Look Closer
I miss holly
Posted by Viewfinder (Bradenton, FL, United States) on 24 February 2008 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.
It's Sunday y'all!
Away with all signs. Today is a nostalgia Sunday. In our Georgia years, we had these beautiful Savannah holly bushes that would be loaded with red berries all through the winter. Sometimes in nearly monoseasonal Florida I remember the way they looked after a rain, or when we had ice or snow, and I miss that look a lot.
The beauty of God's creation is incredible, no matter where you look or live.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
Really beautiful especially with the droplets.
24 Feb 2008 6:33am
Man With 101 Names from Hamburg, United States
very nice shot view , I like the water droplets on the berries .... very nice indeed !!
24 Feb 2008 6:51am
Dylan from Delhi, United States
I agree with the others...the drops of water give it a very nice look.
24 Feb 2008 6:54am
Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States
We have one of these in our front yard as well. And we appreciate it as well! Good work VF!
24 Feb 2008 1:29pm
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
We have these here in NJ too, or something very much like them along with the traditional "Christmas Holly" with the spiked leaves. They are very pretty and add color to the otherwise dull winter landscape.
I love the water droplets.
24 Feb 2008 2:32pm
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
God Is The Greatest Artist in the World, and I'm sure He's extremely pleased with this magnificent photo you've just shared ;)
24 Feb 2008 3:00pm
@Lorraine: Thank you Lorraine.
Jen from Alpharetta, United States
This is sooo beautiful! The pop of red and detail of the ice/rain is just perfect!
My neighbor has some of these that I keep saying I need to get shots of...perhaps today I take a little walk ; )
24 Feb 2008 3:03pm
@Jen: Thanks Jen. I hope today is a perfect day for catching shots of holly, and of redbuds and dogwood and whatever else is starting to bloom in GA.
BTW, be sure to check out my post tomorrow...
tyan from Singapore, Singapore
Very lovely,the framing,colours and the water droplets on the holly are just perfect together!I have never seen them in Singapore except fake ones,perhaps these are temperate plants,thats why?
i sort of dedicated today's post to you and quoted your words of wisdom on marriage in it too,i hope you dont mind,and its time i call you Uncle VF.LOL
24 Feb 2008 3:54pm
@tyan: Well "niece" tyan, it is good to have such a wonderful niece and family as you and yours are. Young people taking their marriages and family needs seriously are truly blessings in this day and time. I pray God will use you and your husband as a wonderful example, and that 30 or more years from now when you are an "old" married couple with grown children, young people of that time will look to you as a model and inspiration.
baobab from Cambridge, United States
nice shot - a very Christmassy feel with the red and green. perhaps you need to take a winter break in a colder climate :) we have more than enough snow and ice to go around!
24 Feb 2008 4:50pm
@baobab: I wouldn't mind a winter break at all; if my wife had winter days off from her school, we would fly up to Boston to visit family living there.
vu@granby - Wolfgang Prigge from Granby, QC, Canada
Good shot! The water droplets in different stages of detaching and the red bring it to life, well done!
24 Feb 2008 6:21pm
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Wow! this is positively laden with beautiful red berries, I love the way the water drops catch the light.
24 Feb 2008 8:03pm
Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States
VF ....... what a lovely capture.
We too, miss the winter (for the few minutes those thoughts last <grin>), and the lovely Connecticut scenes we were used to. However, we don't have to shovel the liquid Florida sunshine (rain), so that's a good thing!
24 Feb 2008 9:15pm
@Judy: Glad you like it Judy. As a boy of the Deep South, places like Connecticut always seemed so far away and exotic; and of course in my childhood, your snowy winters there were a source of really deep envy.
Chris from South Jersey, United States
Very nice photo - the colors and water are wonderful. This type of holly looks different from what we have here in Jersey - the shape of the leaves is a bit different.
24 Feb 2008 10:35pm
Rebecca from Leicester, United Kingdom
This is lovely on so many levels, and truly a refreshing sight, especially for these eyes still in the throes of chilly, yet not snowy, late winter over here. Whatever the temperature, this does warm the spirit so much, so a heartfelt thank you is overdue from me for all your posts which have been such a blessing to so many of us, and also for your very kind words at my blog. I too will likely be unable to stop by as much as I would like, but even in the many times that I don't comment, my family and I do thank God on every remembrance of you. Truly, thank you again, sir, and blessings always to you and yours too. :)
24 Feb 2008 11:32pm
@Rebecca: Thank you Rebecca. And as often as you are able to visit and comment, that is how often I will be delighted to hear from you; so please do post when you can. Blessings to you, dear friend.
Anne from White Rock, BC, Canada
Absolutely lovely with the great cluster of red berries and the water droplets. Just love this photo!
24 Feb 2008 11:58pm
Ken McCoy from Orlando-Daytona Beach, FL, United States
It reminds me of Christmas - growing up as I did in Alabama, where it seldom snowed but often rained. Great capture of water and color!
25 Feb 2008 1:07am
@Ken McCoy: Ken, I didn't know (or remember) that you grew up in Alabama. What's your home town or city?
I never lived there but have many friends from Alabama and enjoy visiting many of its wonderful places.
Weird VF Factoid: One of my best musical memories as a child is our learning Stephen Foster (& the genre) songs in 4th grade -- there's one I still remember -- "I'd like to live in Alabam' -- Mobile, Selma, Birmingham. Anywhere in that old state, where good neighbors congregate. I'd like to live in Alabam' -- Mobile, Selma, Birmingham." It's amazing what weird little things stick in our brains.
amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada
Man oh man... that is just... perfect. Perfect!
25 Feb 2008 1:30am
Stunner from Kingston, Jamaica
Wonderful shot Viewfinder and I love the colours of the berries and the fresh look the droplets give the scene. The more photos we take the more we appreciate God's amazing creations!
25 Feb 2008 1:59am
@Stunner: Amen, my friend. Amen.
Barbara from Florida, United States
Excellent framing of the red berries and green leaves. Nice caption of memories. How wonderful the red berries and branches be lined with snow. Great shot.
25 Feb 2008 3:42am
HorseRotorVator from Newton, United States
The beauty of God's creation is AMAZING! No doubt! Cool shot! :)
25 Feb 2008 2:41pm
Melissa from Warsaw, United States
What else is left to say that hasn't been said before. :) Beautiful capture, VF. I especially love the color of the berries, and yes, the droplets, too. Well done.
Also, thank you for taking the time to stop by my photoblog. Your kind words and comments are very much appreciated. :)
25 Feb 2008 3:15pm
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
A composition greatly improved by the presence of raindrops! As if the red berries were missing you,too!
25 Feb 2008 3:22pm
Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z2
1/125 second
F/3.2
ISO 200
149 mm (35mm equiv.)