Malus floribunda and snow

This Japanese flowering crabapple tree is one of the largest, if not the largest of it's species in Central Park. Planted during the original installation of the Conservatory Garden which opened in 1937, this beautiful specimen is at least 75 years old, if not a few years older. ...and clearly fabulous in every season.

another sunwashed morning

I just can't get enough of these bright mornings with that low sun. In this case I really love the glowing lamp post. ...that little taste of city in an otherwise natural shot.

The First Taste: Galanthus #1

If you are a New Yorker you know how much snow we have contended with these last months and it's reluctance to dissipate, especially in the shadier parts of the garden. Mid-week the temperatures reached the 60's and finally we began to see some ground for the first time since December. People began to come out of their offices and classrooms excited to shed the extra layers and eat their lunches basking in the sun and the premature warm spell. Coworkers and fellow horticultural minds spoke of their first floral sightings for the new year. I had yet to see the first signs myself, and then I spotted this white speck at the base of a fabulous old Cornus mas while excavating another buried staircase. Upon closer inspection I realized I had finally had my first sighting for 2011, in the form of a perfect solitary little Galanthus.
Galanthus are commonly called snowdrops. As I have mentioned before, there are basically two kinds of snowdrops that we see in the northeast landscape this time of year. Both Eurasian species in the Amaryllidaceae family the quick ID characteristic are the green spots on the inner petals of the tiny, pendulous white flowers. This guy having two green markings means he is likely Galanthus elwesii and not his close relative, the one-spotted Galanthus nivalis. Galanthus elwesii is also known for it's more glaucous leaves, meaning they have more of a waxy coating to them. Lastly as you can see in these closer shots the opposite leaves are folded inside the other which can be another ID characteristic as you begin to train your botanical eye. Galathus nivalis is quite similar looking but upon closer inspection you will see those leaves are still slightly glaucous but flatter in nature, without the overlap you see among G. elwesii. So there you go, your horticultural factoid of the day.

Thanks to my dear friend Sarah Carter Roberts as well as the great reference book Bulbs by Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix, copyright Random House, 1989)

Bees!

On a woodland slope in Central Park one of my favorite late winter bloomers is once again coming to life. Hamamelis vernalis is commonly called winter witchhazel, a fabulous medium-sized native shrub and the latest of the North American Hamamelis species to bloom.

Every year I seem to take the same shots of these first shrubs and bulbs to throw some color into the late winter landscape. And so as I was approaching my reliable friend for the "hort porn" macro shots I thought to myself, "how can I change it up this year and make these more interesting". Not that the shrub and it's unique spidery flowers aren't amazing in their own right, but you might know what I'm talking about. Well, luckily for me nature stepped in and decided to rock my world. Bees!

As I sniffed the medicinal fragrance that I have come to love about this plant I heard the buzzing. Pulling back I realized the witchhazel was loaded with bees doing their wild dance among the clusters of yellow and maroon flowers. The first bee sighting of the year my focus quickly shifted to these magnificent little pollinators. A few great shots came from the series. Remember, the more native species you incorporate into your garden the more you also support and provide for local bird and insect populations, all good things.

Enjoy, and Happy Almost Spring!

I think this one might take the cake:

(love the sun glowing through the bee's abdomen!)

For more info on Hamamelis visit last years post here.

it begins

We made it to late winter. The weather gave us a few freak days in the 60's and it did wonders for the psyche and for the garden. At the start of the week I uncovered some small barberry pinned down by the snow and ice. Today I looked underneath the line of rounded shrubs and found these guys. Galanthus are commonly called snowdrops and for good reason. As the last masses of snow finally melt and dissipate these fabulous little late winter bulbs waste no time reminding us that spring is just around the corner. Well, a month and two days but who's counting?!?

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)

Tonight's Wine Selection

When I met my now wife I learned quickly about her love of all things Malbec. These years later we have discovered an organic Argentinian wine that we love. Oko I.P. Mendoza Malbec (2009) rings in at about $12 and is a great go-to vino the next time you have a date night, throw together a good tomato sauce or just need a drink. The label boasts aromas of plum, spice, and red fruit with hints of mocha. I am no wine connoisseur, I don't know about all that stuff, I just know the price is right and it never lets us down. So cheers,



(oh, and the snazzy wood siding and wallpaper is a mini glimpse into our killer new kitchen. more pics to come soon)

February, at dusk

the sunsets and sky and clouds have been sensational this month, I just can't help myself

Pic of the Day: Sun Sliver

For a brief moment in the morning the sun beams through the buildings along Fifth Avenue creating a spotlight on the Wisteria covered pergola in the central section of the Conservatory Garden in Central Park. What a fabulous visual, fleeting, no photoshop required.

(this is a test, my first foray into the world of mobile blogging action - let's hope it's the start of many good things to come! Cheers, aef)

Pic of the Day: Sunrise in Queens

I'm definitely having way too much fun with my new iPhone 4. My first plunge into the world of the "smart phone" and I gotta admit I'm buying the hype. This thing is awesome. Starting the new commute to work, Queens, 6:40am.

Pic of the Day: the new view