Spring, Fall

Maybe not so different after all. (Or at least that's what I tell myself in order to cheer up as I break out the corduroys.) There will be magic again soon.

Where was I? Brooklyn Botanic.

The Aristocrat, Again

I don't think I've looked on a Japanese Maple that I didn't like. This particular one is in the Japanese Garden at Brooklyn Botanic as viewed on an early evening walk this week, but I don't think I could count the number of times I've been inspired by one. (I've taken to calling them the aristocrats after Edward S. Barnard in his New York City Trees Field Book.)

Katsura Tree Buds & Magnolia Opening

This week was a good time to observe the Katsura tree buds at Brooklyn Botanic, which are unfurling and rosy-colored. The photos here are from a weeping form in the Japanese Garden.



Katsura Tree buds (Weeping Form)opening in spring, Brooklyn Botanic Japanese Garden

It was also a good time to see the earliest Magnolias starting to open. Soon Magnolia Plaza will be jammed with flowers in an almost overwhelming display, but right now those few flowers that are opening are precious.



Leonard Messel Magnolia opening. (Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel')

The Dream that is Spring

Beneath an everblooming cherry in the Japanese Garden, Brooklyn Botanic

At Brooklyn Botanic. Now.


Ants view of a Hellebore, Washington Ave garden, Brooklyn Botanic



Blooming Edgeworthia, Perennial Border, Brooklyn Botanic

Bark

We spent much of the day raking leaves in the Japanese Garden. You have to wonder, with bark and limbs like this will anyone even miss the leaves, fantastic and delicate as they are, from this Japanese Maple in winter?

On The Way Home

with some landscape design books borrowed from the BBG library in preparation for projects and design class, a quick stop in the Japanese Garden for extra inspiration in the last hour of daylight today. The sun's setting before five since we changed the clocks back, so time spent outside now in the light and good weather is starting to seem more precious again.

More fall color

in the Japanese Garden today.






















Even the conifers are in on the action here, with the Golden Larch changing to its brilliant gold before shedding its needles and even our own Pinus strobus, which is evergreen, showing some yellowing needles, and its beautiful long cones. It's not a bad week to have a rotation in the Japanese Garden.

Monday Afternoon in the Japanese Garden

Holy moly. Is that tree bloody blood red or what? The Japanese Garden is pretty spectacular any day of the year, but it's unreal right now and I don't think it's quite peak yet. And as if I needed anymore to wonder at today while sweeping up some stinko Gingko fruit, the Camellias that Brian planted this spring are blooming too.