I’m a photojournalist, so when everything is uncertain, I do what makes me feel safe: I take photos.

Being a photographer makes me a natural for self-isolating. I love going solo into nature with my dog, whether it’s into the woods of the Wissahickon or amidst the cherry trees blooming by the river.

Mostly, I’ve been able to avoid people by heading deeper into the woods when I’ve seen them approaching. But even alone, I’ve found signs of others enjoying the solitude—a lone person by the river, or a rock painted with the word “hope” deep in the woods, clues they’ve left behind.

As we found ourselves quarantined in our homes by Covid-19, it’s nice to remember: Nature is blooming all around us, waiting for us to bathe in its splendor.

See more of Sabina Louise Pierce’s photo essays for The Citizen here.