Travel never goes out of season. When Nancie over at Budget Traveler’s Sandbox challenged me to a contest to pick photos that indicate the seasons, I was happy to wander through my archives. This is my entry in Booked.net‘s “Capture the Season”–more about the contest at the bottom of this article.
FOUR SEASONS OF TRAVEL
I realize it is fall when I see pumpkins and chrysanthemums. And at the Albuquerque Biological Park one autumn, they had a spectacular display.
Sitting amidst the mums. Albuquerque Biological Park
I only realize it is winter when I see snow, even though I live in a place where we rarely get snow. I grew up in a state where winter was serious business–stay-inside-by-the-fire business. But now I live in desert country, so have to travel to snow. I call this Virginia photo, “Pull up a chair and snow a while.”
Virginia Snowstorm
I realize it is spring when I see irises–wild irises are the best. Every since I marveled at the beauties poking up between stern gray Medieval stonework in a Frankish castle in Crete, wild irises set my hear racing. These are from the Bowman Hill Wildflower Preserve in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Wild Irises in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
I realize it is summer when I feel hot sand under my toes and salty water swishing around my legs. Summer means the sea. A hammock doesn’t hurt. And the Caribbean would be nice. How about St. Lucia?
Beach, sea, hammock, Caribbean Island
Nancie over at Budget Traveler’s Sandbox, tapped me for this Booked.Net contest for pictures depicting the seasons. I’m doubling down by publishing this as my contribution to Travel Photo Thursday. And you can see lots more photos from around the world, on many different themes by clicking over to Budget Traveler’s Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday.
Part of my obligation in this contest, is to pass the baton to some fellow bloggers. Okay, here’s my challenge to:
And, readers, do you have a favorite season? How do you know for sure when it has arrived?
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Vote for my article on WorldTravelist.com, sharing the best travel content on the web.
About the Author:
A freelance writer who loves to travel. When she is not traveling she is reading about travel. When she is not reading or traveling, she is sharing with the readers of A Traveler's Library, Reel Life With Jane and other websites. Also co-author of a biography, Quincy Tahoma, The Life and Legacy of a Navajo Artist. Contact Vera Marie by e-mail.
Vera Marie Badertscher – who has written 676 posts on A Traveler's Library.
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Tags: Albuquerque, BlogSherpa, Bucks County, four seasons, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, photography, St. Lucia, Travel, Virginia
Beautiful, lovely. I would love to also see the same spot in all four seasons (another post!) but here the colors are lovely, the photos compelling.
That’s a great idea, Merr — the same spot in four seasons. In southern Arizona, you have to train your eye to see the difference. However, in Virginia (the site of the snow scene), it would be pretty obvious.
Those are all so dang beautiful. Makes one appreciate life!
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Alisa Bowman would like you to read..He Says He’s Trying His Best. She Doesn’t Buy It.
Beautiful pictures and selection, Vera! i would love to be in that hammock by the beach right now. My favorite would have to be the Fall shot. I love seeing mums everywhere. My favorite season has to be Spring and around here in San Diego we know it’s here when the Carlsbad Flower fields open.
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Mary would like you to read..Jewel in the Rough: Mission San Juan Capistrano
Thanks so much, Mary. I didn’t get to the ocean this summer and I always miss it. Had I gone, it would have been the San Diego area, but I’ve never seen the Carlsbad flower fields. There used to be fields and fields of Japanese flower gardens on the south side of Phoenix, but now its all tract homes and strip malls.
That snow picture is my favorite. Growing up in Texas, I’ve seen snow just a few times in my life, so I end up romanticizing it. They’re all lovely shots.
Michele would like you to read..Pangkor Laut: An Island Spa Paradise
Thank you, Michele. I guess you put your finger on why I had so much photographing the beauty of snow. Since I haven’t lived in snow country for many decades, I can now see the beauty of it. By the way, congratulations on your blog. Its a beauty, and I look forward to seeing more of your travels.
