SPRING IS HERE

In these northeastern regions I inhabit, the most enchanting season of the year is undoubtedly spring. Here’s a portfolio dedicated to spring’s bursting into bloom recently in Easton CT and
New York City.

On a fair day, one of my favorite end-of-winter pastimes at our CT weekend home is to lean way back in the hammock strung between two huge oaks and gaze up at the angular display above – bare branches and limbs beneath the blue sky, with no leaves yet appearing to clutter
up the view.

And then, one day in late March, I noticed some tiny ornaments puncturing the heavenly view, and actually increasing the
pleasure offered.

As April took over, there were also stirrings in other parts of our yard. That bare stone fence, for instance, welcomed a brisk new neighbor.

Other sproutings began to occur, including these handsome hyacinths.

And with April now ensconced, say hello to the perennial forsythia.

These two immobile doggies who survived the winter together now welcomed floral neighbors – as did the tennis balls that my wife Barbara determinedly bats out to our live critters in all seasons.

More flora –

– And more.

Now it’s getting really pretty.

Here’s a grassy grouping of the smallest intruders (dandelions), while the spacious azalias sprout over our tennis court.

Nothing signals the advent of spring on our property like the blooming beauty of this handsome weeping willow.

Here’s the entire picture of what’s been going on this month.

Once more, from a different angle.

One day, I noticed a strange sight on our back deck – a whole dead fish – with our place located almost a mile from the nearest source of water. I couldn’t figure out how it got there, until . . .

. . . I noticed a speck in the sky above our big tree. Was it a plane? No. When magnified, it looks a lot like an angry bird of prey, who probably just lost his hold on the fish.

Some final shots from late April –

– including the welcome addition to the scene of the color red.

Now we’ve shifted locales to New York City, where the initial flowers I encountered were right in our living room – some beautiful orchids we’d received as gifts.

Here’s how the yellow display looked when highlighted by the rays of a vivid morning sun.

Barbara plucked some strands of colorful flora from CT, placed them in a pickle jar, and motored it down to Manhattan.

By now, the Park Avenue malls were awash in tulips. Query, though, how did that one yellow guy sneak in among the purple horde?

Heading for Central Park, I encountered one of those bike stands that abound around Manhattan, plus the indomitable vendor of hot dogs etc. who occupies a post near the Park’s Fifth Avenue entrance at 72nd Street.

Here are some of the views you see upon first entering the Park.

This blooming tree makes a good backdrop for cyclists –

– as well as for horse-and-buggies –

– and even for Flat Rate bicycle tours.

Here’s a nice park view – at least if you’re favorably inclined toward those recent spindly towers.

Now I’m heading over to one of my favorite park vistas.

It’s the statue of a Puritan father amongst the blossoms.

This is how he appears up close.

Here’s a view of a big tree – and look! – the pilgrim father’s head is right there in the crotch of the trunk (courtesy of the close-up).

We now leave the 72nd St. area with a view of this very attractive springtime sight.

My companion, Gent Zeneli, and I were driving along upper Park Avenue to our next destination when he spotted this tree-like growth seemingly sprouting right out of the big stones.

Our next destination was Central Park’s legendary Conservatory Garden, behind this entrance gate on Fifth Avenue and 105th Street.

Here are the first sights you see upon entering the Garden.

Then there’s this semicircular pergola covered in wisteria.

Here’s my favorite statue in the Garden, with the spring buds framing her lovely head and her reflection glistening in the pond.

There are plantings like this all over the garden.

Here’s what that last one looks like up close.

There are several red, white and blue patriotic offerings –

– which look like this up close –

–and better even closer.

There’s a lovely walkway leading away from the flowers, where I asked Gent to pause for a seated photo.

This is the last sight you see as you head back to the park exit.

But I couldn’t omit this arresting photo of Central Park that Barbara took from one of the Fifth Avenue apartments she’s been retained to sell.