signs of hope

The devastating news from the past few weeks have left me so sad and vulnerable. And while trying to make sense of it all is probably useless, I look around and take comfort in the fact that although the universe is reminding us of the reality of the fragility of life, it is also allowing flowers to bloom everywhere.

Today show us signs of spring. Today show us signs of hope.

Comments

[kristin]

this is so very beautiful irene. no sings of spring here yet . still silent under our blanket of snow and ice. but seeing yours gives me hope that it will come and that life begins anew once more.

[Jennifée]

No sign of spring yet here either, so I depend on my online photographer friends - here, on flickr, on Picture Inspiration - to remind me that winter will end soon. Thank you!

[Lori]

I have been waiting and finally Spring is here. Signs of renewing beauty.

http://lorisanders.blogspot.com/

[Morgen]

It looks like we are a little ways behind you. Here is my tulip magnolia, but in black and white. Not the best pictures, but signs of spring!

http://salamandermuse.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/day-2/

Crocuses in my neighbors yard:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bearsefamily/5486833198/

And a fun sign of hope to find at breakfast:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bearsefamily/5511586415/in/photostream/

[Kat]

It is so hard sometimes, after a tragedy, to know how to respond. Hope is a good idea!

We don't have much spring here in Northern Italy yet, but a sunrise also gives hope:
http://www.kateyeview.com/2011/03/my-day-in-sun.html

[Alex]

Indeed, more and more blooms will arrive to bring us hope in the next couple of months. What's going on is really terrible, but the flowers are persistent in their comfort.

http://wildfledged.tumblr.com/post/3812109788/pinkandcosmic

http://wildfledged.tumblr.com/post/3792057087/bensondaytwo

^ This is going to sound crazy, but I don't mind:
The little dragonfly you see in the second image was someone I couldn't help but rescue from my hot tub; he only has one wing. Never before have I witnessed a struggling, drowning insect who would emit an energy that said very clearly that he wasn't ready to let nature take her course yet. Once taken from the hot tub, he lay motionless and white for almost 15 minutes before suddenly clinging to the leaf I slid beneath him. He responds to voices, coaxing, visual stimuli. He has lived on my balcony for three days now. When I picked this flower for him, he immediately climbed up on it, and when I began shooting, he actually turned his face and body toward me to stare, transfixed, into the lens.

His intelligence has done so much for my cosmic faith.

Tragedy is about balance. It makes absolutely no sense to our hearts, individually, but to the Universe, somehow, it does. I'm learning to cope with this more daily.

[anghjula]

Spring is not here either, so here is my sign of hope ;)
http://www.blog.chjaraematteu.com/?p=1006

[Jill]

We were awakened early Friday morning with word of a fast approaching tsunami. As we tried to absorb the magnitude of devastation in Japan, we began our preparations. Fortunately for our community, tsunami training resulted in minimal damage - unfortunately our neighbor just to the north (Crescent City Harbor) did not avoid damage.

The remainder of the day remains surreal - the earth was quiet, clear skies, few birds, no wind, pounding and angry surf.

The Ides of March - The process of life and beauty is intertwined with turmoil, chaos and sometimes natural violence.

Here is my spot of glorious color in an otherwise dismal moment.

http://humbirdhum.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/gray-day-bright-colors/

(amazing story by Alex!!)

[Susan]

No signs of spring here yet, just a couple of warmish days and some sunshine., which does help. I vented a tiny bit about the sad things happening all around us, but basically I have no words. It is nice to see others hints of better days and to remember to have hope.


http://windrockstudio.blogspot.com/2011/03/sadness.html#comments

[anngeedee]

Signs of hope in a troubled world: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anngeedee/5493651736/ Everyone needs a hand to hold these days.

[Pat]

The Magnolia Trees bloom so early here in Northern California. I am so fortunate...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7992043@N06/5523222269/

[Krista]

This is so lovely! We are still covered in snow and early March messy weather. I do see the hope as well too.

[Roxanne]

I am so glad you asked for signs of spring. I am craving them here too. There was a two-week period during which anemones bloomed in the desert and that was a newsworthy development in the Middle East. Here is a precious image from that time:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rkrystalli/5470439607/

[mary]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37719283@N04/5524110242/
things are in bloom here! i've been enjoying the beautiful blossoms and handing out allergy meds to the kids. :)

[Anna]

i bought myself some flowers this Friday to bring some spring to my home. it seems to work as today we've had the first really warm and sunny day - here's one photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68111170@N00/5521796671/

hope the Spring will come soon
xoxo
a.

[Kathy]

My sign of hope:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrssoup/5457099174/

My husband who had a stroke in November, home and watching TV with our 2 year old daughter. So much hope for the future.

[spread your wings]

i was excited to see the buds on the redbud tree.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5520740517/

[patti]

so excited to see light at 7 pm.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stakos/5524610782/

[damiec]

I have a feeling I will think of Japan with every cherry blossom I see this spring.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/5519993309/

[Bridget]

My sign of hope leans on the past and how, even in the swirl of daily chaos, things as well as people endure and the sun keeps shining.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43519130@N07/5524866996/

[Angela DiGiovanni | Living Out Loud]

Cherry Blossom Tree:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/digang/5525088960/

[Kathy Jones]

Cherry Blossom trees are blooming everywhere here too. It is sad that in other parts of the world there is such destruction happening. My hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to them all.

Yesterday morning was just beautuiful and as I was sitting outside enjoying the warmth of the sun and drinking my coffee, I went inside to take a picture of these sweet little flowers starting to grow around the yard.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kjlovesphotography/5524551175/

God Bless.

[Jade]

These words and image touch my heart.

