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.