We planned to pick apples, but when we reached the orchard, the owners gave us the sad news. No apples this fall. The trees were affected by a spring frost that harmed the apples at a critical stage of growth. BUT. The flower field was full of beautiful dahlias. We’ve carried a large bucket and water and pruning shears with us everywhere this summer, and so, we were prepared to pivot from apple picking to flower picking. It was unseasonably hot today, up to 87 degrees. I approached the flower field with some trepidation since it was in a similar field on another hot and sunny day that I sustained a painful injury, an irritated spinal nerve. An injury that took 6 weeks to heal. I moved with care and made sure not to push myself too hard or too long, and I had a wonderful time. There were butterflies and bees everywhere. And my husband is the absolute best photography assistant. It’s not an easy thing to keep approaching the same subjects in different ways. It’s not really about seeing in a new way; it’s more about feeling the experience as though I was a beginner. Feels like the very first time.
