Spring is here. Even if we are confined at home, the world hasn’t stopped for us and everything is blooming all around us. As I said in my previous post, I don’t plan to stop taking photos. I need to find beauty during these uncertain days. I find it very calming and healing. We may be in a lock down in Switzerland and the best we can do now is staying at home. Fortunately, we can still have small walks to stretch our legs around the forests that surround our little town and the small valley as long as we practice social distancing (more than 2 metres apart from other people). We try not to do that very often and respect the “stay at home” rule, but whenever we go out, my camera is an extension of my hand!
And the forest is not the only place where plants are blooming now. One of my favorite things about my apartment is my terrace. Is not huge, but big enough to have a few plants and pots. I’ve tried during the last two years to plant things that start blooming continuously from February to autumn. So far, it has worked! I’m still learning which flowers work and which don’t (a few have died during the learning process…). But while I’m still trying and learning, my terrace has flowers (bee and butterfly friendly flowers!!) and it has become my little oasis. When the sun is out, busy bees, chubby bumblebees and occasional butterflies flutter from flower to flower, delighting me while I try to photograph them. I tried to lure also birds (specially great tits and robins) to my terrace with food during winter… But that hasn’t worked that well (I’ll keep trying anyway!).
Here are some photos I’ve been taking during these last days. I hope they cheer you up during these strange days!
Rosemary. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/1600sec. ISO250
Rosemary. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/2500sec. ISO500
Crocus. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/800sec. ISO125
Anemone. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/2500sec. ISO125
Almond tree. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/400sec. ISO125
Almond tree. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/400sec. ISO125
Almond tree. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/125sec. ISO125
Almond tree. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/500sec. ISO125
Cherry blossoms. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/160sec. ISO125
Almond tree. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/160sec. ISO125
Primroses. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/80sec. ISO125
Primroses. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 214mm f/5.6 1/80sec. ISO125
Rosemary. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/1000sec. ISO125
Almond tree. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 300mm f/5.6 1/1000sec. ISO400
Cherry blossoms. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 234mm f/5.6 1/2000sec. ISO400
Phlox. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/2500sec. ISO400
Tulips. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV 400mm f/5.6 1/2500sec. ISO400
All the beautiful flowers of Spring, Mercedes! I didn’t know the almond tree was so similar to the cherry blossom in colour and overall shape.
The Crocus photgraph is my favorite but all are very eye catching.
Thanks a mil, Amanda!! I needed to photograph some colors during these days. Flowers always cheer me up! I hope these photos have the same effect in others 🙂
I love almond trees. In Madrid we don’t have many cherry trees, it’s mostly almond trees! And they are the first ones to show their flowers… When I was living there their flowers were such a nice sight after the cold winter!! They are similar but different to cherry blossoms! Flowers are smaller and even more delicate and they don’t grow in clusters as cherry blossoms do. And as far as I know, almond blossoms are more intense in color too (well, the pink ones, hehehe).
I love crocus. I have lots planted in my terrace! They are always the first treat I offer to the bees every spring! 🙂
Have a nice week and stay safe, Amanda!
The same to you, Mercedes. Stay safe. Thanks for the info on the almond trees.
That’s some garden you have there Mercedes. Thanks for brightening my morning with beauty. Love it!
Thank you, Anne, for stopping by and watching all the photos. I know there are too many, hehehe
Unfortunately, not all these flowers are from my terrace… Some are from my building and others I went to the valley of my little town. There is a small plot with seasonal flowers, where you can cut and pick them and pay for them in a big box nearby. With the lockdown, this year the tulips were planted in autumn, but now nobody takes care of them, so I went to take some photos before the flowers are “overripe” (not sure what’s the English word for that, hehehe).
I hope the Swiss government doesn’t need to tighten the measures and we can continue going out for short walks and I can take more photos 🙂
Have a great week, Anne!
I love the look of the little flowers(6th and 7th images from bottom).
Thanks a mil!! Happy you like them! I’ve seen these little flowers growing everywhere here in Zurich. It wasn’t until I wrote this post that I discover their name. Primroses! They are some of the first flowers to bloom every spring. So beautiful and colorful, they make a cheerful sight when it is still cold!
These are beautiful images. I look forward to seeing some flowers here soon. I’m hoping I, along with everyone else will be able to get out and enjoy them when they finally arrive.
Thanks a mil, Jeff!! So happy you liked the post!
Oh, I remember those late springs in the North (I lived in Sweden for some time)… Spring comes later but, oh, when it does… it’s an explosion of color and light like no other!
Here in Switzerland we had a very mild winter, so everything blooms earlier this year. Soon everything will be green and full of wild flowers! For now, these are the ones I have at home or very close to home… Let’s see what kind of flowers and photos come in the next days!
Stay safe and healthy!
Those cherry blossoms and the almond tree flowers aren’t so beautiful! And during lockdown, nothing like turning to nature to keep the spirits up. The photograph of the anemone took my breath away….. so delicately beautiful. I have blue tits and robins coming to my balcony still. They love to perch themselves on the rose bush you gave me, which still is blooming year after year. And I love sitting by the terrace doors, wide open and listening to them singing to us. The Hydrenga is not doing too well, but I’m determined to keep it alive for you.
Now that lockdown is over, I can say that it’s been one of the prettiest springs I’ve ever seen!! And all within my small Swiss town… I’m still amazed of how much beauty you can find near you… in your balcony or on your own street!
I knew I left my beloved roses and hydrangea to the best one! 🙂 And I love that they bring you so much joy in the shape of my favourite Irish birds! 🙂