

Charles Dickens

EGRET ON A BRANCH

Here in lowcountry South Carolina, spring is in the air. Beyond the warm sunshine and soft breezes, there are signs of seasonal change that we’ve come to love. Chief among them, we appreciate the devoted nesting behaviors of our beautiful avian residents such as the egret above and the pair below.

NESTING

“Springtime crawls out of the wild mouths of flowers.”

Cecilia Llompart

Like many other parts of the country, springtime brings with it an amazing variety of colorful flowers. Although our fragrant, creamy magnolia (my personal favorite) is only now beginning to bud, the wisteria, camellia and azaleas have blossomed everywhere these past few weeks – adding their wonderful scents to the very air we breathe.

GARDEN PATH

“To everything there is a season.”

Ecclesiastes 3 KJV

What is it about flowers that brings a smile to most everyone’s lips? Is it their color, their fragrance, or simply the fact that they persevere whatever havoc the winter throws at them?

WISTERIA

“All seasons have something to offer.”

Jeanette Walls

Beyond the birds and the flowers, so too the creatures who call our island home become ever more plentiful – deer giving birth to fawns, gators to hatchlings and bobcats to kittens. Life begins anew as both flora and fauna sense the turn of the calendar’s pages.

DEAR DEER

“Spring is the fountain of love for thirsty winter.”

Munia Kahn

Sadly (for us at least) spring is also the time when our sleepy island awakens, soon to be shared with the many visitors who come for our warmth, our beautiful beach and it’s breezes, and for all of the wonders we preserve so carefully during our winter season. Hopefully all will follow the oft-quoted advice to “take only photos, leave only footprints”.

SEASIDE VISITORS

“Every season has a reason.”

Gift Gugu Mona

I’ve chosen to present this week’s images of spring using Topaz Studio Impressions. Here’s hoping your season of warmth and rebirth is also underway. To see more responses to this week’s Prolific challenge, click here.

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Tags: weekly photo challenge

72 thoughts on “Prolific Signs of Spring”

sandstarsblog on May 10, 2018 at 10:28 am said:

Awesome images, Tina! Your artistry with Topaz Studio Impressions does really impress! 🙂

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Abrie Joubert on May 3, 2018 at 4:30 am said:

You did it again. Spring prevent us from becoming the dickens in with weather. It gives us options.
Although my brain is limited to literal interpretations of photography, I do love your “paintings”

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- Tina Schell on May 3, 2018 at 9:20 pm said:
  
  I doubt your brain is limited by anything Abrie 🙂
  
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  - Abrie Joubert on May 4, 2018 at 1:02 am said:
    
    I like you betterer and betterer.
Dina on April 27, 2018 at 8:19 am said:

I thought you had started a new career as a world famous painter until I came til the end. 😉 The Topaz Studio Impressions did a brilliant job with your photos, Tina. Love all of them for their special beauty, but the last one I’d frame and put up on my wall. Gorgeous!
Wishing you a lovey weekend, enjoy spring. x

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- Tina Schell on April 27, 2018 at 8:36 am said:
  
  Thanks so much Dina, and a happy spring to you!
  
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baadal_hillboy_explores on April 26, 2018 at 12:00 am said:

you have an Amazing blog dear and it is always an inspiration to a beginner like me.

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norasphotos4u on April 25, 2018 at 9:48 pm said:

Beautiful work Tina!!

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- Tina Schell on April 26, 2018 at 8:25 am said:
  
  Thanks Nora!
  
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David on April 25, 2018 at 1:40 pm said:

You’re getting good with the artistic rendering.

We’re off to the Colorado version of “spring is here”. A lot of wind with a wildfire (last week), then some snow, then a warm-up (over the weekend), and back to snow (yesterday and last night). Today, very nice. 🙂

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- Tina Schell on April 25, 2018 at 5:34 pm said:
  
  Oh man, those wildfires can be frightening, esp on windy days. Hope nice is there to stay for a while!
  
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LB on April 24, 2018 at 10:03 pm said:

The photos are lovely they way you have processed them. What I really like is the opening quote by Dickens. So true!

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- Tina Schell on April 24, 2018 at 10:37 pm said:
  
  Thanks Laurie—dickens was a far greater master if his craft than I oh mine LOL
  
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pommepal on April 24, 2018 at 1:39 am said:

I just love the way you have processed these photos Tina, so painterly, just like soft, beautiful water colours.