[agrippina maior]

oh how lovely! i thought of two things when i saw your post:

last spring in melbourne i took some similar magnolia polaroid shots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/agrippinamaior/4967807410/in/set-72157623967369544/

but i also took some of the ever gorgous plum blossom, trees that abound in the area that i live in Melbourne. it hit me that it's now plum blossom time in japan. known as the ume, they are apparently among the first of the spring blossoms to flower and can be found in parks and shrines all across japan. they're the subject of a number of Ume Matsuri - Plum Festivals.

the festival at the yushima tenjin shrine in tokyo is held in february/march & has only just finished.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/agrippinamaior/4978992523/in/set-72157623967369544/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agrippinamaior/5041736414/in/set-72157623967369544/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_mume

[BeckyR]

"http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/5525285880_9584d92b47.jpg

[red or gray]

ivy ... so common .. so comforting

http://www.redorgray.com/2011/03/q.html

[Chantal]

Hope can be reflected by a lot of things, a rose symbolizes hope for me... so that is what I went with today:

http://chantaliaans.shutterchance.com/photoblog/Nostalgic/1/

[Jill F]

http://fingerontheshutter.com/

Signs of spring at the indoor garden show

[Ashley Beolens]

Thankyou for posting such a beautiful image! Odd that an image of new growth can feel so melancholy.

Spring seems to be poking it's head over the parapet here, with daffodils and snowdrops fighting their way out of the grass verges.

[Misty]

Around here the blossoms come later, first there are pussy willows.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontforgetthehorse/5523231675/

[Puna]

I saw some birds and I thought I'd add a little color. Not quite spring here yet but hope springs eternal:)

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2011/03/march-14-aloft-but-grounded/

[Corinna]

Signs of spring give me a tangible reminder that life is round and the cycle of life is sometimes cruel and sometimes beautiful. I am a little bit off from the time change, but celebrating that extra hour of daylight after the work day ends:
http://www.birdwannawhistle.com/blog/2011/3/13/spring-forward.html

[Jackie Wood]

Glorious spring is almost here. I got a glimpse of it's beauty on my afternoon walk. The bright color is such a boost to the soul after a long winter.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackiewood/5524986986/

[Brenda]

My sign of hope is my son and the other children of Texas and there future.
http://savetxschools.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greeneyephotos/5520478087/

Thank you.

[Dotti]

Oh, my! So many responses!! But I'll add mine as well. This is an image taken in my garden just this past weekend: crocuses --- always such a brave harbinger of spring! It's cold again here today and I'm sure they're still all wrapped up tightly against the cold.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48337138@N04/5520203273/

[s.b.Lyngo]

Wow! Stunning image. I am currently obsessed with flowers and blooms. Handmade though. I am loving the process of developing this floral line and maybe even more fun photographing! Meditating peace and love to Japan. Life is indeed fragile. One Love, blessings and healing...
http://somethingblu.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/manifest-monday-to-do-lists-simple-transformations/

[Deanna]

I posted this on a little photo blog I started a little while ago. My mom was ill and I was taking care of her. I had gone to the store and found a few stones and decided to photograph and show them to her. They were her mantra for so long.
http://manuallyexposed.blogspot.com/2011/02/hope.html

~Deanna

[Tamar]

Hi Irene,

I'm with you. I am left with a feeling of sadness and vulnerability too and the picture of the blossom you have taken reminds me of a picture I took not long ago on a cold, darkening afternoon on our walk back from school pick up.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57013197@N00/5452925724/in/set-72157625811572646/

Tragedy and hope go hand in hand - how would we survive otherwise.

Enjoy the spring in Paris!

Tamar x

[Radish]

I am so glad that you talked about the sadness of the Japan earthquake. Sometimes I think the blogging, photographing , scrapbooking world misses the pathos of life. Cheer and beauty at all costs. I think we all should take a day to photograph despair in sympathy.

[Kristy]

A beautiful post Irene, in dedication to hope and renewal! Your image is beautiful...and...familiar! Might these beautiful blooms belong to a magnolia tree?

I was just making magnolia images this morning, and here they are. Thank you for the invitation to share hopeful spring images...in the spirit of helping Japan, and everywhere where hope is needed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crunchyfootsteps/5526652507/

[shannan]

The weather here in North Carolina has been unable to decide if it is spring yet. Some days are warm and some evenings too cold to go out without a warm coat. The plum tree in my back yard reminds me spring is coming with its cotton candy pink blossoms that bloom more and more each day.

http://www.thisdancingstar.blogspot.com/

[Jen*Murphy]

My heart hurts so much to think what the people in Japan are going through. I can't imagine the pain and can't make sense of all the tragedy.
My cousin is in Japan right now. He said he is fine. He is about 500 miles from where the earthquake took place. I am worried for his health and safety although he is so far away. I keep thinking about the nuclear plant explosion and wonder how safe he is.
Thoughts and prayers to the people.

[Monica]

Signs of spring in Atlanta

http://www.flickr.com/photos/monicareinaldo/5524154893/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/monicareinaldo/5528049344/

[Jessica]

The only sign of Spring outside my house is the glimpse of grass peeking out from under the melting piles of snow. But I have some flowers on my table, thanks to Walmart. :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/goaliej54/5528209474/

[Tracy]

I haven't been able to find signs of spring around here, but I did find this hopeful image on a dreary day.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31417716@N00/5528575084/

[sarah w.]

spring has sprung in northern california!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/galphoto/5523903305/

[Lizzie Staley]

Sakura
http://www.thestaleys.co.uk/lizziespolariods/#blossom

[Mishelle Lane / Secret Agent Mama]

So beautiful!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/5527766780/

[christine]

http://just-travelin-through.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-flowers.html

[Marite]

Sooo much beauty in the spring. New growth in spring, I am also growing an learning my way around my new venture, my flickr account. Happy spring to all.