Tuesday, June 12, 2012

City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon from New York.


It has been a while since I had a walk through Central Park, and even though rain was very much in today's forecast, I decided that today would be a fine time to head outdoors with my camera.


What I wanted to do was to take some dark green early June photographs that I might eventually use for some drawing or painting subjects.  I also had my sketchbook in my bag, just in case the heavy grey clouds gave way to blue sky.



After a few minutes' walking, it was clear that having my umbrella also packed away in my bag was a fine idea.


What time do you think is pictured?  It was not yet midday.


Some of the greens seem silvery, while others have a neon glow.


I managed to get to the Shakespeare Garden before rain drops began to fall.  This is an in between time of the year, when lots of late spring rains have encouraged leaves to grow to their full potential, and most spring flowers are a bit past their prime.


This combination makes for an interesting interplay of shapes and textures, with just a few spots of accenting colors.


When I came upon the coleus plants in the following photo, the actual soil looked to be a very deep purple.  What drama in the Shakespeare Garden this morning!


Quite a few types of lilies were in bloom, reaching upwards from the tops of very tall stalks.  I saw a Park gardener at a distance.  He was almost hidden behind all the greenery.  (I waved at him but did not take his picture.)


There were more orange lilies than pink lilies.


I love the look of these glossy oval leaves with the zig-zaggedy edges.


As I neared my usual exit steps from the Garden, I encountered a safety barricade and the following sign.


I retraced my steps and found another pathway exit, and came upon these cheery little berries that had grown right next to one of the "rustic" fences that ring the Garden.


Some of these ferns were almost as tall as I am.  The recent weather seems to have treated them very well.


This little violet beauty was being trained to climb around a painted iron lamp post.  I think that it might be a clematis?  I did not seen another one in the entire Garden.



Here is another view of the stairway that is undergoing some restoration.  I imagine that when the project is completed, the area will look just as beautifully rustic and relaxing as before.


A short way from the Garden this lovely tree can be found.


I would have liked to stay near that tree for a bit longer, but the sky was turning darker, and the air was becoming more moist.  I hurried along the walkway next to the lake.


The following is one of several photos I took of the remnants of flowers.  I really wanted to take more photos but by this time I was feeling some rain drops, and my camera was telling me that its battery was almost out of power.



I traded my camera for my umbrella, and as I left the Park the rain began.  How fortunate I was to have been allowed the time to have my wander amongst all those deeply green plants!


These photos are just a sampling of the views I captured this morning.  If I do get around to using any of them to create some artwork, I will get the camera out again.


Many thanks to you all for your recent visits and thoughtful comments.  I do appreciate hearing from you.

18 comments:

  1. What a lovely walk on a misty morning. We walked to the Shakespeare garden when we were in New York a while back but I don’t remember these stairs being closed – we may have taken a different route as it is difficult sometimes to know which fork of the path to take. It looked like the weather was cool. Here it is starting to be humid. After just 4 days at home we are getting ready to drive about 7 to 8 hours to Memphis, Tennessee, where it will be in the 90s F (32 C.) so I have packed all my white linen clothes!
    All the flowers in Central Park look so vibrant and healthy – that should give you some inspiration for a bit of sketching or painting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Frances:
    Central Park is somewhere we have over the years heard about in one context or another, and so we were particularly delighted to read this post which, through your images and what you say, has afforded us some wonderful glimpses into the middle of this green city oasis. The fact that the day was overcast, happily you escaped the rain, makes, we feel, for an even sharper definition. The banks of ferns are positively magical.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Frances,
    I love nothing more than your walks around Central Park especially just now as we have just celebrated our wedding anniversary. CP looks alot like our garden at the moment, not alot of colour going on but plenty of green. Some of the lilies about to bloom in our garden have grown to at least 4 foot! I've never known this before.
    We've just taken delivery of some garden furniture as we have never gotten round to getting any in the past. We didn't realise that the table came with two benches and two chairs... there is more furniture outside than we have inside. Thank you for your lovely comments as always... look forward to seeing your crafty endeavours x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Frances, that was a fine walk, as always when I am allowed to join you virtually :-). I so love the picture of the green ferns, want to touch them. And that well deserved award bowl from your employer! I think, one day you will be able to move, perhaps to the countryside, have your own animals and garden and enough space to display that very bowl on a place designed for it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Another lovely wander through the park, thank you Frances.
    You are right, the purple plant is a Clematis, they are so attractive at this time of year.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Frances,

    Another lovely set of pictures of Central Park. How well I know it now thanks to you! The Clematis looks exactly like the one at the Mill. I will send you a picture for you to check. Yes, an in between time of year and your weather looks just like ours thanks to the great perturbation in the jetstream caused by, as you will know from your trips to the Shakespeare Garden, a fresh spat between Titania and Oberon. Quick! Can you find a little changeling boy!

    ReplyDelete
  7. We've had a grim week here with illness, sad news and bad weather so walking through the park with you was a great pleasure!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a delightful walk through the park.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That was a lovely walk! It's good to know that the park is so well cared for. All your favourite walks will remain beautiful....and safe.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lovely to take a walk with you, Frances!
    So glad that the weather has cleared at last!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for this lovely pictorial walk through Central Park...it was so interesting to see what is growing there. It looks so green and fresh....I love the purple clematis and the rosy berries as well as all the different greens.
    Have a happy weekend, Frances.
    Helen x

    ReplyDelete
  12. So much beauty natural beauty in the heart of a city. Big city parks never cease to amaze me :D

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a delightful collection of greens, Frances. Even on the sign.

    Thanks for taking us on the walk.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for the walk, Frances! I have walked through parts of Central Park but never seen the Shakespeare Garden - your pictures and words always make me long to go there. It's some consolation to know that you're also having rain - it's never-ending in London it seems.
    Karen xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. All this rain, where does it all come from? We have had more than our fair share of it too. It looks like you have had much the same gloomy weather.

    The plants do seem very appreciative though, just think it is almost Midsummer, so very fitting that you should be in Shakespeare's garden!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh, I loved that walk with you. We have the incredible 'neon greens' in spring when the clouds are overhead, but that's long past here. We still have thunder clouds, but no more glowing foliage!

    Thanks so much for your comment about my blueberry buns. I'd love to hear if you do make them before your weather gets too hot.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dear Frances - stumbled upon your blog through Milly - lovely walk through Central Park - I have never been to New York but it is beautiful through your eyes. Thanks so much for sharing. God Bless You!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love those ferns, I wish I could have some of them in my own garden.
    Lucky that you got away without getting drenched, at this time of year carrying an umbrella is a must for me too.

    You know, Frances, you don't need a garden. Walking in Central Park is such a pleasure and not having to do the work yourself and getting a sore back is quite a good thing too.

    ReplyDelete