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- Tina Schell on April 24, 2018 at 7:05 am said:
  
  Thanks very much Pauline, sometimes I simply enjoy the process 😊
  
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Margy on April 23, 2018 at 11:33 am said:

Topaz Studio – love what you did with these images! I wanted to print ALL of my Topaz enhanced images and put them on my wall – but that wasn’t really feasible. So I got one of those digital photo frames, put the photos on it, and set it on a ledge over my kitchen counter. It comes on automatically when it senses movement.

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- Tina Schell on April 24, 2018 at 10:52 pm said:
  
  Good idea! I love the art that Topaz can produce
  
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april kanew on April 23, 2018 at 8:50 am said:

These are GREAT Tina…..they have a very interesting look to them….I love how they flow ….colors are awesome!!

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- Tina Schell on April 23, 2018 at 9:24 am said:
  
  Thanks April!
  
  Sent from my iPhone
  
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Rupali on April 23, 2018 at 5:58 am said:

Amazing job Tina.

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- Tina Schell on April 23, 2018 at 7:45 am said:
  
  Thanks Rupali
  
  Sent from my iPhone
  
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lensandpensbysally on April 22, 2018 at 2:32 pm said:

Tina, beauties all. They have this ethereal sensibility that comes with spring. Well done. By the way, my wisteria is weeks away from blooming. It’s a favorite, both in aroma and clusters.

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- Tina Schell on April 22, 2018 at 6:00 pm said:
  
  Agree with you re the wisteria Sally – definitely a mainstay here in our area. Their fragrance is simply glorious! Thanks for the lovely comment, glad these caught your fancy!
  
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Jane Lurie on April 22, 2018 at 11:33 am said:

Wonderful series of spring impressions, Tina. The soft pastels of lowcountry nature work really well. The nesting egrets is a gorgeous “painting”.

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- Tina Schell on April 22, 2018 at 5:55 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jane – I enjoyed playing artist with these – glad they appealed to your artist’s eye.
  
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Dalo 2013 on April 22, 2018 at 11:01 am said:

This post holds the magical moments of spring, Tina. The Topaz Studio Impressions you applied gives the feel that the transition from winter into the warm, brilliant realm of spring is here to stay for a while. Loved every shot, but the last one captured something special – set up perfectly with the preceding paragraph you wrote. Wish you perfect days ahead ~

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- Tina Schell on April 22, 2018 at 5:53 pm said:
  
  Always great to see your name come up Randall (despite not having seen you post in quite some time 😢). Thank you as always for your thoughtful and much-appreciated comment. I do enjoy playing with Topaz when the spirit moves me, as it did this week. Sometimes I feel the use of textures and special effects can help those who, like me, are challenged by painting or drawing to achieve the artistic results we’d like to have created with paper and pen!
  
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Lisa Gordon on April 22, 2018 at 8:33 am said:

Tina, these photographs are absolutely gorgeous!
I am trying to choose a favorite, and simply cannot (although I think it might be the wisteria). 🙂
Truly, truly beautiful work on these.

Have a wonderful week ahead!

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- Tina Schell on April 22, 2018 at 8:38 am said:
  
  Thanks so much Lisa. High praise indeed 😊
  
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D supp on April 21, 2018 at 11:21 pm said:

Time to open a gallery .. you have so much to offer !
I feel lucky to get to see your work!

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- Tina Schell on April 23, 2018 at 8:43 am said:
  
  LOL, you are very kind Diane. I’m happy sharing with friends 😊
  
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Perpetua on April 21, 2018 at 8:21 pm said:

The earth does not smile but laughs at the flowers. You have painted the world with these photos, Tina. Life will be buzzing…

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- Tina Schell on April 21, 2018 at 9:46 pm said:
  
  How very poetic Perpetua – thanks so much!
  
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NorCal Zen on April 21, 2018 at 8:45 am said:

These photos are masterpieces Tina. I usually like photos to be as close to the original as possible, but you’ve edited these very tastefully. They are beautiful.

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- Tina Schell on April 21, 2018 at 9:07 am said:
  
  Thanks Ms Zen! Always a tough call on edits like these but once in a while I do like to play a bit😊
  
  Sent from my iPhone
  
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  - NorCal Zen on April 21, 2018 at 11:07 am said:
    
    It can be lots of fun 🙂 Especially if they turn out as beautiful as yours.
Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread on April 21, 2018 at 6:56 am said:

I really didn’t know you could do anything else to elevate your photography, but you figure out how to advance it to pure art. These images are amazing. The egrets and wisteria need a frame or a canvas. Thank you for making my morning get off to a great start. 🙂

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- Tina Schell on April 21, 2018 at 8:03 am said:
  
  And thank YOU for starting mine Judy!!!
  
