Spring invites us into a fairy land of imagination where flowers bloom with joy, butterflies fly with song, and love dances with love.
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This week, Tina is our host on 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.”
Yes, there will always be more written on Spring – the joy, the returning of the light and the renewal of life. In southern Sweden, where I live, the cranes are the first heralds of spring, gigantic V – ploughs in the skies, heading for their breeding places up north.
Magic birds were dancing in the mystic marsh. The grass swayed with them, and the shallow waters, and the earth fluttered under them. The earth was dancing with the cranes, and the low sun, and the wind and sky.
― Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Every year, in March and the beginning of April, tens of thousands of cranes return from Africa to Sweden to rest at Hornborgasjön. This day, in 2014, there were more than 19000 of them. Their trumpeting calls were deafening, but their dancing joy was pure ballet.
I watch the trees all dressed up in the Spring,
While posing as they stand in line,
Placing their best foot forward, showing off their leaves and fighting for attention,
One tree at a time
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Trees are at my heart, and this forest is my home every day – not the least in May.
Spring is not a season; it is a mysterious illusionist who sets off fireworks in the depths of our soul!
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When the rapeseed unleashes its yellow flames – I am there with camera, and eyes aglow.
It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.
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This cherry tree was planted when my daughter Emma was born, 30 years ago.
In the winter you may want the summer; in the summer, you may want the autumn; in the autumn, you may want the winter; but only in the spring you dream and want no other season but the spring!
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I enjoy the spring more than the autumn now. One does, I think, as one gets older.
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Tina writes that ”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.” I am convinced this is a lesson for us all, and even more for some. Hopefully we will come out better humans, humans knowing that we should not return completely to the old ways of living. What we need is a sustainable world – and that is the gift we must hand over to our children.
Thank you for all your funny, creative and lovely summer memories and we hope to see you next week, when Patti is our host for Autumn. Until then, stay safe and well!
Leya 
Ahh, your daughter has her cherry tree! My parents planted a fir tree when I was born. She is still standing. 🙂
Mmm for the longest time ahead!
Splendid Spring pictures, Ann-Christine! And what a wonderful experience to see all those cranes and know that they will return every year.
Sue, that was an unforgettable experience over two days – glad you liked it too!
Love these pictures! The forest is my favourite.
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A-C, that top image … my heart went all fuzzy … so beautiful. And the forest image with a carpet of the wood anemone. It’s really hard not to love the Swedish spring. A lovely gallery and beautiful quotes.
Thank you, Viveka! Spring is!!!
*smile … Next spring will be a lot better … I promise.
♥
Spring is definitely flower hunting season!! You have some beautiful captures here. I loved seeing the rapeseed fields in the UK last summer, they are absolutely stunning!
Rapeseed is!!!
Beautiful photos, thoughtful commentary. The cranes are fascinating. I like the ‘wispy’ forest photo, too.
Glad you liked them, John! My favorite season.
Beautiful images of my favourite time of year.
My favorite too – thank you!
Your photos are stunning. The cranes – amazing. I also love the tree – marking the years since your daughter was born. That puts so much into perspective. We have so much to learn from what Spring brings into focus.
So happy you liked them – and a tree for each child is a good idea!
I love that idea!
Fabulous post, Ann-Christine. Your photos are breathtaking. I love your daughter’s tree and the forest near your home. I also share your dream: ”Hopefully we will come out better humans, humans knowing that we should not return completely to the old ways of living. What we need is a sustainable world – and that is the gift we must hand over to our children.” I couldn’t agree more!
♥ Thank you, Patti, let’s keep hoping.
Beautiful photos Ann- Christine! I am so looking forward to spring !!
Thank you, and I have no difficulties in understanding that…
Perfect spring photos!!
Thank you, Nora! Spring is a fantastic season!
Hi Leya – so true about the gift of time – from you and Tina 🙂
and your spring post – opening with that blast of pink was perfect – and then the trees with all that delicate lime – well seemed another great color to whisper of spring – and 19,000 cranes – that must be wonderful to see. and side note – the crane is a tough origami to fold and make – whew – 🙂
Thank you – so happy to share some positiveness if I can. And yes, that crane is not easy! My daughter is a master of it though. She used to make one every time she travelled with a nice railway service person – leaving it for him/her on the tray.
what a nice gift to leave behind – and quite the handy skill because paper can be found anywhere – or does she travel with origami squares?
I once had a student make me one of the plans (star ship things) from star wars – still have it
Ah – star wars! Great, memories! And no, she uses any paper. A crane is what it takes a train trip to make 😊
oh that is great – have you heard of the children’s book ”one-thousand paper cranes”
?
