Rain has been falling for several weeks. There was no way to plan motorbike excursions. Yet, the sun shone brightly on Monday morning. I had one appointment cancelled on that Monday morning, so I took advantage of the chance to walk into the forest and feel the spring sun on my skin.

My beloved 6 month old companion would accompany me on my morning walk in the beautiful Sahara naturepark in Lommel.
The sand of the Sahara rapidly absorbs water, making it an ideal hiking destination. As a result, we can still have dry feet after our walk.

When we entered our hiking routes, it was clear that spring was on its way. Beautiful trees regaining their vivid green hues, and with solar flare falling on earth, it just makes me happy. I see our Australian shepherd sprinting like a deer on the trails, and seeing her happy makes me so happy. It’s all about having fun together, as I mentioned in my last article.

When I take the time to appreciate all of the amazing things in the forest, I find magnificent shapes coming to life and even trees growing straight through the concrete.

The trees in the image above are growing straight through the concrete. Nature has incredible power. It’s quite inspirational to see the sun create the perfect image.

As you look closely at the image, you can see a heart shape.

Trees are large and difficult to overlook, yet there is so much in the forest that it is often difficult to see. I enjoy macro photography, and it produces amazing photographs in nature.

I already had a macro lens from Leica, but with the Canon purchase, I also got an ancient 180mm Canon lens. Indeed, it is extremely ancient, maybe more than 20 years old, but I adore working with it! These photographs simply make me smile.

I noticed the mushrooms in the moss fields. The maximum size is 5mm. The second image is of the moss itself, with a few drips of water observable. These are diamonds in the forest that truly elevate a shot to the level of art. The details are amazing to see, and the bright green colour adds energy to my morning.

I’m happy with the photos, so I’ll go over this tiny diamont again and again. There is still plenty to discover in the forest, but we must take the time to explore it all.This is a rare opportunity these days.

Thank you, Mother Nature, for showing me the way to these jewels. I’m sure there will be more…

Feeling blessed!