16 May 2026

A Different Green Every Spring

Lens-Artists Challenge #398: Choose a Color

A small pond seen through overhanging branches, surrounded by spring-green trees whose foliage and reflections fill the frame; a soft, painterly edit gives the scene a dream-like quality. Copperfield Nature Trail, Austin, Texas.
Copperfield, in a Daydream

“Nature in her green, tranquil woods heals and soothes all afflictions.”  — John Muir

Ritva sets this week’s challenge: Choose a Color. In her post, she gives us plenty of beautiful examples and ample room to respond to the challenge in various ways. I am going with one of her suggestions, that the “chosen color is the prominent hue.” Please read her post to see what other alternatives are possible. I am focusing on the color green, and you will see that these images also fit last week’s Texture challenge. Why green? It is springtime in the northern hemisphere.

I opened with an early spring dreamscape edit at Copperfield Nature Trail in Austin, Texas.

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”  — W.B. Yeats

Macro photograph of a slender green flower bud on a curving stem, with a small American sunflower moth (Homoeosoma electellum) perched at the tip, its long antennae extended against a softly blurred green background.
On the Edge of Blooming

A short tour of green across cultures

Green is the color the human eye distinguishes more shades of than any other, and almost every culture has bent that fact into meaning.

For the Aztec and Maya, green was the most precious color of all. Jade was valued above gold; the iridescent green feathers of the quetzal crowned only royalty and high priests; and the Maize God — from whose body humans were said to be formed — was rendered in green. Cenote water, fertile fields, and resurrection itself shared the same hue. The name Quetzalcóatl comes from Nahuatl words meaning “green feather,” a reminder that for these civilizations, green was inseparable from divinity, sustenance, and life itself.

“The amen of nature is always a flower.”  — Oliver Wendell Holmes

Two upright, woolly-white flower spikes of Heller’s Plantain (Plantago helleri), a Texas-native wildflower, rise above narrow, silver-hairy green leaves, with a soft green meadow blurred behind them.
Quiet Whites in a Green Field

In Brazil, green is literally stitched into our identity. The verde of the flag began as a heraldic nod to the House of Bragança, but today most Brazilians read it as the Amazon — esperança (hope, in Portuguese), the lungs of the planet, a promise we are still learning to keep.

Around the rest of the world, the meanings rhyme more often than they diverge. Islam reserves green for paradise; Ireland for luck and the fair folk; Japan for eternal life; China for health and growth. What links these traditions is striking: across continents and centuries, green almost always points the same direction — toward life, renewal, water, and hope. A fitting color for a spring challenge.

The last two images are from the same flower I featured in last week’s challenge, Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), photographed here at home.

“So our human life but dies down to its root and still puts forth its green blade to eternity.”  — Henry David Thoreau

Macro of a Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) flower head opening in its early, chartreuse stage — bright yellow-green bracts curl outward like a star around a tight cluster of unopened tubular florets that catch the sunlight at their tips. Photographed in the courtyard of my home in Teravista, Round Rock, Texas — the same plant that appeared in last week’s Texture challenge.
Texture Remembered, in Green

“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.”  — Pedro Calderón de la Barca

Extreme macro of a Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) leaf filling the frame: a vivid green blade with a finely textured surface and a deep reddish-purple central vein running top to bottom, flanked by symmetrical pinnate side veins. Courtyard, Teravista, Round Rock, Texas.
From Texture to Color

From nature to man-made structures, the photos you shared for Anne’s Texture challenge last week were gorgeous. I hope you will join this week’s challenge, too. Please don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag in your posts to help people find your wonderful challenge entries.

Next week, I will feature a new challenge. It will go live at noon EST in the USA. Tune in to find out more about the challenge then. Please see this page for more information about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history. If you don’t want to miss any future challenges, please consider subscribing to the team members’ websites. Here they are:

That is the story behind the shots. If you liked this post, you may also be interested in others featuring Austin, Copperfield Nature Trail, Landscapes, Lens-Artists, Macros, Teravista, Texas, Wild Bergamot, and Wildflowers. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.

Sources:

  • Mexicolore, “Which was the most precious colour for the Aztecs and why?” — https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/ask-experts/which-was-the-most-precious-colour-for-the-aztecs-and-why
  • Mexicolore, “How Aztec scribes produced the colour green” — https://mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/aztec-life/how-scribes-produced-the-colour-green
  • Ancient Maya Cultural Traits, “Ancient Maya Color Symbolism” — https://ancientmayaculturaltraits.com/2026/01/31/color-and-symbolism/
  • Trama Textiles, “The Symbol of Guatemala: The Quetzal” — https://tramatextiles.org/blogs/trama-blog/symbol_of_guatemala_the_resplendent_quetzal
  • Next Stop Brazil, “The Brazilian Flag: A Symbol of Unity and Identity” — https://www.nextstopbrazil.com/post/the-brazilian-flag-a-symbol-of-unity-and-identity
  • Aventura do Brasil, “Blue, Green, Yellow — The Brazilian Flag” — https://www.aventuradobrasil.com/blog/blue-green-yellow-the-brazilian-flag/
  • Color Meanings, “Color Symbolism in Different Cultures Around the World” — https://www.color-meanings.com/color-symbolism-different-cultures/
  • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) — https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=mofi
  • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Plantago helleri (Heller’s Plantain) — https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PLHE

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50 Responses

  1. Leya
    | Reply

    Interesting facts and wonderful photography, Egidio – as always! Starting off with a dreamy landscape and finishing with sharp textures and macros. Divine.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks for your kind feedback, Ann-Christine.

