Tuesday, April 28, 2015

City Views, Country Dreams

Good morning from New York.

I've been taking some time off from work this week, and have had more opportunities for long walks while Spring's beauty continues.

Last weekend, I walked over to Park Avenue to check on how the tulip blooms were coming along.  I took a route through Central Park that passed by the Sheep Meadow.


Naughty parents were allowing their children to swing on the tree branches.  I continued on with my walk.


Some folks were just relaxing.  Sitting on benches provided for sitting.  You all might be able to see the little metal plaques on some of the benches.  It is possible to donate money to have these inscribed with special dedications to honor friends and family members.


As I neared Fifth Avenue, I could glimpse some luxury buildings' rooftops over the tree tops.  Isn't that sky brilliant?


This area was once known as "dog hill" and was a fine place to see dogs frolicking around off their leashes.  Now it's called something else, and rules are posted.  Green on green.

Every year I promise Merisi that I will take photographs of the Park Avenue tulips.


The above photograph shows the very same median garden space that I showed you in a prior post as a natural midday "sundial."  It's in a shady block of Park Avenue, and so few actual blooms have yet appeared.

I could not resist raising my camera to show you the downtown, i.e. Southern, view.  I cannot yet believe that NYC planners actually approved the construction of that building.  I find the tower intrusive.


And so, let us return to our search of tulips on Park Avenue, walking uptown into sunnier blocks.


I discovered lots of tulips planted in curbside gardens in front of apartment buildings.


This median garden strip is ablaze with red tulips!


And here's another batch, with yellow cabs for contrast.


Another city view.


I took a peek down this side street and loved the quiet and shady beauty.


Some buildings opt for white tulips.


For a bit of variety, I offer you all this minimal window box.  I am not sure how the gardener got those planted. 

The following photograph shows a bird's eye view of an elegant planter at the entrance way to an elegant building.


Orange and yellow tulips carry a polite suggestion.


I'm including the next photograph to give you another perspective on the variety of architecture that makes up this part of the Upper East Side neighborhood.


I am hoping that you all have enjoyed seeing a few more views of what can be seen around New York City at this time of the year.

Pretty soon the trees will begin leafing out and pollen season will be upon us.  Sneezing is forecast.  I may not be taking any long walks through the Park for a while!  


40 comments:

  1. Hello again Frances
    Thank you for your tour of Spring city displays - I love it when people find the tiniest of nooks to make a floral feast. Isn't Spring simply the best - the blossom on the trees looks glorious.

    Thank you for calling in too Frances and for your kind words.

    All the very best of the season to you and yours
    Best wishes
    Jenny

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    1. Yes, Jenny, colorful flowers make very good additions to concrete blocks as well as to the Park's green acres. This is a grand time for taking long walks and stretching our legs. Lots of smiles also blooming around town.

      xo

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  2. What beautiful blossom. It is such a lovely time of year for Spring flowers.

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    1. Elizabeth, I'll now be on the outlook for iris. I remember that there are quite a few planted around the Lake in Central Park.

      Pretty soon all the wintery root veg in the Farmers Markets will begin yielding some room to lettuces and other more delicate produce. All good signs! xo

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  3. Hello, Frances! It was such a delight to see the Spring flowers and tender blossoms everywhere in NY city! I like the white tulips a lot! They are quite rare, I think. Here the trees are already in fresh leaves and I adore the nuances of green... Wish you many more walks in the beautiful city!:)

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    1. Rossichka, it truly is a splendid time of the year. Nature is showing us some new beauty every day!

      Interesting about white tulips being rare...something I did not know...although I realize I don't often see them. I will have to do some researching....
      xo

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  4. I really enjoyed these photographs. The afternoon we had set aside for a walk in Central Park when we were there turned out to be a pouring wet afternoon, so your photographs are all the more welcome. I do love the way NYC is full of flowers.

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    1. Thank you so much for your visit. I'm always hoping to show other folks a bit of what it's actually like to live in New York City throughout the seasons. Of course, spring is a favorite season for obvious reasons! xo

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  5. New York looks amazing in Spring, I love the tulips.

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    1. Janice, thanks so much for your visit and comment. Yes, tulips are rather fabulous!

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  6. Francis, the Happiest bearer of Spring, tulip! They look so joyful with blooms open to that blue blue sky, How nice to see that so many plant them for all to enjoy.

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    1. Yes, Jeri, there really is something special about tulips, so many varieties and colors, each one bringing fresh joy.

      xo

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  7. Blue sky, blossom and tulips! I'm sure they have cheered you and other New Yorkers after such a long cold winter.
    C xx

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    1. Celia, I was so glad that the sky was very clear on that day of my "tulip tour." Just add some yellow cabs and you've got quite a color wheel!

      xo

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  8. Lovely visiting you and your lovely city in full bloom Frances! The park look´s so green and calm...
    I must visit NY sometimes in the future, that´s for sure!
    Warmly,
    Titti

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    1. Titti, you are right about the Park providing some calm within the City's center. Even on weekends, when lots of folks do head for the Park, you can still find some quieter places for a bit of restful contemplation.

