It has been 4 years since I used the color amethyst in a monthly color challenge! I thought it would be interesting to revisit parts of that post this week.

Rather than use the predictable reds or pinks typical for February in recognition of Valentine’s Day, I thought the purple tones of amethyst would be fun to explore.

Amethyst is the February birthstone. The Amethyst gem is also associated with the calming of physical passions. The gem’s purple colors represented the purity of spirit. In folklore, amethysts were used to aid in the healing of wounds.

“Amethyst is a meditative and calming stone that works in the emotional, spiritual, and physical planes to provide calm, balance, patience, and peace.” – Miranda Kerr

Skies of Amethyst

Nothing was more exciting in the night skies than seeing several northern light displays during 2024-2025, but 2026 is also proving to show its true colors.

This was a foggy view of a rather strong aurora last week. But nothing compared to …

….these astonishing auroras taken in 2024!

“Yesterday and tomorrow cross and mix on the skyline. The two are lost in a purple haze. One forgets, one waits.” ~ Carl Sandburg

Amethyst in Stones

These are the best images I have of amethyst stones. Last year, while in Arizona, I went shopping with my daughter at a “make-it-yourself” jewelry store. One table displayed countless bowls of gemstones, and I was particularly drawn to two filled with amethysts.

I also have some jewelry with amethysts in the settings.

Pleasing Purple Passions

Our February landscape is devoid of any color now except brown and gray. At least when we’ve had a decent snowy winter, we’d have scenes like this:

By May, spring will have arrived, bringing riots of color, including lots of purple florals. Here is a gallery of what’s to come:

Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment. — Ellis Peters

These wildflowers begin growing in May. Hurry….!

Wait, I’m supposed to be patient…

“Flower of this purple dye, Hit with Cupid’s archery, Sink in apple of his eye.” – William Shakespeare

All images in this post were taken with Samsung Galaxy Cell Phones

Sharing for Johnbo’s CellPic Sunday and Lens-Artists: What Astonishes You?

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.

• Remember to title your blog post a little differently from mine.
• Please create a new post for the theme or link to a recent one.
• Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
• Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
• Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
• I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

If you are participating in the photo challenge, I look forward to seeing how you interpret this week’s color challenge theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme.

You have all week to link your amethyst-themed posts for the color challenge! Join me next week as we explore the theme “SWEET.”

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