City Views, Country Dreams

Good evening from New York.

Media news reports continue to contain many troubling stories.  I continue to seek some relaxation in my official time off via knitting.

I'm working on a scarf that uses a variety of warm and cool neutral shades of yarn.  Having a bright bit of daylight today makes it easier to see which neutrals work best together.

I've also gotten some much postponed apartment clearing and cleaning out accomplished, while wondering when the weather would actually warm up.

Well, early this afternoon my question was answered.  The sun was bright, and the temperature had reached a height that would no longer require me to wear my down-filled coat.

I quickly ate my Greek yoghurt lunch, pulled on a sweater, grabbed my camera and headed east, bound for Central Park, and beyond.

Just look at that blue sky!  There's even a reflection in the Lake.

The next photo shows a bit of the plaza around Bethesda Fountain, with some rhododendron framing the foreground.

So many trees are flowering.  So many other folks walking through the Park also had their cameras pointed at all the natural beauty surrounding us.

I could not resist taking this close up view, to remind me of this beautiful afternoon, later on when November chill arrives.

Once across the Park, I am officially walking in the Upper East Side.  I had a particular goal in mind.  Every spring, I try to take some photos of the tulips planted along Park Avenue.  These photos are dedicated to Merisi, whose Vienna for Beginners is a treat during every month of the year.

Bright red tulips against bright yellow taxis make a strong contrast to the gentler colors I'd just seen in Central Park.

Some unseen, uncredited gardeners must plant thousands of tulips every year to create these dramatic displays.

The red tulips appear at each north or south border of the median areas of the Avenue.  In the middle of the median areas other plantings take center stage.

Nature's beauty really does a fine job of softening the perpendicular architecture and the street grid patterns.

Oh, just look at that blaze of red!  The banners hanging in the background proclaim the current exhibitions at that building...the Asia Society museum

What a parade!

Some years, the tulips are other colors.  Although I do very much love these brilliant reds, I do wonder how well they compliment the trees' blossoms.  What do you all think?  I do think the clear blue sky suits both colorways.

If today's warmth continues for another day or two, I expect that these flowers will be soon taking their 2013 curtain calls.

Having bid a fond farewell to Park Avenue, I turned westward once again crossing the Park, taking a slightly different route than my earlier eastward walk.

The lawns are so green, and many are currently off limits to mere mortals.  Wire fencing sets the boundaries with signs telling us that the lawns have been newly seeded.  I did see lots of birds and squirrels who paid no attention to that signage.

Peeking through those trees can be seen a bit of city skyline.

The following photo shows an avenue of some of my beloved elms, and the lovely shadows they cast.

I'd also like to include this view of some humble dandelions.  Aren't they jolly?   

As I neared Central Park West, I passed by the wide open space known as the Sheep's Meadow.  You can seen major midtown real estate towers in the background, and in the mid-ground you might even see some early sun bathers.

This spring has been so unusual in its lingering chill, and has resulted in our seeing unusual pairings of flowers.  It is very odd to see lilacs in bloom while forsythia is still blazing.

Here is a close up of lilac buds bursting into full flower.

I liked the rather romantic look of the flowering branches as a veil over the sunny Meadow beyond.  I expect that many couples were enjoying a bit of romance in the Meadow this afternoon.

Not everyone was lolling about on the lawn.  Some folks were tossing softballs, and frisbees, and just cavorting.  I think that some of these folks might have been playing hooky from their work places.

I feel so fortunate to have had this day off.  There are only a few of these sorts of brilliant spring days every year.  I was given a gift to have been able to be outdoors, as I chose.

Tomorrow I will return to work.  I hope that the weather will continue to stay so beautiful so that other folks might be able to experience the happiness I found today.

Isn't spring grand!

City Views, Country Dreams

Good morning from New York.

Although I am so very happy that springtime has begun to give us beautiful flowers, I am also so very sad about several recent tragedies in other parts of our country. The bombing that took place this week at the Boston marathon has now changed many lives.  Some as yet unidentified people planned and executed something horrific.  Other people immediately rushed to aid their fellow human beings.

What a world we live in.  It's appropriate that as I type this, I hear Elvis Costello singing What's so funny about peace, love and understanding.

Bearing all this in mind, let me show you the beauty that I saw a few days ago during an overcast day in Central Park.

The designed Park landscape features many curving, undulating pathways, creating many vantage points.  The following photo is just inside the West 72nd Street entrance way.  You can see the famed Dakota apartment building just beyond the chopped-off tree's forked branches.

Tucked in amongst the rocks are lots of little flowers.

Because our weather has been unseasonable cool, I found some lingering snow drops. 

Just above the path where I was walking, you can see another pathway complete with pedestrian and lamp post.

The wisteria has not gotten into gear yet.

Lots of forsythia was in full blaze, although on this misty day, its colors seem subdued.

I walked back up the incline and started my walk around the lake, on my way to the Shakespeare Garden.

Moody, moody.

In the distance you can see some Fifth Avenue buildings.

Daffodils were abundant.  Their showiness grows each spring as naturalization continues.

Can you believe that the following scene is in the middle of a huge city?

