Most of the lessons learned in drawing class were about viewing life and interpreting it through our own fingers. After hours upon hours of figure drawing of people young and old alike, one comes to appreciate every wrinkle, scar, and blemish as beautiful interruptions on the human landscape.
I love gardens - true gardens - for the same reason. I love seeing before everything fills in, when old growth is coming back and as green shoots nudge out of the ground. Park Slope this past week was a chance for me to take a nice afternoon stroll and get a preview of what is to come. Bare trees were just beginning to sprout leaves. People were hard at work digging up stumps and cleaning up in preparation for this year’s plantings.
Ivy, ginger, shrubs and early-flowering perennials were already out. Hostas were just tightly wound coils in the dirt. A peony was waking from its slumber and stretching its wine-red tendrils. It is hard to believe it will be a full-flowering plant in the coming months.
Did you know that April is National Gardening Month? Neither did I. But it is, and there are some nice events happening that are being planned up until the end of April, including this event happening on the 29th in Union Square along side the GreenMarket. The National Gardening Association is responsible for it all, and they also have a great website.
If you are downtown on this coming rainy Saturday, be sure to not miss the final weekend of the Macy’s Flower Show. I have not visited it in years and am hoping to get there at the last minute on Sunday. It’s a great way to kill two birds with one stone (shopping and flowers). Also, the Union Square that is mentioned is in San Francisco, not NYC. At first I was racking my brains trying to think of where it was in relation to the B&N or the Filene’s Basement :)
Next, the Rockefeller Center Orchid Show is going on this weekend! Another great place to look and shop. Especially if the weather is not so great on Saturday.
- Matt N.
Loved the slideshow and what color, particularly when you view all the photos together -- beautiful!
beautiful photos, thanks for sharing! i love the colors of spring, so hopeful and uplifting. #28 and #29 are my favorites.
I love the muscari pictures. My favorite is picture/slide 3, which shows up at number 21 of 29.
Thanks for sharing! I feel like i've just taken a walk myself!
Hello,
I am in agreement with Guido, though, Park Slope is not yet 'popping'. After another walk two days ago, I saw even more beautiful spaces right along Prospect Park. There is so much packed into this neighborhood. I just hoped that I could plant the idea of a weekend stroll in peoples' minds for when the truly warm weather rolls through. Park Slope is beautiful, full of front yard gardens and great places to grab some food.
The day I went for a walk I was even INVITED IN to see backyard gardens by some very friendly brownstone owners. Some of the shots of of their plants and trees. Also met a wonderful couple who were just finishing pulling out some massive old stumps from their newly-cleared front garden.
Hey Guido - if you're out there - when would you recommend as the optimal time to go out walking in The Slope? Any food recommendations??
matt, lovely photos as always. i so agree about watching things come back each year. i have a small urban garden in chestnut hill pa(part of philadelphia)and for me it's such a rush each time something starts growing again that i've planted in the past. the neighborhood prides itself on it's gardens and i imagine it to be like park slope in that way. if you're ever nearby i highly recommend bringing your camera. you will not be disappointed.
Dear Matt,
I am newly inspired by your thoughts on gardening!
I do hope that you were able to come by the NYC Grows Garden Festival in Union Square on April 29th that was the highlight event for National Garden Month!
It was really quite amazing.
As I always tell my friends, if you need any gardening information or inspiration, just visit www.garden.org!
Rose