Today called for an afternoon wander and lately I feel really drawn to go to the community garden in my neighbourhood every time I go for a walk. I know from my photos or my Instagram feed might make it seem like EVERYTHING is in bloom here, but it is really only the beginnings of spring. I really love this time though….the slow emerging of new growth, new life. When its just a few types of plants appearing, its an invitation to really savour & celebrate them.
One of the flowers I love the most is Magnolia Blossoms and oh my…it was a sweet surprise to find one today on a tree that I had walked by many times this week…I’m pretty sure it just started blooming today.
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I also found one of my other favourite flowers, the Lenten Rose (or Hellebore). I really love this flower as it has flowers downwards and is almost easy to walk by without knowing how gorgeous it is underneath those petals. I really love its subtly and that it invites you to pause and really take a deeper look at it, and see whats under there.
Its so fun to put your camera below it and aim up at it, as you never know quite what you are going to capture. I’ve done this a few times and there was a bee in there collecting pollen that I hadn’t seen. Those of you who’ve joined me for The Rebel’s Guide to Falling in Love with Photography know its one of my favourite ways to get out of our heads and into the creative energy to shoot photos with this playful approach.
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Then just as I was almost home, I saw some apple blossoms (i think….I always get apple/cherry & plum blossoms confused) which was a sweet surprise. To tell you the truth, this walk had started off with me having a bit of a heavy heart after hearing some sad news about an amazing woman I’m honoured to know passing away. It felt really important to just take some time out of my day and just really focus on savouring the breeze, the warmth, the flowers and the light and think of her.
Truthfully, these photo walks are about so much more than just taking photos.
My walks have always a been a part of my photo journey, but after losing my Grammy in January too, getting out with my camera feels more important than ever, and more healing than ever. I usually come back feeling better than when I left, and even if I don’t…it feels really nourishing to get outside and just really savour the simple things engage with the world around me and remember how lucky we are to be here, in this moment.
