Spring is a magical time of year, when nature awakens from its winter slumber and bursts forth with new life. For the past few months, I’ve been closely observing a small branch of a flowering pear tree that is on a corner near my house as it goes through its annual cycle of growth and bloom.
Starting in early spring, the tree was bare, but began to bud with small, delicate buds that slowly opened up to reveal their full beauty. As the days grew warmer, the tree’s leaves will start to emerge, casting a fresh green hue over the branch. I am observing this process by taking a picture of the same branch, every day or every other day.
Over time, the flowers are growing in number and intensity, until the entire branch is now covered in a stunning display of white and pink blossoms. Bees and other pollinators will buzz about, more and more,, busy gathering nectar and spreading pollen from flower to flower.
Now, as spring turns into early summer, the flowering pear tree is at its peak, with every inch of the branch covered in a riot of color and fragrance. It’s a reminder that nature’s cycles continue, year after year, bringing joy and beauty to those who take the time to observe and appreciate them.
Every day I’m there before school at the bus stop, I have been taking these pictures of one branch on one tree, and the kids have noticed. Not just my kids, but all the kids at the bus stop have noticed I’ve been taking a picture of this one branch each day. And they’ve been looking, commenting, and observing it blossom and grow as well.
This photography project very well could be an assignment in many types of classes and many different ages who have access to cameras, to take careful note of a small piece of nature every day for a month. It could be accompanied by a research project, an analysis challenge, a flip book, or simply a photo gallery. There are infinite possibilities to make this project work for any classroom.
I hope you enjoy these pictures of the flowering pear tree branch as much as I enjoyed capturing them. Let them serve as a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us every day, if we only take the time to look.
PS I thought I was done with this post, but my DS has been asking me to take a picture each morning of the same branch and the kids at the bus stop have been making great observations about the changes, so I have a few pictures to add:
