subway daydreaming

"Someone else's day,
Someone else's door,
There's a girl with cherry chapstick on and nothing more..."
-Yo La Tengo

The song is Cherry Chapstick off the album "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out", and if you don't own it you probably ought to. Also check out the song Let's Save Tony Orlando's House. ...genius.

The image: Montauk, NY, where I'd rather be this morning.

Pic of the Day: Pimp My Ride

You gotta love the pimped out Buick Estate Wagon, complete with faux wood siding. I pass this car every day and it continually makes me chuckle. "Grocery getter gone bad!" Ah, another testimonial that you can't take life too seriously. Or in other words, Harlem rules. Happy Friday all.

(horticultural posts coming soon)

Pic of the Day: Molten Harlem Morning

Another molten morning sunrise up in Harlem, on the advent of yet another day of snow shoveling.

the last day of 2009 (in snow)

I realized during yesterday's snow shower that I never posted these images of the Conservatory Garden to the blog. This is the morning of New Year's Eve. My friend and mentor Lynden B. Miller loves to quote Belgian landscape architect Jacques Wirtz as saying "A garden that is not beautiful in winter is not a beautiful garden". Clearly I couldn't agree more. Enjoy.
Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard' at the end of one of the perennial beds in the English garden at the south end of the Conservatory Garden, accompanied by the fabulous structure of oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) and other shrubs, grasses and perennials providing winter interest.
It is under a fresh snow that I most love the crabapple (Malus floribunda) allees on either side of the central Italianate garden.
For it is winter that allows you the best chance to see the bones of a garden, the mix of smart horticulture and invaluable age that makes a place like this so special.

"Three Dancing Maidens" by German sculptor Walter Schott is a sensational piece of public art easily adored in every season.




I know, I know, I post a ton of images of the Conservatory Garden. But I think it is really important that people know this is a public space in Harlem, at 105th Street and Fifth Avenue, intended for all to enjoy, and in my opinion one of the best things in Manhattan.

morning icicles

On the way to work people rush and bundle and curse under their breath. They cut each other off for a seat on the subway, or to be the first to cross the street. These people are rushing to then spend the majority of their day inside, most likely seated, idle. It's 20-something degrees outside and I am going to be in it all day. I walk slow and take photographs to try and keep myself separate from the rat race. Harlem tunnel sunrise, complete with icicles.

morning commute, dawn, hip hop headphones

"That's it
Turn the page on the day, walk away
'Cause there's sense in what I say
I'm 45th generation Roman
But don't know 'em, or care when I'm spittin'
So return to your sitting position and listen, it's fitting
I'm miles away and they chase me
Show your face on TV, then we'll see
You can't do half, my crew laughs
At your rhubarb and custard verses"

The Streets, "Turn the Page", off the must-have album Original Pirate Material