Costello's Planters

Some readers ask me if I will ever run out of things to write.

Honestly, I don't think I will. Every day is filled with brand new exciting discoveries (I have a whole list of things waiting to be written about!!).

Like today, when I saw this video on the Eyewitness News website:




about a man named Costello who beautifies his neighborhood on West 102nd Street by planting exquisite flowers boxes around the trees, as well as elaborately decorating the front doorways of his building and others.

(if you can't see the video, go to the original article).

And I absolutely had to check it out.

So I trekked all the way uptown to 102nd street...

Wow!!! The planters were even more beautiful than the video!

(Maybe because it was sunny when I went, and the video was taken on a cloudy, rainy day).

I so wish I could live on this block!!

Whoever you are, Costello, I think your work is wonderful.

I love how you add beauty to the normally mundane city streets.

I'm all for that, you know.

Adding beauty where you least expect it, that is.

And can it get any better than this?!

I mean, you even put fountains outside your building's front entrance!

Lucky neighbors.

Keep up the awesome work, Costello!

Maybe you'll make your way down to my block someday.
That would be amazing.

P.S. Check out this great album filled with pictures from 102nd street. But I strongly suggest checking it out in person... it's so much better in real life.

Tens of Thousands of Tulips

I went to the Conservatory Garden in Central Park today...


It looks like a fairyland.

Credit: www.centralparknyc.org

I actually believe it is one.

Credit: www.centralparknyc.org

It is probably the best known secret spot in New York City.

Credit: newyorksightseeingtours.wordpress.com

I sat on a quiet bench, book in hand...

...smelling the sweet scent, listening to the birds chirp.
The Ultimate Relaxation.


Just take a walk through its romantic gardens,



so precisely trimmed,

and cared for to the tiniest detail.

Six acres of flowers...

each one more beautiful than the next.

Stroll through the exquisite allées...

of spring-blooming pink and white crabapple trees.

Turn a corner and there you see,



tens of thousands of tulips,

and even more tulips.

When you walk past the Vanderbilt Gate...

credit: www.centralparknyc.org

...you enter into a whole new world.


Check out The Conservatory Garden for location and hours.

Look at the Buds!

Finally.

I've been waiting all winter for this!

Back in November, I wrote about the beautiful Fall foliage. But that only lasted a few weeks. Once they all fell onto the ground, turned into brown mush, and got swept away by the rain and wind, I've been seriously missing the greenery.

These bare trees just don't do it for me.

They're just so depressing, standing up there all spindly and empty.

A few days ago I started to notice...

BUDS!!!!!

Yes, I'm that excited. (I don't think I ever grew up).

Has Spring sprung? I don't think it has quite yet, but it sure looks like it's coming soon.

We've made progress - check out what I noticed today on Broadway:

And in Queens:

I get a lot of strange looks when I go around snapping pictures of trees. 

One of my favorite parts about Spring are the beautiful yellow daffodils that emerge. I started seeing evidence of their imminent arrival in some planters around my neighborhood today:

The earth is waking up! And now that we have a whole extra hour of daylight, we can make the most of the beautiful weather and finally spend some more time outdoors. 

I'm looking forward to the flowers.

What an awesome world we live in.

Happy Spring!

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Update 3/15

Just saw this yesterday!

Beautiful Fall Foliage

Fall has finally arrived! The leaves are changing colors and falling off the trees, getting ready for the cold winter months ahead.

I absolutely love experiencing the changing seasons here in New York - there is a certain charm about the first leaves off the trees, the first snow storm, the first daffodils peeking out of the ground, and the first day of pure, warm sunshine and a bright blue sky.

I took a walk through Central Park this past Friday, and I got to experience the majestic colors that are out in full force. Allow me to share some of my experiences with you:

I absolutely love the contrast of a huge tree against a pale blue sky with a beautiful building peeking through the branches.

 I saw this on my walk over to Central Park. I just love how the purple leaves hang off the iron bars and cast beautiful shadows on the grey building.

I see this tree every year and always find it so charming sitting there all alone, so skinny and seemingly forlorn, yet covered in leaves of such a fantastic pale yellow color.

As I walked towards the Bridal Path where I took my walk, I noticed some beautiful colors by the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir...

The water was such an enchanting bright blue that day. And across the reservoir was a cluster of trees in various majestic hues.

Another view of the reservoir...

Along the Bridal Path - These carefully manicured lawns with trees seem to be spray painted just the right color to bring out even the smallest detail.

 Sadly, because of the early snow storm last weekend, Central Park lost over 1000 trees.

 Another tree contrasted against the sky and a building peeking through its branches (now can you see that I love this type of image?)

This is my favorite picture by far! It's the "other side of the reservoir" that I displayed above. Look at the colors! The beautiful, striking, amazing colors!

How unbelievably amazing it is that we have trees that change colors! It makes life so interesting and exciting. What an incredible world we live in.

And finally...

Credit: www.centralparknyc.org

If you can get out to see this in real life, please do! If you have any pictures to share, please send them in and I'll be glad to post them.

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Here are some stunning images sent in by a friend of her backyard. Thanks!!!!

"The Jungles of West 28th Street"

At 5:00am, as early morning deliveries are made to stores all over NYC, a special load of merchandise is delivered on West 28th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

FLOWERS! 

I was going to write all about the Flower District in my next post, but my favorite blogger did it for me!

Check out this AWESOME description of the New York City Flower District:

"The Jungles of West 28th Street - Exploring NY's Flower District"


And check out his website while you're at it. He has really fantastic posts about secrets hidden in plain sight in New York City.

Flowers... on a roof?!

A few nights ago, I made my way downtown to the Financial District. I was on a mission to discover a secret hideaway, built for New Yorkers seeking to escape the overwhelming noise of the city streets.

What I found was The Elevated Acre, located at 55 Water Street. 

Allow me to take you on a tour.

First, you must find the hidden staircase.

Credit: www.55Water.com

Ride the escalator or take the stairs up to the top. When you get there, you will see this:

Credit: www.55water.com

You have entered into a world of beauty, filled with flowers and greenery, overlooking the East River with magnificent views of the Brooklyn Bridge and beyond.

A view from the other side:

Credit: www.55Water.com

The landscaping is gorgeous! As I walked around, I noticed yellow daisies peaking out from behind some bushes. I felt like I was in a royal garden.

At night, a 50 foot LED light sculpture entitled "The Beacon of Progress," lights up the plaza. 

credit: www.NYTimes.com

On the other side, there is a huge lawn with "year round grass" (i.e. fake grass that looks remarkably real).

Credit: www.elevatedacre.com

The night I was there, I saw a young couple relaxing on the grass and enjoying each other's company. They looked like they had just gotten out of work.

If you are in the neighborhood, I encourage you to check it out! The Elevated Acre is minutes away from The South Ferry subway station, Staten Island Ferry and Battery Park. It is also on the same block as the Police Museum and the beautiful Vietnam Veterans Memorial (both of which will be detailed in coming posts).

Check out http://www.elevatedacre.com/ for more information.

Additional pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cwofford/sets/1214929/

The Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street is open Daily: May 1 through Sept. 30, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Oct 1 through April 30, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Free Admission (!)