The Spring Equinox - 2017

Equinox
meaning "equal night".
It happens when the sun shines directly on the Earth's equator,
providing equal amounts of day and night time 
to both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

From March onward, the days will get longer until the summer soltice in June.

At this time of the year, there are many beautiful flowers which could represent
the first day of spring.
Down by the lake recently, I saw the first Magnolia tree starting to bloom.

These particular flowers are particularly vibrant in colour
they quite take my breath away!

As the petals open to reveal the stamens, the petals become paler
and have this wonderful transparency about them.

These opening buds were on the lakeside and got more sun.
On the other side, the buds were still quite closed.

I hope you are enjoying spring wherever you are.

Happy first day of spring to everyone who comes my way!


I just learned, from a fellow photographer, that the lovely yellow blossom above
is called Spiked Winterhazel or Corylopsis spicata!

***
I have been very busy with a new project during this last half of March
which meant that I didn't do a new blog entry.
I will be posting again at the beginning of April!

42 comments

  1. Thank you, dear Sandra!
    Hope you'll have an enjoyable spring!
    Marjan

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    1. So nice to see you visit, Marjan! We have been having quite an early spring with lots of wonderful flowers!

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  2. Che meraviglia...la primavera è la mia stagione preferita!
    Un saluto dall'Italia
    Carmen

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    1. Thank you, Carmen. Spring is my favourite season too!

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  3. Happy Spring! The Magnolias are Magnificent! :D

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    1. Thank you, Marcie! The Magnolias seem to be a little earlier than usual this year!

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  4. Happy First Day of Spring to you too Sandra.
    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  5. These magnolia blooms are breathtaking! Such soft gentle colors against the beautiful blue sky. Happy Spring to you, too!

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    1. Thank you. Cathy. I was so happy to catch this beautiful Magnolia tree at its best down by the lake!

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  6. The magnolias are beautiful. I love their pink color against the blue sky. I am looking forward to longer days. :) Happy Spring!

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    1. Thank you, Michelle. That deep pink is quite astonishing, though the wide open flowers were much paler pink.

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  7. Happy spring, Sandra. We are quite a ways behind you so glad to see the magnolias and more from where you live.

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    1. Thank you, Kim. After a cooler and rainy period, it suddenly warmed up and all the little flowers started blooming!

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  8. WOW!! Gorgeous pictures, Sandra. I can't wait to be able to sit outside and read :)

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    1. Magnolia are such luxurious and generous blooms! I just love to capture them. I'm with you on sitting outside to read!

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  9. Gorgeous flower shots! How lovely to see spring... We celebrated with a snowstorm!

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    1. Thanks Fi. I just caught those wonderful Magnolia flowers as they were starting to open. I saw the same tree today and the blooms, although beautiful and completely opened, are much paler.

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  10. I am thoroughly enjoying more day light at night. Now I don't feel like I should go to bed at 8 p.m. Gorgeous flowers and I love the name Winterhazel.

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    1. Springtime brings us so many gorgeous flowers, that little yellow blossom right at the end of this posting was an afterthought. I agree, the name Winterhazel is charming!
      We haven't put our clocks forward yet an always do it on the last Sunday in March.

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  11. Magnolias are my very favorite spring flower.
    These are gorgeous, Sandra.

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    1. I have to agree with you, Lisa, I look forward to these lovely blooms every spring. This particular tree seemed more advanced than the others which are still in bud, so I was fortunate to be there just at the right time!

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  12. Beautiful photos! Love the pinks,there's something ethereal about these images.
    Happy Springtime!

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    1. Thank you for your visit and your kind comment! Ethereal, yes that's a good adjective to describe these blooms!

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  13. Oh the joys of Spring flowers! Your magnolias are magnificent....ours have taken a beating from the constant rain. Thank you for sharing yours!

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    1. Thank you, Gina. These blooms were especially gorgeous this year and I did manage to capture them just at the right moment before a day of rain showers came our way!

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  14. Ahh, this post is just sublime, filled with joyful color and light! Just what I need as Spring is late to come to us. Your stunning blossoms give me hope!

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    1. So nice to see you, Susan! Glad that these flowers give you hope for your own Spring yet to come!

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  15. Sandra what BEAUTIFUL photos and blossoms. Incredible! Yes, I'm SO loving the flowers popping out of the ground here, buds pushing through on the trees, birds waking me up to the sweet songs....I'm SO ready! :)

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    1. Isn't this the most lovely time of the year?! I just love that early morning birdsong as well and in the evenings too when I go for a walk after supper! So nice to see you visit, Alexandra!

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  16. Robins are flocking back and beginning to sing again, but the only thing blooming here is my crazy Christmas cactus. Perhaps it's responding to my intense longing for some color! Your pink magnolia is magnificent, but I really love the Spiked Winterhazel. I've never seen that before.

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  17. Hi Lee! Well at least you have the robins telling you that spring is on its way! Your Christmas cactus is bringing you the colour you are yearning! I just caught that deep pink magnolia at the right time before the flowers opened fully and became paler. Isn't that Spiked Winterhazel just lovely? I didn't know the name before another kind photographer, and keen gardener, told me!

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  18. these are such beautiful shots. thanks for posting them.

    happy spring to you too!

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    1. Thank you for your visit, Lissa! I'm glad that you have enjoyed viewing these beautiful Magnolia blooms! It's such a joy to see the return of spring!

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  19. Everything is blooming here too! What a lovely post Sandra. May I ask, What kind of camera do you use to take these shots ? They are so amazing- I could use a few tips about photography. :)

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    1. All these shots were taken with a Fujifilm X-T1 mirrorless camera. I'm really thrilled with the quality of the lenses of the Fujifilm.
      Thank you for visiting!

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  20. You have magnolia already! How absolutely gorgeous!

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    1. Our magnolia down by the lake first started blooming a couple of weeks ago. Others are a little later, but getting ready to bloom now! We have had exceptionally warm temperatures.

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  21. Such a treat to see flowers!I wonder how long it will be until I see some.
    Your photos are so beautiful!

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    1. So nice to see you, Tammie! Our spring seems to have come a little earlier this year with above average temperatures. This has made the flowers and bushes, and now the blossoming trees, burst forth in an array of wonderful colours. Your spring will soon be charming you with the first signs of new life!

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  22. Very pretty flowers. Love the colour.

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    1. Thank you for your visit and your comment, Rajesh!

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