Sunday, May 8, 2011

Of purple & pohutukawas

The swamp turns purple on the threshold of winter. In autumn it flushes russet, but as winter approaches the colours change. If I remember rightly, Van Gogh saw shadows as purple. We are now entering that time of year when the shadows lengthen, sculpting the landscape and highlighting every bush and tree.
I saw purple shadows and purple light on my walk yesterday.
Between the bach and the beach, young pohutukawas are everywhere making their presence felt, raising their bushy heads. They are growing because of the vision of one man, who raised hundreds of seedlings many years ago, and organised his students to help plant them, In another ten years they will provide welcome shade along the track to the beach.
For now, their rounded forms in the purple haze, seem mysterious: part of the magic that happens when the light changes and familiar things take on new significance.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the light in autumn and you have captured it so beautifully here, Juliet. I really feel humble and honor toward those who have the vision to plant for the future, as the man did here with the pohutukawas.

Juliet said...

Yes, those are people of great vision aren't they? I always feel such gratitude towards that man.

Marja said...

Gorgeous pictures and words. I so love van Goghs paintings I saw many in the museum in Amsterdam just amazing

AM said...

love these shots :)
makes you feel close to nature being in such places, doesn't it?

Anonymous said...

A friend spoke recently of a man from Ireland who said 'I'm aching for Ireland' - when you post photographs of Te Henga I feel a similar (though smaller I'm sure) ache for the light, the beaches, caves and wildness of the coast there..

Thank you once again for bringing me back to a deeply special place in my heart.

-Sue

Juliet said...

Thank you Sue; I can understand that ache so well.

Anne Ruffell said...

I too feel a deep connection with Te Henga and see it as a refuge of calm and I often visit the beach in my mind's eye and walk along on the edge of the surf kicking the foam, breathing in the salty air, smiling to myself at the magic and bliss of being in such a wild unspoilt place. It also has memories of friendships reinvigorated and ties across the oceans made stronger.