  2. Nicole Sara
    | Reply

    I have always loved that quote from W.B. Yeats, “… for our senses to grow sharper.” It makes me imagine how many lovely things, details we may be missing sometimes. This is nice, to read about the color green in the Aztec and Maya cultures, and around the world… as it happens, I also created an all-green photo post on Facebook a couple of days ago. Spring green is so bright and beautiful! 😊

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Nicole, it is a lovely thought to keep in mind and pay more attention to the small things around us. Thanks for your comment.

  3. Rebecca Cuningham
    | Reply

    Great cultural history to go with the beautiful photos.

  4. Bay Photos By Donna
    | Reply

    Stunning compositions, I love the theme of green too!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Donna. I’m glad you liked the compositions.

  5. Pamela Zmija Photography
    | Reply

    Egidio beautiful spring green photos! I also love all the textures of nature that you captured!

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Pam. Nature is always a great photography subject.

  6. shoestringdiary
    | Reply

    Excellent macros! Interesting facts about the color green also.

  7. Leanne Cole
    | Reply

    When I was going to school I hated green, it was the colour of my school uniform, but over the years I’ve slowly started to love it. These are all beautiful Egidio, gorgeous examples of the colour green.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks so much, Leanne. Green is one of those colors that can look good in certain things. I can certainly understand your dislike for it in a uniform.

  8. Vicki
    | Reply

    Some stunning green images here, Egidio. You’re definitely a master of the close-up or macro.

  9. Tranature - quiet moments in nature
    | Reply

    Beautiful greens Egídio, the dreamy reflections in the water of your opening image are truly magical 😊

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks for your wonderful feedback, Xenia.

  10. SoyBend
    | Reply

    Great pictures and some interesting facts about the color green as well, Egidio. I liked the brilliant colors and blurred edges in your first picture.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks for the feedback, Siobhan. That first photo edit is called “dreamscape.” It intensifies colors and blurs portion of the image.

  11. Steve Hyde
    | Reply

    Great images Egidio. A superb tribute to the colour GREEN 🙂

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Steve. I guess it was not a bad choice, considering the color is not my favorite.

  12. Writing to Freedom
    | Reply

    Wonderful images and backstory on the importance of the color green. I love the first bud and yellow and green flower image Egidio. 😍

  13. Toonsarah
    | Reply

    Gorgeous greens, and a great choice of colour for this time of year! I especially love your second shot but they are all excellent 😀

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Sarah. The simplicity in the shot you liked was very endearing for me.

  14. Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
    | Reply

    Green is my favorite color during spring – love your detailed images and vibrant greens Egídio.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks for the feedback, Ritva. Much gratitude!

  15. Tina Schell
    | Reply

    Loved your response this week Egidio, your images are exceptional! Green has never been a favorite of mine but now I must revisit my thoughts on that as your eye for its beauty teaches me to look more closely. Beautifully done.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Tina, thanks for these wonderful words. Green is not my favorite color either, but it goes well in photography.

  16. Wandering Dawgs
    | Reply

    Egidio, your amazing greens are perfect for the challenge. Beautiful post.

  17. photobyjohnbo
    | Reply

    Why am I not surprised you went with green today, Egidio. Beautifully done.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, John. I don’t know why I picked that color. It just made sense because of my love for nature.

  18. Sofia Alves
    | Reply

    I love the cultural background examples for your choice of green, I just went with it 🙂 It does mean the same generally to everyone, it’s such a wonderful colour as are your photos, Egídio. Lovely post.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks for the kind words, Sofia. Like you, I also don’t think of green as a favorite color. I do love it in Nature, of course.

  19. restlessjo
    | Reply

    These are superb examples, Egidio. Especially love the textured and the white/green xx

  20. Teresa
    | Reply

    Great post. You and me both geared towards the same colour.

  21. margaret21
    | Reply

    Green was the perfect choice for you, and illustrated with perfect examples.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks, Margaret. Although it’s not my favorite color to wear, I like it a lot.

  22. nesfelicio
    | Reply

    Beautiful shades of green in these photos.

  23. Alison
    | Reply

    Great post Egidio, very interesting facts

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks for writing, Ali. Glad you liked the post.

  24. philosophy through photography
    | Reply

    You made green feel much more than a color. It is a lovely journey through nature. It also brings in culture so beautifully. Spring shines through it all. Beautiful photos, Egidio.

  25. Anne Sandler
    | Reply

    Egidio, what beautiful greens from nature. You captured the serenity that being in nature brings us.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thanks for pointing that out, Anne. I appreciate the feedback.

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