Spotting Spring
Although it's almost May and it currently feels as if it could very well snow again, spring has managed to force its way into the city, slowly but surely. My daily commute includes a nearly 2.5 mile walk across Central Park, where I have been able to witness the day-by-day changes to the cherry trees, tulips, daffodils and other blooming delights.
Everything has been quite delayed due to the crazy winter we had (are still having?) and I was afraid that I would miss the best blooms while I was out of town, but we're still a few weeks away from the peak. Whenever I can get moving early enough, I walk from my apartment on the west side to my job on the east side, walking along the reservoir which is lined with cherry trees (my favorite).
If I really get an early start I have time to walk through the Conservatory Garden, and I brought my camera with me the other day in hopes that the field of tulips had started blooming. Unfortunately they were still entirely green, but the daffodils, magnolia trees and even the lilac (my favorite scent) have already made an appearance.
The Conservatory Garden is one of my very favorite spots in the park and I still haven't gotten over the fact that it's a regular stop in my morning commute. I do wish they had a bloom map like the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has for their cherry trees so I wouldn't be continually afraid that I was missing something, but there's always something nice to look at no matter when I stop by.
After leaving Central Park I still have a few east side avenues to cross before I arrive at work, and the Park Avenue tulips have just started blooming. In one median in particular there is one lone yellow flower amongst all of the bright pink ones and I make it a point to say hi to it each morning as I pass. I can't say that I'm not getting impatient for the warm weather to stick around for good, but I'm enjoying this prolonged blooming season, and I'm trying not to miss a single blossom or bud. I might never be rich enough to actually live on the park (or Park Avenue) but getting to walk through/past them each morning is pretty amazing.