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Yes....spring has FINALLY sprung!

On my days off these past two weeks, I've been running around the city with my camera, trying to capture the trees and flowers blossoming in all their colorful glory.

Spring seems to last for such a short time that I always feel in a rush to capture it before most of the color fades away.

One of the main reason I moved back to the Northeast from Florida was to experience the change of seasons again. Most people upon hearing that I left sunny, tropical, South Florida all say the same thing, "WHY THE HELL DID YOU EVER LEAVE FLORIDA TO RETURN NORTH. ARE YOU CRAZY?!?!"

It's very easy for people to say that because they fantasizingly presume that having warm sunny weather all-year long would be nirvana. Yes, I thought the same thing. At first.

But it's not.

Florida weather (especially after 20 years) got very old and tiring for me.

Also, I think the terrain and its vegetation are much more interesting and diverse here, versus South Florida. I didn't realize how much I missed the raw and gritty cities, the glorious mountains, the trees, the flowers and the plants in this part of the United States, until I moved back.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed my time living in Florida, and still find it appealing in certain ways. I also have a lot of cherishable memories because so many wonderful things happened for me while living there.

But I have to say, I am so glad to be back in the Northeast.

Especially when the seasons change.

I apologize in advance for sharing so many photographs in this post, but I couldn't help myself. I was so overcome with excitement from all the beautiful colors of this season, I decided to share most of the photos I took.

Ladies and gents, I give you, SPRING....


Cherry blossom trees are perhaps my very, very favorite springtime tree. They remind me of the two months I spent living in Japan. Cherry blossoms are so stunningly oriental. 



I also LOVE magnolia's.
Whenever I see them I think of the movie, Steel Magnolias.






I was so lucky to have captured this goose just sitting there, sunning itself in the grass behind The Philadelphia Museum of Art.
And speaking of the museum, here is a photograph I took on a gorgeous day last week, when the sky was bright blue...








My favorite color is green!


Isn't nature, GRAND?


Wishing you all a colorful spring!
And have a fabulous rest of your week!
X

26 comments:

  1. Don't apologise for showing so many photographs, Ron. They are beautiful and I am a little jealous. Here in the England the weather pattern is atrocious. Almost May and spring has sprung but we didn't expect extremely cold days and nights to come with it. Fortunately it hasn't stopped the blossoms on the trees but it is too cold to go out and have a good look.

    I can understand your desire to move from what must be permanent heat to changeable seasons. The changes are interesting and help to remove the sameness that Florida has.

    Have a great rest of the day and keep snapping those pics x

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  2. So pretty, Ron! Many years, we don't get much color here due to late snows. Unfortunately, this looks to be that sort of year. My primroses did bloom and the deer don't bother them too much, so at least I have that! I love your photo of the balcony with the geraniums! Stunning! XO

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  3. Ron, I'm blown away by your stunning photos! And I can't believe how much more Spring y'all have than we do. We're easily a couple of weeks behind you, and I'm sure the farmers are chomping at the bit to get out in their fields and begin planting.

    Cherry blossoms and magnolias -- a gorgeous combination! I had to laugh at the goose, though. You know those things can be *mean*, don't you?!? What beautiful clear days you had for capturing your part of the country for us.

    I know what you mean about needing a regular change of season. I'm the same way. I loved living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but I always thought it felt weird to celebrate Christmas in short sleeves with not a speck of snow! xx

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  4. Beautiful photos. I must admit I'm enjoying the slightly warmer weather here in the UK too although it didn't last long. But I managed to get outside and cut the grass and get some sun on my face. I do enjoy the seasons but would be happy to live in AZ all the time and have sunshine every day! I never get sick of that.

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  5. Bravo!! Beautiful photos, Ron. I'm glad spring finally decided to show up for you. As much as you and I both love winter, you do reach a point where you're mighty thankful to see a cherry blossom instead of an icicle. And you're right: summer and winter sometimes feel like they drag on for an eternity, while spring is ever-fleeting.

    Oh, also: anybody who thinks Florida is paradise must have a loose gear or two. Just my humble opinion, of course. Have a great weekend, my friend!

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  6. Hello there Valerie!

    Thank you :) For the past several weeks, I've been running all over the city in different locations, trying to capture the colors of spring because it's a season that seems so brief.

    Like you, the weather pattern here has been atrocious. We get a few days of warmish, sunny days, then all of a sudden it gets cold again. It's been very warm and humid lately with a lot of rain. Today was gorgeous though, sunny and cool.

    "I can understand your desire to move from what must be permanent heat to changeable seasons. The changes are interesting and help to remove the sameness that Florida has."

