July 4, 2020 • 69

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #104: Summer

And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”— F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Amy’s theme this week comes during the first burst of summer in parts of the world.  For us in New England, summer is tantalizingly gorgeous, but short–a precious two months.  So, it’s a cause for celebration.   But what does summer mean to me?  And how would I visualize it?

My first thought is the exuberance of summer–a rush of color and a profusion of greenery.  That’s what comes to my mind when I look at this image of the Borghese Gardens in Rome.

Summer, after all, is a time when wonderful things can happen to quiet people. For those few months, you’re not required to be who everyone thinks you are, and that cut-grass smell in the air and the chance to dive into the deep end of a pool give you a courage you don’t have the rest of the year. You can be grateful and easy, with no eyes on you, and no past. Summer just opens the door and lets you out.― Deb Caletti, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart

Another characteristic of summer is that it’s an escape from our normal routine of school and work.  It’s a time when kids and adults can explore new places, new ideas, and make new friendships.  This young girl swimming in a hotel pool in Holland, Michigan reminds me how much I love the freedom and relaxation of summer.

I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Haven’t we all wondered what the world would be like if it were June all year around?  Would we ever get bored of it?  I don’t think so!  Summer is a time when play is a priority.  This little boy splashing in a fountain in Boston certainly looks far from bored.

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.— Sam Keen

There’s nothing like the lazy stretch of a summer afternoon, with the slow whirl of lawn sprinklers, the idle slap of screen doors, and cool refreshing drinks of iced tea under an umbrella or on a front porch. Here, in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, visitors take a wagon ride through fields of lupins–like in the old days.  In summer, we can enjoy summer’s timeless and lazy pleasures.

And finally, summer is a time when nature shows off her incredible beauty.  I captured these bleeding hearts several weeks ago on a walk at sunset.  The beauty and details of these magnificent blooms symbolize one of my greatest pleasures of summer–visiting gardens.  You can be sure that I’ll be revisiting these moments in my mind when the temperature drops and the cold winds start blowing again.

Summer Beauty, Portsmouth, NH

 

We invite you join us this week for Amy’s Summer challenge.  Her post features beautiful shots of her favorite summer places, so be sure to stop by and take a look.  We also hope you join us and share your visions of summer.  Please use our “Lens-Artists” tag for inclusion in our WP Reader section.  Using tags can significantly increase the number of readers who see and comment on your posts. For instructions on adding tags, click on this link.  We’d hate if people couldn’t find and enjoy your posts.

For the rest of July, we’ll continue our focus on the seasons.  Here’s our theme calendar for the next few weeks:

July 11  Tina  Spring
July 18  Patti  Autumn/Fall
July 25  Ann-Christine   Winter

I hope you are enjoying the beauty of the season–wherever you may be.   And a sincere thank you for following our Lens-Artists Photo Challenges.  We are delighted you are exploring and sharing your creativity during these trying and often stressful times.   Take care and be well.

Categories: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography

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69 replies »

  4. Those are beautiful summer images, Patti, but I doubt anyone in Arizona would want it to be summer all the time! It’s interesting that so many images of seasons come from non-desert areas and many books about gardening assume that type of climate as well.

    janet

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    • Thanks so much. It’s very true, Janet that we automatically assume a more temperate climate instead of the desert. I am sure you are becoming good at noticing the changes in the desert landscape. Spring there is spectacular.

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      • We’re well past spring, Patti, and into summer. Our spring is really much earlier as I discovered when we moved but didn’t get a chance to enjoy ti fully between settling in and the COVID restrictions. Next year. 🙂

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  6. That notion of laziness finding respectability sums it up very nicely for me, Patti. Life slows to a saunter here and evenings become the new daytime. Enjoy your two months! 🙂 🙂

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  9. Love that quote from Sams Keen — it says everything about my summer so far. I did so much cleaning out during the quarantine in the spring, that now I’m being lazy, and maybe respectable if I believe that quote! Love the splash pad photo and bleeding hearts — soooooo summery!

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  11. The bleeding hearts photo shouts spring to me! I enjoy summer because we hopefully get warmer temperatures and long hours of daylight, though the recent wet and cloudy weather hasn’t helped in that respect. I avoid the beaches as they are usually packed and prefer to sit out in my garden and read a book in the shade. Yet to do that this summer too, as it has been far too windy!

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    • Hi, Jude. Sitting outside reading a book sounds perfect to me, too. I wished I had a photo of that! I would have included it. I hope your weather clears up and you can do that. What book?? 😊😊😊

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      • Still too windy today Patti! And to be honest I have found it really difficult to concentrate on reading these last few months so I’ll probably just re-read the same page over and over again!

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      • Yes. I know what you mean about concentrating. I’m reading Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley right now which is such a wonderful psychological thriller that I have to concentrate!!

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  15. Terrific post Patti. Your descriptions brought each of your summer moments to life and your images are the perfect blend. Enjoy your New England’s summer – all the more precious for its brevity

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    • Thank you, John!! These images shouted “summer” to me. I’m glad you agree. I hope all’s well with you. Stay well and safe. It’s crazy “out” there.

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  17. Summer thoughts, Patti, so well described in words and images. I had to read it again. The slow pace and the quotes to go…Love very much the little boy and the bleeding hearts.

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    • Thank you so much, AC! That’s such a lovely thing to say! The little boy image is from years ago, but I still think of it when I think of summer! Have a wonderful week. Are you back from your summer house or will you stay there for the summer?

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      • i am back from the summer house for now – raining this week. We have to drive between the houses (11/2 hour only) because of all my flowers… When the children were small we could stay longer, because my mother would water all the flowers indoors and outdoors!
        Hope you are enjoying your new apartment and that summer goes on shining for you!

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  24. I fell in love with that photo of the wagon separating the blue sky from the green fields. So much of summer is cultural, but that photo is a lovely depiction of the mildness of summer in the temperature latitudes.

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