Pretty... scary

No, I'm not talking about the election, though it is pretty scary. I am talking about the current exhibits at the New York Botanical Garden. It is around 80 degrees in New York City today, and since Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Garden and Scarecrows & Pumpkins are only on display until the end of the month, I decided to take the morning off and go visit (before the weather turns cold and rainy).

Here are some of my favorite photos from today's outing.

Nature is amazing! (Lily edition)

I've been meaning to get to the New York Botanical Garden all summer. But I didn't make it there until this morning. Only to discover that not a lot blooms in August. Except for water lilies and daylilies (and lotus flowers).

But as you can see from my photos, below, the daylilies, water lilies (or Nymphaeaceae) and lotus flowers currently on display at the New York Botanical Garden are lovely -- and well worth a visit. In fact, they attracted quite a few visitors, of the human and insect variety. (I was particularly enamored with that little blue dragonfly, below, with the big green eyes, which was quite enamored with a certain lotus flower.)

Note: To see the flowers -- and insects -- more clearly, click on each photo to enlarge it. (Then click on the back button to return to the post.)

And that, son, is how flowers are made.

Orchidelirium at the New York Botanical Garden

As longtime readers of this blog know, I am a huge fan (and member) of the New York Botanical Garden. And one of my favorite seasonal events at the New York Botanical Garden is the orchid show, which runs from the end of February through the middle of April.

After missing last year's show, I was eager to catch this year's orchid show, titled Orchidelirium. And it did not disappoint.

Here are some of my favorite photos from this year's show. (One of these days I'll get a book on orchids so I can properly identify the different types.) Enjoy!

Bonus photo: As I was walking through the orchid show, I spied this sign, "Please do not touch the plants," in the center of some very prickly cacti, and just sighed. (It is sad that the garden had to even put up that sign, but you know there was a probably a good reason.)

A visit to the New York Botanical Garden

Two of my favorite things to do are walking on the beach, looking for shells, and strolling through gardens, photographing flowers.

This weekend I indulged in the latter -- taking the spouse with me to visit the New York Botanical Garden (one of my favorite gardens, and places) to check out what was blooming, as well as view the new Frida Kahlo exhibit, which we both recommend.

(Just don't go on a weekend, if you can help it. We waited on line for an hour to see the dozen or so Frida Kahlo paintings and drawings on exhibit, which we were allowed maybe 10 minutes to view.)

While we enjoyed looking at Kahlo's paintings, which heavily feature nature, viewing real live nature, specifically flowers, was the main reason we went to the New York Botanical Garden. And walking the grounds, you really got the sense that spring was finally here -- a feeling I wanted to capture with my camera.

And I think these three photos, of irises and poppies, really give you the sense of spring emerging from the bleak winter landscape.

Irises I

Poppies

Irises II

UPDATED: Decided to throw in a shot of the glorious Alliums, which look like something out of Dr. Seuss.

You can view more of my flower photos here.

A great way to spend a summer's day...

is to take a stroll through a beautiful garden. Such as the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. One of my favorite places on earth.

I hadn't been to the New York Botanical Garden this year and wanted to see the roses in the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden before they all wilted. And I made it just in time! Here are some of my favorites. (I apologize for not knowing or noting their names.)

Aren't they lovely?

I also strolled through the Ladies' Border, where I saw some gorgeous blue, purple, and white irises...

And I gazed upon the water lilies at the Enid Haupt Conservatory...

Ah... bliss!

Flower Power

After countless days of rain and being stuck indoors, I decided to play hooky yesterday and go to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. In particular, I wanted to check out the new Wild Medicine exhibit, which discusses the healing power of plants. (Just visiting the New York Botanical Garden always makes me feel better. There's something incredibly soothing about walking among all the beautiful flowers on a sunny day and taking photographs.)

The Wild Medicine exhibit was very educational. However, this sign midway through the exhibit -- which I captioned "This way to the marijuana!" -- may have been the highlight of the exhibit for me.

Note: While the Garden provided demonstrations and samples of many of the plants in the Wild Medicine exhibit, they were not forthcoming with the marijuana or ephedra, nor did they provide munchies in between the exhibits. Bummer.

Actually, the main reason I went to the New York Botanical Garden yesterday was to visit the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden before the bloom was off the rose, so to speak.

As it happens, I got there just in time, as you can see from my photos.

Moses supposes his toeses are roses,
But Moses supposes erroneously,
For Moses he knowses his toeses aren't roses,
As Moses supposes his toeses to be!

(That last photo, of these gorgeous peach and pink roses, is my favorite.)

If only I could have likewise captured the smell inside the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden, too. (I am not a fan of perfume, but the scent in the garden was heavenly.)

I also managed to catch the last of the irises....

Purple haze was in my brain,
lately things don't seem the same,
actin' funny but I don't know why
'scuse me while I kiss the sky.

 And it is waterlily season...

Sigh, I wish I was there right now.

If you live in or near New York City, or plan on visiting this summer, I highly recommend a trip to the New York Botanical Garden. I know I'll be back.