    Yes, exactly. I love going back to Florida for a visit, but I don't feel the desire to live there again. I was there for 20 years, so it will always feel like a second home to me. I had very fond memories. However, the constant heat and sameness became a bore.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantastic weekend!

    X to you and Charlie

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  7. I was very surprised by the amount of color we've gotten so far this spring because previous years have been minimal. It's only been the past few weeks that all trees and flowers have bloomed.

    Thank you. That balcony shot was one of the last photos I took before posting last night. I took that shot on Tuesday night, while out for my evening walk.

    Have a fabulous weekend, my friend. And thanks so much for stopping by!

    X

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  8. Hellooooooo there Debbie!

    Yes, I was very surprised by the spring we got this year because previous years have been such a let down. The weather this year has been so bipolar that I'm surprised we got ANY kind of spring color. For the past two weeks I've been walking around the city with either my camera strapped to my neck or my cell phone camera, trying to capture spring before it goes away. I got very lucky this year.

    " I had to laugh at the goose, though. You know those things can be *mean*, don't you?!?"

    OMG, that's hilarious and ironic because I was actually going to mention something under the photograph of the goose about how NASTY they can be. I had the worst experience with several geese when I lived in Florida. They would literally try to attack me whenever I walked around a lake they would swim in. They truly are one of the most aggressive and nasty things. In fact, when I took that photograph of the goose behind the museum, I had visions of it running after me, trying to bite me!

    " I loved living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but I always thought it felt weird to celebrate Christmas in short sleeves with not a speck of snow!"

    The first couple of Christmases I had in Florida were kind of cool not having any snow or cold. It was a novelty. But after so many years of that, I got tired of the heat during holidays. I found myself longing for some snow and chilly weather.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a fantastic weekend!
    X

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  9. Hey there Joe!

    Yes, and that's one of the main reasons I love being back in Northeast were we have a change of seasons. Even though I love winter and all that comes with it, I love when spring arrives, bringing with it sunny skies, warm breezes, and colorful trees and flowers. But I also love fall and all that comes with it. The only season I'm not totally in love with is summer. I don't like being extremely hot, and the summers here can be brutal with the intense heat and humidity. But even still, I love experiencing all four seasons.

    I've never been to Arizona, but lived in Las Vegas for a summer and I didn't mind the heat there because it was a dry heat.

    Thanks so much for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend!

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  10. "As much as you and I both love winter, you do reach a point where you're mighty thankful to see a cherry blossom instead of an icicle."

    Yes, you said it, Mark! And that's why I enjoy the "change" of seasons because it makes me excited to experience each one as it comes and then goes, and then comes and then goes. I love all the seasons, but particularly fall, winter and spring. Summer is okay, but not faaaaaaaaabulous because I freakin' HATE being hot.

    "anybody who thinks Florida is paradise must have a loose gear or two. Just my humble opinion, of course."

    A-MEN!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a grrrrrrrrreat weekend!

    X to you and Tara

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  11. OMG Ron, these photographs are stunning! I love them all but the ones of the cherry blossoms are exceptionally stunning. You have such a talented eye for photography. Your pictures always look so professional, as if they came from a magazine.

    I also love the black and white photograph with the red flowers on the windows. What a great shot!

    I'm with you, I could never live somewhere without the change of seasons. I enjoy going to Florida to visit family, but I never felt the urge to move there. I don't like being hot.

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  12. Hello there Candice!

    Thank you :) I had so much fun running around the city trying to capture spring. On my days off I would take photographs at different times of the day to try and get different lighting. Also, I walked to several different areas in the city that had parks because I knew they'd be the most colorful, with all the trees, flowers and plants.

    I took that shot of the red flowers in a place called, Old City. it's one of my favorite parts of Philadelphia because it's the oldest area of the city. It's got a great vintage feel.

    "I enjoy going to Florida to visit family, but I never felt the urge to move there. I don't like being hot."

    I enjoyed living in Florida until about the last four years, when I suddenly couldn't take the heat and humidity anymore. I like to still visit, but don't want to live there again.

    Have a fantastic weekend, my friend. And thanks so much for stopping by!

    X

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  13. http://ladyfi.wordpress.comFriday, April 27, 2018

    Nature is grand and so are your fabulous shots! I'm basking in all the blossoms you've shown...

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  14. Ohemgeeeee! These are beyond gorgeous! Spring is late to middle Missouri and I've yet to be able to have time for a walk-about. So, thank you for this taste of springtime wonder! Those cherry blossoms are luscious. Happy Spring! :-)

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  15. Aw...thank you, Fiona :)

    We've had a surprisingly colorful spring this year. Previous years have not been as vibrant.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a lovely weekend! And happy spring!
    X

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  16. Hellooooo there Lisa!

    Great to see ya, my friend!

