Lens-Artists Challenge #105 – SPRING

MAGICAL MAGNOLIA GARDENS

“Spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer.”

Anita Krizzan

Next up on our seasonal challenges, this week we turn to thoughts of Spring. Noted by poets and lyricists as a season of hope and renewal, spring teaches us that despite (or perhaps because of) the hardships of winter, our world will once again blossom with new life.  As we continue to deal with the issues of the day, spring teaches us to remain hopeful despite our challenges. One of the many rituals of the season here in the Charleson area is a visit to beautiful Magnolia Gardens. There we might learn from the cypress trees which draw strength and nourishment from waters that would destroy a less-resilient species.

UNDER THREAT

“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring.”

Bernard Williams

Spring here on Kiawah also delivers some incredibly dramatic skies – yet another example of nature’s lessons. The image above shows a line of beachfront cottages made smaller by the immense, threatening clouds. Yet for the observant among us, there is a small bright spot in the center of the maelstrom.  We can learn from Mother Nature that despite the worst moments there is always a spot of hope somewhere even when troubles threaten to engulf us.

SWEET CHICKS

“Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come.”

Robert H. Schuller

Spring is also a time of rebirth – not only of the plants and flowers but also of the creatures with whom we share Mother Earth. Pandemic notwithstanding, birds continue to deliver and nourish their chicks, does give birth to fawns and tiny alligators emit high-pitched, musical melodies as they take joy in swimming through the lagoons. Of course, we are always mindful that mom is surely keeping a watchful eye on them (and more importantly, on us) should her fierce protection be required.

TINY GATOR HATCHLINGS

“If we had no winter the spring would not be so pleasant. if we did not taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

Anne Bradstreet

There are reasons that platitudes exist. They take note of things that are commonplace and widely acknowledged. If one searches for quotations about spring there are significantly more than on most other subjects. The vast majority speak to hope, renewal, rebirth, determination … you get the idea. There have certainly been days in the recent past when most of us have wondered when we will ever return to life as we knew it. Surely others have felt the same during trying times in the past – the great depression, world wars, earthquakes and other natural disasters – yet somehow time heals, trials end, and we are reborn with a new appreciation of the things we’d long taken for granted.

WILDFLOWERS

“That is one good thing about this world–there are always sure to be more springs.”

L.M. Montgomery

So let us pause, refresh, and reset our expectations. We have been given the gift of time – to learn more about ourselves and the world around us, and to develop a new or renewed appreciation for living every moment. Personally, I’m working on developing a view of the “new normal” as an opportunity for self-improvement, definitely an uphill battle for me – how about you? 

Speaking of opportunity, many of you ran with the opportunity to shine in your responses to last week’s SUMMER challenge. Your posts ranged from poignant to buoyant, were both clever and original and offered some unique perspectives for all to enjoy. We very much appreciate your support of our challenge as we come together creatively to navigate these difficult times.

Have You Seen These?

• Maria of City Sonnet gives us a grid of some of summer’s best offerings
• Slow Shutter Speed’s Anne Sandler shares some beautiful summer macros
• Janet of This, That and The Other Thing includes a horse in a beautiful flower meadow among her summer finds
• We welcome Ulli of Suburban Tracks with his incredible images of bee-eaters in action

Finally, we hope you’ll join us again next week as Patti brings us our Autumn challenge. In the meanwhile and as always, stay safe out there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Photo essay, Spring

• July 11, 2020
• Kiawah, LENS-ARTISTS, Nature, Photography, Wildlife
• 231 Comments