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Margo Johnson on April 21, 2018 at 2:41 am said:

I don’t know how you did these photos, but they are wonderful

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- Tina Schell on April 21, 2018 at 8:05 am said:
  
  Thanks Margo – Topaz has some really nice products to help create art from photos. Every once in a while I love playing around with them.
  
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sustainabilitea on April 20, 2018 at 10:30 pm said:

Oh, so well done, Tina. I thought of you yesterday when I read my first book by Mary Alice Moore, which took place on an island in the SC low country. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

janet

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 10:37 pm said:
  
  Thanks Janet! Have heard her speak many times—she’s terrific
  
  Sent from my iPhone
  
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Grammy Writes on April 20, 2018 at 9:59 pm said:

Really love the impressionistic effect on these photos! “NESTING” and “WISTERIA” are my favs!

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- Tina Schell on April 21, 2018 at 8:06 am said:
  
  Many thanks Grammy – glad those spoke to you!
  
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Linda Wyatt on April 20, 2018 at 6:44 pm said:

What a lovely post… could have sworn I was looking at oil paintings…. beautiful

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 9:44 pm said:
  
  Thanks GF, love Impressionism now and then
  
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Terri Webster Schrandt on April 20, 2018 at 6:08 pm said:

Always a stunning and prolific photo gallery you put on, Tina!

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 9:45 pm said:
  
  Many thanks Terri!
  
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dorannrule on April 20, 2018 at 5:06 pm said:

I love your Topaz Images…. makes me feel like Alice in Wonderland! 🙂 Kudos for your innovative approaches to photography.

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 9:45 pm said:
  
  Love the Alice comment Dor! Many thanks
  
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pattimoed on April 20, 2018 at 3:55 pm said:

Beautiful and expressive images and words, Tina! I hope you’re out enjoying the sunshine and the season. 🙂

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 9:47 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Patti, I sure am!!
  
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Laurel K. Greer on April 20, 2018 at 3:54 pm said:

These look like you painted them!

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 9:51 pm said:
  
  I guess in a way I did Miss Laurel!
  
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whippetwisdom on April 20, 2018 at 3:25 pm said:

I love the effect in these images Tina, they are beautiful compositions 🤗💖

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 9:52 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Xenia😊
  
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Toni Orenga on April 20, 2018 at 2:51 pm said:

Looking forward to spring. It doesn’t exist this year in Ohio. Toni

On Fri, Apr 20, 2018 at 10:03 AM, Travels and Trifles wrote:

> Tina Schell posted: “”Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the > sun and winter in the shade.” Charles Dickens Here in lowcountry South > Carolina, spring is in the air. Beyond the warm sunshine and soft breezes, > there are signs of seasonal change that we’ve ” >

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 9:53 pm said:
  
  Soon Toni, soon! Meanwhile back to Kiawah!!!
  
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michealdebarra on April 20, 2018 at 11:44 am said:

Greetings from the Middle East Mrs Tina. Awesome shots yet again. Must check out that Topaz thingy! Regards.

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 9:54 pm said:
  
  Greetings back Micheal! And many thanks
  
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sharonbuehler on April 20, 2018 at 11:08 am said:

You made beautiful scenes even more beautiful.

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 10:15 pm said:
  
  Thanks Sharon, sometimes it’s fun to try to create something new 😊
  
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Timelesslady on April 20, 2018 at 11:04 am said:

These are truly beautiful and the post goes so perfect with the images.

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 10:17 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Timeless!
  
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myoddjournal on April 20, 2018 at 10:46 am said:

Wow. This is nice.

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 10:19 pm said:
  
  Thanks!
  
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Isabel F. Bernaldo de quirós on April 20, 2018 at 10:27 am said:

Wow! This is really wonderful, Tina. Thanks for sharing.

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 10:19 pm said:
  
  Thanks Isabel, glad this one spoke to you
  
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Rainee on April 20, 2018 at 10:21 am said:

Stunning images Tina!

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- Tina Schell on April 20, 2018 at 10:21 pm said:
  
  Thank you Rainee
  
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