Photos of Flowers

    Lately, I’ve been going for walks, despite the pain in my left knee, because they have a profound effect on my mood. I could be completely debilitated by stress or anxiety, but a walk around the neighborhood pulls me out of myself for a little bit. The sun was shining bright against the ocean of blue above so colors were more vibrant. Nature is not as alive on a gloomy day. Everything is dulled by that diminishing tinge of grey designers love so much. 

    Flowers are obnoxiously colorful and outlandish in figure, which is what I love about them. There is a reason people like Monet, Pissarro, and Cezanne painted flowers, landscapes, and fruit. They are naturally untamed and nonconforming to civilization. They grow quickly and beautiful but also wilt just as fast. Though many of them grow on their own, they appear to be hand crafted and painted. Each is designed so intricately. The subtle difference in shade, shape, and size fills a bush with diversity and life. I simply must stop to admire them, especially in the spring. 

    It really is a shame to think about how little I’ve spent of my life admiring nature. How many blossoms have bloomed that I never noticed? I am reminded of the scene in the movie, The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. The character, Moritsugu Katsumoto, says, “The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your entire life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life.”

    When I am experiencing nature, I am inspired and invigorated. My sadness is tempered, and the hardened clay of my joyful heart is softened. Whether anyone reads this or not, I am happy to have these moments with the flowers. I get to capture them while they are stunning and bask in their short lifetime of decadence.