Seedhead Sunday - 11/20/2016

Liatris 'Kobold' with Panicum 'Cheyenne Sky' at sunrise.

New York Trip-Part 2-WTC, Battery Park and a Bridge of Note

Today we're taking a look at our second full day in New York a few weeks ago. Let's get started!


After getting drenched on our first day in the city, we were both relieved when this day dawned bright and sunny. We decided to head down to lower Manhattan to see the 9/11 Memorial first, to see if we could beat the crowds. As luck would have it, our hotel just just a block from the nearest subway stop...and, for those of you who haven't been to NYC, the subway is pretty much the best thing ever...it makes traveling in the city so easy, especially once you get familiar with it.


Anyway, we popped out of the subway station right across from the new World Trade Center building (aka "Freedom Tower"), which is fronted by the gorgeous new Calatrava Transit Hub.


Norm actually hated this building...but I pretty much loved it. It's sort of organic and futuristic...and such a contrast to everything around it.


It's true beauty, however, is it's interior space...it's really stunning, almost cathedral-like.


We spent over 3 hours in the museum, which surprised me, and it was much more of an affecting experience than I had anticipated. I did take photos...but it felt almost disrespectful, so I'll just share this one, which I think sums up the experience.


After exiting the museum itself, which is mostly underground, you walk right out to the twin pools of cascading water.


Each pool occupies the space where one of the twin towers once stood.


So, while obviously not a "fun" part of our trip, I was glad we went.


After leaving the Memorial, we decided to walk the relatively short distance to Battery Park. Along the way, Norm stopped for a hot pretzel (why don't we have those in PDX?) and I spotted this elevated pocket park.


The plantings were actually quite lovely...and I liked the diagonal planting spaces. It felt very dynamic, but also, very calm.


I'm not sure if this is of any note...I just loved it.


Here we are, almost to Battery Park, looking back at 1 WTC


Battery park is a meeting ground for people waiting for tours, ferry rides and water taxis. We had originally wanted to take a water taxi or ferry, but the minimum wait was 2+ hours...which we didn't feel like doing.


While Norm walked around, trying to find a shorter line, I walked around Battery Park (designed by the Great Piet Oudolf) and took some photos.


I love Amorpha canescens...and would totally grow it if I had a bit more sun.


It was the first part of October when we visited, but, truly, it seemed like Autumn was getting a late start in NYC, things hadn't quite started turning yet. Oh...and that's Lady Liberty in the background...this is as close as we got!


Seriously, though, how fabulous are these Anemone seedheads, poking through the arching Calamagrostis!


There was a great variety of grasses, and they all glowed.


The Calamagrostis makes a nice base for 1 WTC, right?


Of course, I'm always truly envious when I see Sporobolus growing happily anywhere.


I was struck by the lovely color of this sky-blue Salvia.


Although I think I might even prefer the warm, ruddy tones of these faded Astible!


Futher away from the crowds,you could actually stroll through the garden a little more peacefully.


I was happily surprised by how many birds swarmed the gardens here...in spite of the throngs of people, they positively raided the grasses and forbs for seeds!


After another snack of roasted sugar-cinnamon almonds, we jumped on the subway again and headed off to Brooklyn, so we could walk over the famed Brooklyn Bridge, which I've wanted to do for ages.


The bridge itself is a photographers dream...just gorgeous in every way...


...but it is absolutely PACKED with people on foot and bicycle crossing. I hadn't realized just how busy it would be...and it was nearly impossible to get a shot with only a few people in it.


Still, it's a really nice walk and the view is absolutely fabulous.


Seriously...how could you pass this up?

Once across the bridge, you enter a park near city hall (the aptly named City Hall Park), which is bordered on one side by the glorious Wooldworth Building. Sadly, it was undergoing renovation, so I couldn't get a pic :-(


I hope you enjoyed this post, the next one will be dedicated to our jaunt up to the Top of the Rock for the best view in the city!

Seedhead Sunday - 11/13/2016

Self-seeded Eutrochium (Joe Pye Weed)

Seedhead Sunday - 11-06-2016

Simple, classic, elegant...Echinacea and Deschampsia FTW.

Caturday 11-5-2016

Boots wishes everyone a happy Carturday. I was hoping to get some plants moved today, but it literally just started raining...oh well...brunch it is!

New York Trip-Part 1-Museums and Central Park

So, as many of you know, Norm and I took a short trip to New York City a few weeks ago...it's actually the first vacation we've been on together in about 2 years! We can only afford one vacation a year (if that, really) and it's always hard trying to decide where to go. After months of indecision, we finally both agreed on New York City.

On our first full day in the city, it POURED the entire time...so we decided it would be out "museum" day. We started the day at The Intrepid Museum, which includes a decommissioned aircraft carrier (the namesake Intrepid), a submarine, a space shuttle and...wait for it...a Star Trek exhibit. For those of you who know Norm, you can guess why we went (hint, there are Klingons involved).


Sadly, I didn't get any photos as, again, RAIN. On next stop was the Natural History Museum, which I had been to on a previous trip. I love the Planetarium...it's so very cool.



Even little details of the structure are interesting.


The huge sphere houses the actual planetarium space...and the show is really great...if you ever visit NYC, make a point of going to the Natural History Museum, you won't be disappointed.


Of course, the museum is huge, and there are a lot of other exhibits, the dinasaurs being a personal favorite. I have to say, it's been a long time since I've been to a museum...and I was really, REALLY mortified at how people acted. It was packed, which is one thing, but, for some reason, parents just let their kids run around yelling and touching everything. People are talking loudly on their phones, it's just generally awful. I'm not sure if I've just become old and crabby...but, sheesh, I could not stand it for long.


In any case, we cut our visit a little short due to the absolute bedlam inside and headed out to the relative peace and quiet!


I kind of loved these cobbles.


Our next destination was The Metropolitan Museum of Art and possibly the Guggenheim if we had time. Luckily, it's right across Central Park...which, if you have to walk to get somewhere...it's a pleasant place to walk, right :-)


The park is full of beautiful, mature trees. Its beautifully landscaped and just a perfect place to stroll.


I love this rustic fence.


It's great to see so many people really taking advantage of the green space.


Sadly, once we got to the Met, we realized it was closing in 15 minutes...so didn't even get a chance to go inside. Sigh. That's travel, though, things don't always work out, right? Tired (both of our sore feet and people), we jumped on a bus and headed back to our hotel for some New York pizza while watching the Presidential debate (yes, we really did that)! Stay tuned for future posts on NYC, the next one will probably be about our escapades around Lower Manhattan.