I am a collector. When I walk in the country, at the beach, or even in a city park, I scour the ground for treasures. The little treasures Mother Nature offers up to us, if only we look. A speckled shell from a bird’s nest, a butterfly sadly preserved in her colorful glory, a feather tipped with blue. I have a wooden tray that sits out year round where I collect these natural treasures. The items change with the seasons, but always there is something on the tray, a gift of natural beauty.
When sun-filled summer days fade, the nights become cooler, I know it’s time to pack away the summer keepsakes and fill the tray with autumn riches. Smooth shiny acorns of chestnut brown, weighty hickory nuts, ready to burst open and expose the treat inside, a perfect leaf, turned to a blazing yellow. No matter the season, treasures abound if you just slow down and see them.
In the photo, end of summer, I found exactly the kind of treasure I would love to bring home for my tray. What about you? Do you collect natural treasures?
♥ maureen
end of summer by blue elephant photography
18 comments:
Just beautiful, both photos. The light on both are lovely. I love the idea of a tray where these things are just collected and available to view for a while!
Such beautiful light in both of these pics. We do a lot of collecting nature's gifts...we put our finds in jars (and then I have to chuck them out when they get mouldy).
We collect a lot we find here on our walks too. The little ones bring lots of rocks and shells, feathers and chestnuts, and sometimes we find things like the prickles (?) of a porcupine of beautiful feathers. We have a shelf in our bookcase where we display all these treasures, although I do have to clean it up now and then to make room for new things. Those little ones see treasures everywhere! :-)
Gorgeous photographs by the way.
a lovely shot with such wonderful light.
beautiful images -- full of end-of-summer light.
so maureen, will you exchange treasures with me? i'm putting together more cape cod treasure boxes as we speak.
I love both shots. If I send you a box will you send me a chipmunk? I miss them so.
I like the contrast between the two shots. Both are lovely. Your idea of collecting nature's treasures on a tray is nice, but, thanks to my kids, I collect nature's treasures and keep them in nearly every room of my house.
two glorious photos!!
weeee!i'm so excited! my husband and i were taking a walk by the lake at sunset when i took this shot. SOOC. i didn't think it needed any processing. i love it just how it is.
the collecting of natural treasures all year round is cool! i have a small piece of tree wood that i picked up the lake maybe 3 years ago and i still have it in my car.
Gorgeous shots! I can almost feel the texture in the first one. I love bringing the outside in!
oh my gosh! I love your images this week. love! but even more so I love your words. I can't wait - some day you and I will sit on your enclosed porch and share a (or 2) bottles of wine talking the night away looking through all your treasures. then I will pack up the night in my mind and save it forever.
xox
oh p.s. I want an acorn. oh and one of those poky things from b&w theme.
beautiful! fall has a glorious color palette. i collect natural treasures often & allow my kids to play & explore them.
What a fun idea to collect natural treasures and leaving them on a tray, I am going to have to try that! I love both shots, nice job :)
These photos have lit my fire to go for a walk and bring some of my favoite season indoors with us.
What a beautiful time of year.
Two AMAZING photos! You both captured the essence of nature so beautifully
I love nature treasures! You can find various things that I have brought home tucked away in printer's trays and other boxes from nature walks all around the USA. I have petrified wood from Wyoming, big pine cones from Alabama, arrowheads from Ohio, and shells from Lake Erie. Those little tactile reminders can bring back some happy memories!
Such beautiful photos!! :o)
You captured fall exactly! Love those photos.
thank you all for your visit and kind comments. i love hearing what nature treasures you collect, or that you plan to begin your own collection.
♥maureen
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