City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon from New York on a hot and humid August day.

I regret to report that the fellows continue the drilling on the facade of the apartment building I call home.  I keep hoping that this project will soon be finished.

Some days when the drilling is focused in a place very near my apartment I can find a sense of sanctuary in Central Park.

Since it is late August, the Park has a very overgrown, blowsy appearance.  In some areas, there is even a wildness about the overgrown shrubs, lawns and drying leaves.  It seems a bit crispy.

However, there are still plenty of places to just sit and enjoy the drill-free space.

The Park's late summer flower show is very different from its springtime version.

The shades of green are mature greens, like the darker greens of vegetables that are good for you.  The yellow flowers that now bloom where springtime daffodils bloomed look so different.

Little yellow berries are turning a shiny red.

The Lake's algae has an unpleasant green shade.  I would not find a rowboat to be a romantic voyage at this time of the year.

Invisible insects or other animals are nibbling at some leaves.

These pretty little orchidy blooms look so delicate with the back lit ferns behind them.

As I was looking at the very tall ferns growing in the Shakespeare Garden, I heard voices and looked up to see a group of folks gathering at an entrance to this Garden.  A wedding was about to take place there.

There were a few other folks, like myself, who were not wedding guests but were just enjoying a stroll.

I thought that these multi-colored leaves were quite lovely.  I think that most of them were some variety of coleus.

Here's another view of the leafy expanse.

You all can tell from these pictures that the dominant color in the Garden was green.

Lots of leggy, stalky plants and flowers on display in this show.

I thought that the colors of these leaves seemed iridescent.  I like the accent of those few yellow flowers, too. 

When I walked back home from the Park, I passed by the grounds of The Museum of Natural History.  I liked the look of the white bike against the black railings.

The prior photographs were taken some weeks ago, on the same date at the "Super Moon" appeared in its grand fullness.  I could not resist taking a walk outside just after sunset, to see the moon rise over the treetops of Central Park.

Yes, I know my photographs are not good, but they do give you all an idea of how this natural phenomenon matched up against the competing electric street lights and building lights and vehicular lights along West 72nd Street.

I took those photographs in the same area where I have taken photographs of the Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I noticed quite a few other moon gazers out on the sidewalk with me.

The next couple of pictures were taken more recently, to show a very gaudy street planter's bounty.  

The large motorcycle parked next to one of these planters gives you an idea of the scale of that planter.  The planters are actually there for security purposes, to prevent a vehicle from crashing into a certain Barnes & Noble book store across the street from Union Square Park.  This is another example of a city view.

As I near the end of this post, I wanted to show you all my almost finished current knitting project.  It is another of the fair isle tubular knit cowls.  I've used many shades of green, and blue-green, with a touch of ivory and cream throughout.

When I saw this photograph of length of the color progressions, it reminded me of seeing a display of men's shirts, with checkered ties.  Do you all see that, too?

As I have been typing these words, drilling has been ongoing.  It's now just about 4 p.m., and so there's only about an hour more to go of the insistent percussion.  Perhaps it's time for another little walk outdoors.

Thank you all so much for your visits and comments.  I am looking forward to seeing the coming change of season here in New York, and promise to share my impressions with you.