Lens Artists Photo Challenge #357 – Into the Woods

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This week Egidio challenges us to go Into the Woods for some Forest Bathing. He tells us “Shinrin-yoku is a concept that was developed in Japan in the 1980s as a form of natural therapy and stress relief. In English, it is translated as “forest bathing” or immersing oneself in a forest atmosphere. It is a way to allow all your senses to experience nature mindfully.” His challenge is to show how we do forest bathing in our corner of the world.

I think I was “”forest bathing” before I knew what it was. I just know that I love the quiet of being in the woods. I feel peaceful and calm when I stand in the woods surrounded by trees.

I think that I shall never see, A poem lovely as a tree. – Joyce Kilmer

The trees in my home state of Georgia vary depending on where you are in the state. In coastal Georgia the common trees are pine trees, oaks, palmettos, and palm trees. The featured image is of a maritime forest on Jekyll Island. The following gallery was taken on a Georgia marsh hammock near my neighborhood. Wood Storks are one of the many wading birds that are seen on the trees here.

The Okefenokee Swamp in south Georgia is filled with Cypress trees. Seeing these ancient trees from a boat makes me feel like I have stepped back in time.

Cypress Trees in the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia

Sweet Gum, Winged Sumac, Maple, Sycamore, Pine, and Water Oaks are just a few of the trees that I see when walking in the woods of middle Georgia. The landscape changes with seasons. No matter what the season I feel a sense of serenity in these woods.

Early Spring in the Georgia woods

Wild Dogwoods bloom in the spring in the Georgia woods

Summertime in rural Georgia woods

Many thanks to last week’s guest host SH for his challenge of Quiet Hours. Your responses to the challenge took me to many beautiful quiet places. I hope you will join us next week as Tina leads us in our next Lens-Artists challenge on Saturday, July 26 at noon Eastern Time.

Many thanks to Egidio for this challenge Lens-Artists #357 – Into the Woods

For information on how to join the Len-Artists challenge please click here.

Every Day is a Gift.

35 thoughts on “Lens Artists Photo Challenge #357 – Into the Woods”

  3. It is truly wonderful to live in a state with such tree variety. It gives you the feeling of being in different worlds. Thanks for the beautiful photos and peace they brought.

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  4. As usual Beth, your images seem so familiar to me! We are fortunate to share some similar landscapes, especially those glorious cypress trees. I also loved the wild dogwoods which I’ve not seen around here. Loved your post!

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    1. Tina, thanks so much. Yes our landscapes are very similar. We’re really not that far apart as the crow flies! After I hit publish I it hit me that I could have included the woods in north Georgia with the creeks and waterfalls. Oh well, I’ll save them for another challenge.

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    1. Terri, many thanks. I went out yesterday morning to take bird pictures and ended up with some tree pictures, too! I love the Okefenokee swamp. Parts of it are miles away from civilization. It can be very spooky and mysterious.

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  6. Beth, your pictures are just beautiful and right on target for this challenge. The trees in the swamp photo are extraordinary. And I really liked those twisted trees. How unique.

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  10. It’s so interesting to see how the trees and woodland vary as you travel across your state! The Okefenokee Swamp looks fascinating, I’d love a boat ride among those trees 🙂

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  11. What a beautiful variety of woods! So many different shapes, looks and kinds. If you know what I mean. That one of the Cypress trees in the water is so cool!
    Happy Tuesday!

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      1. I sure do Beth! WP likes to fool with us!
        But I do get all your comments.🥰
        I have found that commenting in the WP reader is easier.
        Happy Day to you!

        Liked by 1 person

  14. Living in Savannah, Georgia, I too have learned about her many types of trees growing across the vastness of varied terrain. Neal and I have traveled to every state park in Georgia and stayed over night repeatedly in several. Our favorite has to be the Long Leaf Pine (see my blog posts about them).

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