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Photography: Spring

“If we surrendered
to earth’s intelligence
we could rise up rooted, like trees.”
—Rainer Maria Rilke

I’ve been sick for two weeks with a terrible virus. It started with a fever and ended with a horrible nonstop cough. I stayed in bed, minus a trip to the doctor, but barely got any rest. It was one miserable day after the next. It made me appreciate my health and fully understand the word surrender.

To celebrate returning to the land of the living (maybe a bit dramatic), I dusted off my camera and visited the local plant nursery this morning. The bees, the colors, and the sunshine all did wonders for my mood. I hope you enjoy these photos and please let me know if you have a favorite.

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#6

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#9

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#11
  • These photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.

60 thoughts on “Photography: Spring”

  2. Wonderful photos and I bet that was the perfect first outing after two weeks of illness! It sometimes takes a lot for us to accept we are ill and surrender to the fact – and sometimes I wonder if that is when the healing begins.

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    • You are exactly right. I tried to fight it until I couldn’t and then I wallowed in “I lost a week” and then “I lost another week.” Now, on the other side, I see how little good it did me to fight so hard. Our bodies need rest and mine had to get very loud to make me slow down. It’s a good lesson to remember.

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    • Thank you so much. I’ve missed reading your blog! I’ve continued reading Kafka on the Shore, however, and it’s the perfect book to enjoy with a fever. Man, it got weird!

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  4. Good to have your photographic eye back in place. You know.

    I love the bees. And here’s an idea, something you could do at home. One flower to focus on, camera and tripod so all remains the same, then one picture an hour or something like that, so we can see what “a day means” by way of a flower from dawn to dusk. Just a thought.

    All else aside, that exceptional Rilke quote and photo number nine are born to be together I think, plus maybe a brief poem of your own. I twerked the photo a bit, will send to you if you want. More of what I liked, but maybe the original is the original. Wanted to “borrow” (steal) that image to write my own, but I have a strong feeling it came from you, it belongs to you – just because. So I’m not.

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    • Thank you! I love the idea of a day in the life of a flower. I must do that sometime. Please send me the altered version of #9 and you are always welcome to write what comes up for you. I may use it too but our words will not be the same. What it means to me might not be the same as it is to you. I’d be curious to see what you do. You know I’m a big fan.

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  13. Oh Bridgette dear, I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve been bedridden. I’ve seen you too since I returned a few days ago. Well, I’m just glad to see you back on your feet now. Welcome back! Thanks for the cute flowers (you know I love flowers, hah). I was particularly drawn to the ones with the bee holding onto them, as if sucking nectar. Mmm… signs of life and vivacity indeed! Still, I love the rest. Your photography is one of the best. You know how to focus on simple yet profoundly meaningful details.

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  27. Dearest Bridgette, I’m sorry you’ve been so ill. How horrible for you. Being stuck in bed for a week doesn’t do much to lift the soul. I’m happy you are feeling better and could get out to the garden centre to take such beautiful photos, as all your photos are.

    I’m sorry I’m so late catching up with all your posts. I will catch up with the others as soon as I can. Things have been tough for me here lately, and I have taken a few days away from blogging. However, I am feeling better now, helped by our three days of warm, brilliant sunshine, which really lifts the spirits.

    As always, I love all your photos. My favourites are the beautiful photos of the busy bees on the purple flowers. I love bees; they are such a threatened species now; we must do everything we can to save them. Planting highly pollinated plants like these helps. I also love #6. The way you have captured that gorgeous flower makes it look absolutely perfect, with no flaws at all, although, naturally, it is normal for plants to have flaws; that’s what makes them individual in their beauty—a wonderful collection of photos, dear friend.

    I hope you (now you are better) and your family are all well. How is your daughter doing now? Unfortunately, my two eldest granddaughters, 18 and 15, have developed some mental health issues, and both have OCD. It makes life so difficult for them and the whole family. It’s very sad. With love, Ellie Xxx 🥰

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