Appreciating the Seasons
One of those things we take for granted....
Several years ago I used to follow a photographer, whose name I forget, who lived in Hawaii. He used to post gorgeous photos taken at sunrise of palm trees in silhouette on picture perfect beaches with frothy white waves, deep blue sea and stunning skies.
In other words many people’s idea of paradise.
I once commented on how lucky he was to live in such a beautiful place.
He replied that ”Yes, it is beautiful - but it is always the same”.
He went on to say that he loved looking at photos of spring blossom or autumn woods or snowy landscapes, and that he envied people with constantly changing seasons.
His reply surprised me, and it really made me think.
For many of us, the changing seasons are such an important part of our lives. When I tried to imagine not having this constant change, I found that I simply couldn’t contemplate such a state.
I thought about the places I like to visit. All the local woods, wetlands, coasts, parks and gardens. And the time I spend in my own garden. Everything I enjoy about being in these places is related to the season, and particularly to seasonal changes.
Things like watching the first snowdrops of the year flower. Listening for the first cuckoo in spring. Looking for tadpoles in the lake of one of my favourite gardens. Seeing the first ducklings and goslings in local nature reserves. Waiting patiently for the first tomato plant to bear fruit in my garden. Seeing glorious autumn colours in the woods. Watching skeins of migrating geese fly overhead. Anticipating the first frost. And the coziness of winter curled up with a hot coffee and biscuit in front of the TV.
No matter how beautiful, the places I like to visit would not be as appealing if they were always the same. If the seasonal changes were not constantly taking place.
It’s the anticipation of wondering what I will see, what birds have turned up, what insects have emerged, what is flowering, what has changed since my last visit, that keeps me going back time after time.
Of course, the seasons can have their challenges. I don’t like heat and burn very easily, so I find hot summers uncomfortable. In years with drought keeping the garden hydrated in summer can be a problem. Winters are often dank and dreary rather than crisp and bright and frosty. And in a country as perpetually unprepared as the UK, even a light dusting of snow can cause near gridlock.
The passing of the seasons is also constant reminder that I am getting older and life is passing by. And the seasons seem to pass faster every year.
But despite the challenges they bring, the seasons are so important to me that I cannot imagine living without them. Who needs paradise? Let’s just appreciate what we already have.
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I heard my first cuckoo of 2025 at the weekend.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post.