Well, it is.

I got down on my knees to take this photo.  And somehow managed to spring up again afterwards!

Rhododendrons were also in the mix.  Central Park West apartment building towers in the background.

Looking southeast across the lake, I give you a view of a New York City skyline.

Ahhh, finally I reach the Shakespeare Garden, to see its rustic beauty.

Again, I sink to my knees for a close view of some tiny beauties.

Here is a close up view of the Garden's quince branches.

Center stage in the Shakespeare Garden is the glorious tulip magnolia.

I wish that there were more primroses hereabouts, but am happy to see a colorful sampling.

Here's a lovely view, even though there is no blue sky.

Tulips come along a bit later in the annual spring parade, and I think that I'll find many more in bloom on my next visit to the Park.

I do like these thorny branches and the shape of its leaves is lovely, too.

After all this walking up and down and all around, I was feeling a bit warm, and considered stopping at this vendor's stand for the first ice cream of 2013.

However, just then a gentle rain began to fall, and so I decided to postpone the ice cream selecting, and just make a speed trip homeward.

I hope that you all will enjoy visiting the Park.  I thank you all for your visits to my posts and for your comments.

City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon and continued Happy Easter wishes to you all.

It's a bit grey and chilly, but that did not prevented me from attending the annual Fifth Avenue Easter Parade.  I found lots of creative folks wearing lots of colorful outfits and ... Hats!

I saw many hats that had been made from recycled materials.  The next photo shows an architecturally inspired hat mostly constructed from old MetroCards, the laminated paper cards we use to ride public transportation.

There were very large hats and also very small hats.

As I made my way down Fifth Avenue, actually walking on The Avenue, which had been closed to vehicular traffic, I came upon a block that was truly blocked off.  Pedestrians were required to retreat to the sidewalks.

I do not recall this having been done in past years, but my memory might be faulty.  Perhaps it was done to aid the Police Department in being able to have the cross town (east west) streets at end of this Fifth Avenue block available to car traffic when directed by on duty Police Officers.  I did not ask.  I kept walking.  I had more hats to see.

Some hats were pretty yet also dignified.

Some hats were exuberant in their festive mode.

I do not know how this gentleman attached his tiny hat to his head.  It was truly a fascinator.

Isn't she lovely?

This group of Japanese ladies had differing approaches to Easter dressing.

From this particular angle this lady's hat reminds me of the Concorde planes of yesteryear.

Note that there are four visible ears and two undercover ears.

Anyone feeling the need for additional ears had available options.

I wonder how much this chapeau weighed?

This parade goer was attracting lots of attention.  I settled for a profile view.

Sometimes it seemed as if there were more folks with cameras than there were folks with hats.

This gentleman's tiny dogs seemed remarkably calm; however, we were warned not to pet the dogs.

These two hats were on the traditional side.

Who could resist taking a photograph of this little cutie?

This senorita knew how to stroll up the Avenue.

This couple made a charming, vintage pair.

I could not get any closer to the three or perhaps four ladies who were wearing these enormous Easter baskets on their heads.

I do not know the reason for the snakes and flowers on this hat.

Check out the blue hare on the lady with the blue hair.  And don't miss the duck on the hat in the background.

The young lady who had made this hat had a delicate garden sensibility to her design.

Their are always some true fashionistas in the crowd.

They are so elegant.

More fine dressing, somewhat inspired by the 1920's.  I love her stockings and shoes and his blue suit.

More recycling.  This frock is intriguing even if not really pretty.

This couple, in front of Saks Fifth Avenue are somewhat traditional, but with a certain flair.

I took a detour over to the Promenade area of Rockefeller Center to see the flower displays.  I also found a few cast off recycled material hats and some very large eggs.

There were hundreds of Easter lilies.

This extended family group was resting.  The littlest girl in blue was tired and crying, and being comforted.

The following photo shows some ladies with recycled paper hats playing with their tablet.

Sometimes a simple idea can have a large impact if done on a large scale.

Aren't these gentlemen dashing?

Of course, chocolate plays a large part in Easter celebrations, but I was glad to see that the way the light hit the sign on this shop reminded us all a bit about the spiritual side of this day.

I thought that these two little girls were absolutely adorable, and it was fun to wish each other Happy Easter.

Here is an irresistible little bunny. 

Argghh!  Here's a lady pirate wearing her ship on her head.

I hope that you all are not tiring of parade watching.

If you need a snack, have an Easter hot dog.

Two ladies who would not consider wearing bunny ears.

The trio in the white shirts wanted to have their pictures taken with the cute little folks.

Royalty posing with a subject in front of a floral covered shop front.  What more could one ask for?

Here's your answer.  A grand display of chocolate bunnies.

Here are three home made hats that are whimsical and lovely, too.

And here's the back view of those hats.

This flower bedecked cross was on the steps to one of the Fifth Avenue churches.

Here's one final view of a lovely little girl in a pretty Easter bonnet.

And here are some lemon yellow tulips in a very large planter.

And...here's the dark chocolate bunny that I brought home with me.

I hope that you all have enjoyed coming along with me to this year's Easter Parade.