I read it many times as a child. The first time we came to China I bought a big painting of cranes. It is decorating the hallway.
wonderful and wishing you a great day Leya
You too – have a lovely weekend!
see you again for the ”autumn” theme for LAPC
Looking forward to it!
♥♥♥
Beautiful. The leading blossoms and the forest are my favorites.
Mine too – thank you, Michael
All lovely, as always. But the one that took my breath away was the one with rapeseed. We saw this in the Palouse (Idaho and Washington) and marveled at its color and wavy appearance in the fields. It’s spring all right!
So glad you enjoyed the spring from me! ♥
Breathtaking… I’d love to be there. Thank you, Ann-Christine for showing us the beauty of nature in spring. 🙂
Thank you for kind words, Amy!
you have the best photography, Ann-Christine. you see the world at its best! your spring images are breathtaking and descriptions are very uplifting. your are an inspiration! thank you for sharing 🙂
Oh, Wilma, you make me feel so good about this – thank you, thank you! My goal is always to be positive and sharing good and uplifting things. If I sometimes am lucky with this – then I am more than happy!
Wow! Beautiful collection of images. I can’t select a favorite, but the field of yellow is surely striking. I’ve found it interesting, not being any kind of expert on plants, that yellow seems to be one of the most common floral colors.
Glad you liked them, John, and I do think that yellow is the most interesting colour for insects!
Your photographs are a sight for sore eyes . I visited Sweden last summer but your pictures make me feel as though I had barely scratched the surface . Those birds , the yellow fields , the pink blossoms, your write up fills me with so much joy . I suppose that’s what the spring emotions are all about.
Thank you – every season has its glory, but spring is exceptionally wanted, longed for and loved!
These are wonderful images of Spring. I simply can’t decide which has me lingering longest!
So glad to share some of my favourites! Thank you!
Your beautiful images really have me wishing that spring will arrive soon here in South Africa, Ann-Christine, so that this chilly winter we’re currently experiencing can be a thing of the past!
You have a chilly winter? That says how many degrees? Thank you!
😀
I suppose it’s all relative, Ann-Christine. For us ”cool” means anything below 21 Celsius and we start looking for jerseys. By the time the temperature drops below 15C we’re sitting bundled up in front of the fireplace!
😀
Haha, I guessed as much!
I love the beach, and I love that huge field of flowers. I would especially LOVE to see all of those birds! Beautiful post 😊💚
Thank you, Lisa – I’d love to go see the cranes once more. Incredible experience.
Awesome clicks n great quotes too! The header image and the cherry tree are my favourite!
Glad you enjoyed them! Thank you!
I liked the lighting and colour of the shots at the wetlands (so many birds!), as well as the image of the cherry tree planted for your daughter.
Thank you, Henry. I wish I could go back to see the cranes once more – a great experience.
Beautiful photos, Ann-Christine. I agree that we want spring to stay forever. We love spring for the birth and rebirth, for the freshness, for the green leaves and blossoms.
Thank you, Miriam –
This is so beautiful Thank you so much for sharing
Thank you for reading!
Beautiful images and well presented!
Thank you, Anne – a pleasure!
These are all perfect, A-C. I can’t decide which I like best because I like them all. But the header photo appeals to me because it looks almost like snow, something we always could see in spring in the Midwest. Thanks for all the beauty, both in photos and words.
janet
Janet, I am pleased you like them, and snow? Yes, why not!
Beautiful photos and words as well. I breathed a happy sigh when I finished your post Ann-Christine!
Anne, thank you! ♥ Happy sighs are much wanted these days…
Wonderful Ann-Christine!!!
Thank you, Paulo!
I LOVE that first forest image, AC…..the delicate greens, and the leaves look like they’re floating
Glad you share my love for that one!
It’s FAB!
♥
Honestly Ann-Christine, every time I think I’ve seen your absolute best you seem able to do yourself one better! This post is simply exquisite. The images are wonderful, every one of them. And oh how I would love to have a chance to photograph those beautiful birds! I simply cannot imagine 19,000 at once! I visited Sweden when I studied abroad many, many, MANY years ago. It was summer and I remember thinking it was beautiful (and the people warm and generous) but you have opened the window far wider on its beauty. It would be wonderful to someday return.
Thank you, Tina – and just give me a call before you arrive! Welcome!
Beautiful photographs Ann-Christine, I especially love the gorgeous beach in the last image 💙 xxx
Thank you, Xenia. Walking alone on the beach is a spring privilege.