Crocus

I went to the Botanic Garden to see the plants that had bloomed early. I had imagined all kinds of bulbs and blossoms springing from the ground. In fact there were mostly crocuses.

Apparently they have been in bloom since before Groundhog Day so I am a little late to the whole "global warming flowers bloom in winter" thing. The results of Groundhog day were mixed, Puxatawny Phil said six more weeks of winter, Staten Island Chuck said it was spring. Since our winter has been especially springlike, I guess they were both right.

The crocuses clustered among the trees, looking really pretty.

Anything else blooming was that hardy kind of stuff one expects to see in early spring.

The trees were getting those red and green tints that promise leaves.

The daffodils had also been up since early February and they looked a bit spent.

There was one dandelion.

Overall, everything still looked like winter. It is strange to wander around the barren landscapes in such warm weather.

Apple Store Has Not Ruined Grand Central

  
I had to go to midtown today and I am relieved to see how tasteful the new Apple store is.  Its logos are barely visible on the staircase landings and under the alcove.

I took a circuitous route to midtown, through Soho which had some lovely if monochromatic light.
 

I feel as if I am in a holding pattern. I am just wandering around taking pictures, waiting for inspiration.

Valentine's Day

My sister once had an idea to make a Valentine from the trees in Union Square. She never got around to it so this year I made one.

 

The winter has been so mild that some trees are starting to bud. I was worried that they would lose their blooms when the icy weather returns, but there has been very little of that so maybe this magnolia will be all right. The mild temperatures feel strange lasting so long.

Hunting the Light of Return in the East Village

Every February, sometime after Chinese New Year, the light shifts, it feels as if the sun has returned.

It has a bit more sparkle than January light and it lasts a little longer.

I was drawn to Alphabet City this morning, where the avenues are named after letters. Perhaps I was feeling a little nostalgia for the crusty old days when this neighborhood was dangerous.
 

Maybe it was the Youtube video I saw of Madonna singing "Express Yourself" when she was young and plush. The blogosphere has been carrying on about her since the Superbowl (too old?, still fabulous?, whatever). This one post, which was kind of fun, had the clip. I realized that Madonna was often on the soundtrack of my youth. I hadn't noticed at the time.

February light is particularly kind to plastic sheeting.

Like the rest of New York, Alphabet City is now quite civilized, only the community gardens seem to remember a wilder time. La Plaza Cultural has massive willow trees,

winter flowers by Rolando,

and a sailboat riding waves of rags.

In the afternoon, on my patio, I noticed that the cracks in the fence were acting like pinholes, creating a pattern of lacy light.

I think circles of confusion might be involved.

Down This Road Before

I haven't been doing a lot of art recently.  An old friend of the family died and I am dealing with the formalities of his passing, as well as a fair amount of grief.

I find that I am revisiting places in different light.

The morning light sets the mood for the day.

I just like the colors in this picture. The graffiti is Kenny Scharf.