Love all of these shots Vera! The winter scene (and I am not a winter person) is gorgeous. If that chair could speak, I wonder what it would say?
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Nancie would like you to read..Waterways and Sandy Beaches to Wake-up Your Travel Bug
Nancie: Thanks so much. I had not seen snow like that for years. Virginia just happened to have a blizzard while I was visiting my sister outside of Richmond. So I waded in and snapped away. I think the chair would say, “Brrrrr!”
Call me crazy, but that snow photo inspires me to book a wintertime boomer adventure.
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Donna Hull would like you to read..Stopping for lunch at Grinnell Lake
Not crazy at all, although the snow picture was just a stroll around my sister’s backyard, Donna. No dogsleds or skis involved!
Oh how lovely. And that snow picture makes me long for our Michigan winters. Yes, you read that right. It’ll be here before I know it.
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Jane Boursaw would like you to read..Family Tools: Not Your Father’s Home Improvement
Jane, I like snow this way. When I can just LOOK at it. I had way too much my last winter in Ohio, and that is a large reason we moved to southern Arizona. It was nice for a novelty, but I did not have to shovel it, drive through it, or deal with the muck when it starts melting.
Well done job of capturing those seasons. . .even more impressive knowing what a sunny climate you live in. Another reason for travel, right? Beautifully captured seasons!
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Jackie Smith would like you to read..TPThursday Capturing The Four Seasons
Thanks, Jackie. Now I’m off to see your version of the seasons.
Fall is my favorite, so I’m in heaven right now. The leaves are starting to change already.
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MyKidsEatSquid would like you to read..My Mad Men kitchen
And, Kristen, you live in a great place for fall. Northern Ohio is gorgeous. Be sure to drive down to Holmes County and maybe to the Hocking Hills. Although I saw in your photo with your Mad Men Kitchen article that you have woods right out the back door–with probably lots of leaves changing.
Lovely photos, Vera. I’m a fan of black and white…but not of snow. Still, it’s a beautiful scene.
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Sheryl would like you to read..What Midlife Crisis?
Thanks, Sheryl. Actually that was shot in color, but there were no colors–if you know what I mean. Black and white by default.
Thanks for the tag, Vera. Can hardly say I know it has been summer up here this year, but autumn is beautiful as ever.
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Sophie would like you to read..A Window on Bodmin Moor
Between us, maybe we have four seasons, Sophie?
Great selection! And I can totally agree with your definition of the seasons. Can’t believe that first picture is from ABQ. Beautiful. Maybe I need to plan fall trip there
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Sabrina would like you to read..Brittany Holidays: Delicious Food in Lesconil
Sabrina: I can’t guarantee you’ll get a lot of fall views in Albuquerque, but that was certainly a stunning display at the Botanical Garden, wasn’t it?
Oh yes, St. Lucia would be very nice — any season. Great pics, Vera. They each capture the seasons beautifully.
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Cathy Sweeney would like you to read..An Awakening in National Harbor, Maryland
I love that fall photo. What a riot of colour! That summer photo has you(?) looking pretty darned relaxed! Great selection of photos.
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Leigh would like you to read..Photo Essay: A Hike to Lake Oesa in Yoho National Park, BC
That snow chair was a fantastic capture.
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I love the colors of fall and the softness of spring.
InsideJourneys would like you to read..St. Andrew Parish Courthouse Jamaica
It was a great day for good captures, I had a fence line shot I loved, with little caps on the fenceposts. And a view out a window through a piece of Irish lace that looks like a snowflake itself, and then there was the cat……
Lovely pictures, Vera. I too love the wild flowers that come with spring but I think Fall is my favorite season. Love the colors and weather!
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Debbie Beardsley would like you to read..Erfurt’s Krämerbrücke
Challenge taken up, Vera. Let’s see what we come up with and you’ll be the first to know. Thanks!
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Michael would like you to read..The Hilltop Fortress Of Saorge