Late Winter Music

The old tree shook

White blossoms slowly float down

Dancers in the wind

~Alexandra Kim

Winter is definitely coming to an end. The trees are just beginning to blossom, and everything is taking on a very cheerful light. When it comes to photography, I love the winter sun, almost as much as the autumn sun. Sunny winter days take on such a lovely soft, warm golden glow. It makes one hear wind chimes, even when none are around. It's lovely to photograph, and spend a little time daydreaming in. Little Farm in Tilden Park, in Berkeley, is a wonderful place to sit and sketch, or photograph the beautiful natural surroundings. I have found inspiration there in all four seasons.

Blossoms Of Tilden Park

Berkeley, California

Silently a flower blooms,

In silence it falls away;

Yet here now, at this moment, at this place, 

The world of the flower, the whole of the world of blooming.

This is the talk of the flower, the truth of the blossom: The glory of eternal life is fully shining here.

~Zenkei Shibayama

The air smelled so sweet today, spicy with a soft smell of citrus. 

Intoxicating

Mood: Inspired

~Me :)

Signs Of Good Things To Come...

"The voice of beauty speaks softly; it creeps only into the most fully awakened souls."

~Friedrich Nietzsche

I love winter for so many reasons, and hate it for one. I hate it because it completely swallows up autumn, and takes away the beautiful colors that can only be seen during my favorite season. Autumn will always be where my heart lives, but look at these blossoms, is there anything quite like the first blossoms of hope that smile on you in the middle of winter? It was a blissfully beautiful day. Dark, cloudy, and just enough mist in the air to qualify as spooky! 

Mist that will turn into rain tonight. But there, in the middle of all the darkness, in the middle of the stick forest, was a tree, bursting with fragrant pink flowers. Hope. You wouldn't believe how beautiful the air smelled the moment I took this photo. I am not sure what kind of blossom it was, but it was beautiful. A true sign of good things to come! This same tree, will turn a lovely gold and cinnamon when autumn comes back around later this year. My heart is happy.

Mood: Inspired

~Me :)

Fuzzy Blossoms

"The sun was warm but the wind was chill. You know how it is with an April day."

~Robert Frost

The sun was ridiculously cheerful yesterday. My mood not so much. But I appreciated the beauty everywhere all the same. You know how it goes after a tragedy like what happened in Boston, you get up the next day and suddenly the sky has never been so blue, and the pink fuzzy blossoms never so soft and pink, and a little while later in the day you realize it doesn't honor those lost, to take life, and it's simple earthly gifts for granted. Right? The next day in April will come along and it's a blessing, so don't take it for granted, or forget to appreciate it.

Mood: Quiet

~Me :)

Blossoms Before Snow

"Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow."

~Alice M. Swaim

On Sunday I didn't see any color on the trees. It was a typical winter Sunday! But by Tuesday morning, there seemed to be the beginnings of spring everywhere! Well, not everywhere, but on enough trees that I actually felt myself smile as I passed one lovely tree after another. Purple, pink, and the most beautiful hot pink Quince blossoms are just beginning to light up the last cold days of winter. Today I bring you pink blossoms, but it snowed here in the Bay Area, so I am off in search of soft, white, opalescent snow! Wish me luck! Mount Hamilton... here I come!

Stay Tuned!

Mood: Hopeful

~Me :)