And now we welcome the new year
full of things that have never been
― Rainer Maria Rilke

New trees, new hope, a pair of robins, a family of blackbirds and assorted wagtails have made their new home amidst the olive grove (well, there are now two such trees). Nature has shown that even a brief respite from the toxic side products of human endeavour pays (green) dividends.

Let’s hope ‘we the people’ can now renew and heal as we transition to a new year, working together to heal differences and put aside toxic divisions.

(newly planted) olive tree: 1/200s, f/8.0, ISO 64

(newly planted) magnolia: 1/200s, f8.0, ISO 64

(precocious) prunus: 1/200s f/8.0, ISO 64

(ready for new residents) White House 1/200s f/8.0, ISO 64

*All images made with Nikon D850 and AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8E VR lens with limited edits in Lightroom*