Wednesday, April 07, 2010

April 4th: Fort Tryon Park

This year I missed the season when the heather in Fort Tryon Park reigned alone in the garden.  Last Saturday it may have no longer been alone, but it still held its own beautifully against the daffodils, pansies and flamboyant trees that were starting to bloom.  In the rest of the park, where things are left to be more foresty and wild-looking, some unknown-to-me yellow bush was starting to explode all over the place, looking like it might set the bare trees on fire.  Yellow was the dominant color throughout, and its effects as a mood elevator were pretty clear.  Combine this with long vistas, open sky, and bird song that almost drowned out the hum of the Westside Highway, and you have a good antidote for my Urban Brain Frenzy (UBF).  Is SO a disease.  Well, you wouldn't want to be around me during an attack.  Ask my local friends.  Oh, the whinging, the snarling, the snapping. 


I have a deep fondness for the George Washington Bridge, not only because it often is the escape route to some nice places (and yes, there are some very nice places in Jersey, you snobs), but I also just think the bridge itself is pretty.  And when looking from Fort Tryon Park, I even find the South Bronx rather pretty.  Amazing what trees and some distance can do to my outlook. 


Can anyone tell me what this bush is?  It's everywhere, and I love it. 

Sorry if the image on the right stirs up a wee bit of vertigo, but I liked the composition better at a slight angle. 


10 comments:

Jeff said...

Looks a bit like the forsythia my parents grew out back in their old house!

Tom T said...

A second vote for forsythia. Winter jasmine is probably the only other possibility, but it would have bloomed earlier and doesn't have the overtaking habit of forsythia.

Joe Masse said...

I used to buy forsythia in huge budded bunches at the 28th street flower market. They'd explode with blossoms galore ("enough," heh) once in a vase.

Lovely pinks. Can purple be far behind?

MindyM said...

Yes it is forsythia, it is beautiful. So are your pictures. It is nice here in the midwest as well. Just cant see Jersey from here.

Birdie said...

I can't believe I actually know the name of a plant. And that four people beat me to it. We have them in our yard. The plants, not the people.

Testy, are we, about UBF?

Those curves in the path just beckon to follow, don't they? I can't wait to see what's around the bend. Try and keep up.

Unknown said...

Oh Patrick...thank you for the beautiful pictures....
I just can't wait to be back in the city and walking in those parks! I hope you'll be able to join me very soon....
(and thank you for the quick defense of New Jersey xo)

Greg said...

Forsythia for the win! Been a fan of the GW Bridge since I was old enough to know we shared initials.

Thanks for the lovely photos, and good luck with that UBF - Fort Tryon looks like the perfect tonic for what ails you.

Eric said...

Everyone else has said it, so I will too. It's forsythia!!!!!

Rev. AJB said...

I've always loved the GW! I'm kind of a bridge affectionado.

Dolphin said...

I agree with the thronging masses who said forsythia. :) Wild violets are my favorite flower and your pictures are wonderful. I agree, they really make one want to roll around in them. I'm sure they were grateful that you only remained alongside though.

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