    I was so excited by all the vibrant color this spring because previous years have been not-so-colorful. That's why I felt in a made rush to get outside and photograph springtime before it vanished.

    Aren't cherry blossoms the BEST?

    Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope all is well with your, your husband, and family. And I hope you're enjoying a beautiful SPRING!

    Have a super weekend!
    X

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  17. Wow Ron, your photographs are just gorgeous! The first two of the cherry blossoms are breathtaking. I didn't know you lived in Japan?! That's incredible. May I ask why you were there? I've always wanted to visit Japan because it seems so different than the US. I've always been fascinated with the Japanese culture.

    You're right, this spring here in the Northeast has been quite beautiful. I only hoping that it lasts for a the next several weeks.

    Where did you take the photograph of the red flowers and window? It's such a great shot!

    Have a great weekend, neighbor. And happy spring! xo

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  18. Hellooooo the Elaine, and thank you!

    Aren't cherry blossom trees beautiful? They are one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. I just wish they lasted longer.

    Yes, I lived in Japan for two months, back in the mid-90's. I was there performing in a musical over the summer in 1998. OMG...I LOVED it! And you're right, it is very different that the US. I was never one to ever imagine me going there, but once I got there, I fell in love with the country. The Japanese are some of the most gracious, kind, and innovative people I ever encountered.

    I took that photograph down in Old City one night while on my walk. I love that part of the city because it reminds me of SoHo in New York.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, neighbor. Have a tantabulous weekend!

    X

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  19. Wow, Ron, these photos are beautiful! All these lovely flowers--and you got goosed, too!

    I was getting bummed by the rotten weather we've been having in the Northeast, but your photographs cheered me right up! I do like the idea of warm weather all year round, but right now the Northeast is my home.

    Spring, like life, is too short, so let's enjoy it while we can!

    Take care, buddy!

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  20. Hey there Rob!

    Thank you :) Glad to hear these photos cheered you up. That's one of the great things about spring, it makes everyone feel renewed, hopeful, and bright.

    "--and you got goosed, too!"

    Bwhahahahahaha! OMG...that made me laugh out loud!!

    "Spring, like life, is too short, so let's enjoy it while we can!"

    AAAAAAA-MEN!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Have a FAB rest of your weekend!
    X

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  21. Valerie DaggattTuesday, May 01, 2018

    Hi Ron. Just wondering... am I still missing from your reader's list? I ask because others have said I am.

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  22. Helloooooooo there Valerie!

    I just sent you an email about that. Hope it helps. :)

    X

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  23. Hey Ron! First off, you don't ever have to apologize for posting beautiful photos. I enjoyed them all.

    Florida has seasons! 1. semi-nice, 2. beautiful, 3. nice, and 4. oppressive, hot, bugs, sweat, and mold. Where I live (SoCal) the weather is almost always mild. I know some people find that boring, but not me. I get more than enough "real" weather on our travels. For instance, we've been in NV, and UT for about a month. Just today, we had a major thunderstorm and what seemed like biblical downpours of rain. In Utah it was unseasonably hot, windy and gorgeous. Sometimes when we['re out we run into snow. I can see snow on the mountains where we live, and that is just how I like it.

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  24. First, oooh macarons! I had them in Québec and loved them.

    Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous spring photos. It really is a glorious time of year Although I love hot summers, spring is my favorite. Everything feels so insanely ALIVE!

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  25. Hey there Pat!

    I went crazy taking so many pictures over the past several weeks because spring was exceptionally beautiful and colorful this year!

    "Florida has seasons! 1. semi-nice, 2. beautiful, 3. nice, and 4. oppressive, hot, bugs, sweat, and mold. "

    Bwhahahahhahahaha! OMG, that was HILARIOUS because it's SO true!!!! And it was #4 that finally drove me away from Florida. I got so sick and tired of the oppressive heat.

    I've traveled through several parts of California and Nevada and really enjoyed the weather there because it was never extreme either way. And what I really loved about Lake Tahoe (even during the summer) was how the nights dropped down into the mid 50's. OMG...it was faaaabulous!

    "Sometimes when we['re out we run into snow. I can see snow on the mountains where we live, and that is just how I like it."

    That's AWESOME! And I can see why you love where you live.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, Pat! Great to see ya. Enjoy the rest of your week!

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  26. Hey there, my Libra Friend!

    I took that macaroon picture last year at work. My boss bought us all a huge box of macaroons one Saturday afternoon as a treat. Tasty! And I love how colorful they are.

    Isn't this time of the year spectacular? And this year in particular has been exceptionally beautiful! We've had (and still are having) a glorious spring. I keep taking pictures and more pictures. HA!

    Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a fantastic rest of your week. And Happy Spring!
    X

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