Stirring ...

"Love is the only flower that grows and blossoms
without the aid of the seasons."
                                                               ~ Kahlil Gibran

I love magnolia trees, and this breaking bud shows spring was stirring 
this weekend at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

The Awakening ...

"When one flower blooms spring awakens everywhere ..."
                                     ~John O'Donohue 
                                                       Irish poet & philosopher
                                                                    (1956-2008)

 Daffodil, Jonquil, Narcissus ... whatever name you choose,
this breaking bud says spring is awakening this weekend at
Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Art Of The Leaf ...

"We cannot express the light in nature because we have not the sun.
We can only express the light we have in ourselves."
                                         ~ Anthony Dove (1880-1946)

An artistic view of a leaf in the snow recently at 
Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Wingsong ...

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away."
                                        ~ Author Unknown

Beautiful Monarch butterfly feels the wind beneath its wings on a
summer day at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Fire Of The Frost ...

"It is the life of the crystal,
 the architect of the flake, 
 the fire of the frost,
 the soul of the sunbeam, 
This crisp winter air is full of it."
                             ~ John Burroughs
                                   ~ 1837-1921
                               ~ "Winter Sunshine"
                                                    ~ 1875                        
                                     

An artistic view of leaves frozen in a chunk of ice in January at Wehr's Covered Bridge Park, Orefield, Pennsylvania reminded me of the line penned by John Burroughs.

Crystal Blue Persuasion ...

"Better get ready to see the light,
Love, love is the answer,
Ooh, ooh and that's all right."
                                        ~ "Crystal Blue Persuasion"

Leaves frozen in this chunk of ice recently at Wehr's Covered Bridge Park,
Orefield, Pennsylvania brought to mind the 1969 song originally recorded
by Tommy James and the Shondells, composed by Eddie Gray, 
Tommy James and Mike Vale. 

 

Painting Autumn ... Video

Norah Jones' wistful "Painter Song" colors my original video, "Painting Autumn," a celebration of nature's beauty in this colorful season.

Sentimental Journey ...

" God  gave us memories so that we may have roses in December."
                                                              ~ James Barrie

Seeing this rose petal nestled in the leaves at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania recently reminded me of the beautiful, sentimental words of James Barrie.

Sunnyside Up

"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies."
                                                                           ~ Author Unknown

This yellow butterfly keeps his sunnyside up in the morning sunshine this weekend at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania, despite chilly temperatures and wind.

You Light Up My Life

"We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever." 
                                                                             ~ Carl Sagan
When I saw the sunlight filtering through the wings of these yellow butterflies on a beautiful Indian Summer day this weekend at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania, it reminded me of the 1977 Debby Boone song, "You Light Up My Life."

Falling Tears ...

"But I miss you most of all my darling, when autumn leaves start to fall ..."

~ "Autumn Leaves," French lyrics by Jacques Prevert, English lyrics by Johnny Mercer,
Music by Joseph Kosma, 1946.

Raindrops that looked like tears lingered on this leaf after the sun appeared this weekend at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania, reminding me of this line from the 1946 classic, "Autumn Leaves."

Red Pops!

"Red is the ultimate cure for saddness." ~ Bill Blass

The color on these wild red berries popped a few days ago in the autumn sun at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Of Glory In The Flower ...

"Though nothing can bring back the hour 
of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower; 
We will grieve not,
rather find strength in what remains behind ..."

 ~ William Wordsworth, "Ode: Intimations of Immortality
                                     from Recollections of Early Childhood"

When I saw these flowers planted near the Saucon Rail Trail, Hellertown, Pennsylvania in the waning days of summer last week, it reminded me of these lines from my favorite poem.

They Call Me Sunny

" Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."
                                                                  ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

This yellow butterfly looked like a little burst of sunshine on wings last week on the Saucon Rail Trail, Hellertown, Pennsylvania.

When Sunny Gets Blue ...

When I saw this little wildflower basking in the sun a few days ago on the Saucon Rail Trail, Hellertown, Pennsylvania, it brought to mind that great Nat King Cole song,  
"When Sunny Gets Blue."

Living In The Light

"Love is like a butterfly. It goes where it pleases and pleases wherever it goes."
                                                                          ~ Author Unknown

Yellow butterfly is illuminated in the late summer light this afternoon on the Saucon Rail Trail, Hellertown, Pennsylvania.

The Dance

"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder ... I hope you dance!"
                                                                       ~ Lee Ann Womack

Red Admiral Butterfly dances in the summer light last month.

Paint It Red !

"I love red so much that I almost want to paint everything red."
                          ~ Alexander Calder, American sculptor

Wild red berries shine in the September sun yesterday at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Soul Of Summer Video

LeAnn Rimes' beautiful version of "I Believe" sets the backdrop for this celebration of the inspiration and splendor of summer. My greatest joy as a photographer is harmonizing my favorite original  photos to music to create a lingering snapshot of the season. Enjoy!...

Butterflies Are Free ...

"I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free."
                                                    ~ Charles Dickens
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly and the Red Admiral Butterfly behind it almost seem as if their wings
are touching as they sip the nectar of buddleia flowers.