      Perhaps spring is the Park's most beautiful season, but it can be rather wonderful throughout the year. xo

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  9. Another lovely New York walk and how lovely to see those cheery signs of spring.

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    1. Gina, it's truly a pleasure to take these walks and have the opportunity to experience nature's beauty. Of course, some of these experiences just whet my country dreaming! xo

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  10. NY is lovely in springtime, i remember that from 2 years ago when we visited your great town. I love your pictures of the tulips and central park! Thanks for your sweet comments on my blogs, x

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    1. Jolanda, I am very glad that you've had the opportunity to see NYC at this time of the year. Something about the return of greenery and all the flowers does seem to soften those sharp city edges in a very appealing way.

      I love visiting Rotterdam via your blogs. It's clearly another very intriguing place. xo

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  11. Gorgeous spring in NYC pictures, Frances! It is lovely to see the season advancing in your posts. I enjoyed the tulips and seeing how they are planted and displayed around the city, they do look bright and colourful. Loved the white blossom tree photo too....so evocative of spring in the city.
    Wishing you a lovely week with lots of warm sunny spring days to enjoy your walks.
    Helen xox

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    1. Thank you, Helen. There truly is some colorful magic in this springtime air! xo

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  12. What cheery colours - plants and skies! Long may the joyous spring continue!

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    1. Su, I completely agree with you. The motion carries! xo

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  13. I enjoy it when you take us for a walk Francis! NY looks beautiful in springtime. All those blossoms and tulips and everything is so green. What a joy to have such a beautiful park on your doorstep.

    Wishing you a happy weekend ahead!

    Madelie x

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    1. Madelief, for those of us not fortunate enough to have our own garden to tend, these public areas filled with flowers are wonderful to behold as spring shows its beauty. Joy indeed! xo

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  14. Thank you, Frances, I so enjoy walking along with you!
    Those walks bring back so many happy memories of your fair city. And you know how to see the quiet and to many eyes hidden gems of New York City.
    The tulips here are on the way out, even the candle-like blossoms of the chestnut trees have begun to fade. The lilacs are still in bloom, fragrance wafting all over town. In fact, I walked just back from the grocery store and stopped at the corner, under a huge lilac bush, to enjoy the fragrance a bit longer.
    I hope you do find a way to make the onslaught of pollens a bit easier on you.
    Best wishes,
    Merisi

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    1. Merisi, I truly look forward to walking over to Park Avenue to have a look at what I now think of as Merisi's tulips. Thank you for also noticing that I am on the look out for some less flamboyant spring signs.

      Chestnuts still on the way here, and the only lilacs I have seen so far are for sale as sweet bouquets outside various shops. Perhaps next week we will also see the lilac/peony combinations that seem to be another tradition.

      I can well imagine your stopping to savor that lilac fragrance at the corner.

      So far only just a little bit of sneezing. xo

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  15. I love seeing the city in bloom -- such a wonderful contrast between Nature and Architecture!

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  16. Thank you Vicki. Sometimes walking along city blocks in springtime I imagine the buildings as very large gift packages, and the trees and flowers are the ribbons decorating them, softening those perpendicular lines.

    xo

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  17. That was a lovely walk, Frances! Spring has certainly arrived in NYC. Are you in lighter clothes now? Soon it will be too hot for tulips and the pavement will be baking - so I loved a look at the freshness of spring in your part of the city.

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    1. Pondside, I think it just might be safe now to take my winter coat to the drycleaners. It is a joy to finally shed that layer, and know a sweater or light jacket will be quite enough. xo

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  18. Lovely to see Spring in New York - a complete contrast to our own rural idyll. I always forget just quite how stunning spring is. Do come and see me as I have just found a new house and garden I would love people to visit and I know you come this way from time to time. Cambridgeshire?

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    1. Marianne, thank you for your visit over here and your comment. Yes, spring can be beautiful in city and country. Cambridgeshire is gorgeous. Best wishes to your new home. I'll be visiting your posts to see how you settle in as Spring turns to Summer. xo

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  19. Beautiful Spring views of your city Francis. I love all the blocks of Tulips and the park is look so pretty.
    Thank you for all the kind comments you leave at mine. They always make me smile.
    Jacquie x

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    1. Jacquie, isn't it grand to share our different parts of the world and see how much nature we do have in common? I still love those village houses. xo

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  20. Those beautiful tulips honour everyone just as much as the little plaques on the benches, Frances, and the yellow cabs are surely the sails on the New York schooner with their air of happy zeal. You live amid such civilized beauty.

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    1. Mise, I do agree with you about the tulips and bench plaques. I'll now have to give those yellow cabs another look and remember your poetic imagery. When I ride the subway to work tomorrow morning, I might think of other comparisons...it's true, the trains do get one from A to B and provide all sorts of inspirations for the creative amongst us.
      Springtime in New York truly is a beautiful season. Autumn's also fine. Winter is chilly but has some glittering glamor. Ah, but summer arrives with challenges. (I'll try to remember typing that when August rolls around and do a post about its charms.)

      xo

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  21. It is amazing how many flowers there are in downtown New York City – this is really lovely for all the people living there – and those visiting too.

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