Toad Lilies!

My toad lilies are blooming and it is so very exciting. They are my favorite flower in the garden, and I was afraid that they wouldn't bloom.  Hopefully they'll come back next year.

These were the first two, but right now there are many buds ready to bloom, and I can't wait!

Airplanes in the Sky

We live under a flight path--either planes taking off from JFK or landing at La Guardia--I can't tell which.  There's something I really like about pictures of planes in the sky. I love flying: you are completely untethered to anything that is touching the ground. It fascinated me as a kid, but now I just think it's fun--I'm sure the whole "destination" part of it helps, too!

Hawks in Jackson Heights

Look who was outside our window this morning!
I had to wake up early today, and was very excited to see a hawk twelve feet from our window chomping on (what used to be) a pigeon.  He hung out for a while while we took pictures, but then looked warily at us, and as soon as the cats saw him and started chirping (yes, they do that) he took his meal and flew down the road.  Which was a good thing, because I needed to stop staring and get ready for work. Hopefully he'll be here to stay--there's certainly a large enough food supply!

Encased in Ice

I am fascinated by the ice covering every available surface. The trees are so beautiful, but I still have no desire to go back outside!  Mason doesn't like the weather; he slipped and fell while walking down the street.  It was adorably pitiful, but now he's warm, sleeping by the space heater. The cats are also fighting for my lap. 

Snowpocalypse, Part II

I liked this snowstorm because there was no wind, so all of the snow built up on the tree branches, or wherever it fell.   It makes for an ethereal wonderland!

The above photo is our car.  Needless to say, we won't be driving anywhere anytime soon!

Snow Clouds

Some close up pictures of the snow we had last night. It seems the world is back to normal, the predictions far exceed the actual snowfall (apparently there was a 100% chance of snow until 7pm today, even though the sun was out most of the day).  I like them because they look like clouds in the sky.

Blizzard

Last night every single car that drove down our street got stuck in the snow.  It was a constant chorus of spinning tires and gusting wind until an ambulette got stuck down the block and then no one could get through. There are still abandoned cars on every block; some halfway parked, others in the middle of the street, and I haven't seen a snowplow yet.  I don't think they can get through.  It definitely makes for a surreal winter wonderland!

Nighttime

 I love nighttime summer rains.  It makes these hot, humid days worthwhile.  I also like the way the trunk stays completely still and in focus, while the branches get whipped around in the wind. Some even more than others.  And the streetlights make the trunks glow.

Leaves

I love the trees on our street.  I do, however, miss baby quail season.

Warm Days!

There are a lot of great old trees in our neighborhood (on which I've expounded previously) and, having spent most of my life in Arizona (where the seasons are hot and less hot), I get excited about watching the seasons change.  Usually these changes occur gradually: the leaves turn and fall throughout the autumn months, and they grow ever so slowly during the spring.  This past week, however, has been an absolute explosion of springtime.  This is what the tree in front of our house looked like on Sunday afternoon:

And these photos were taken yesterday:

It's been so exciting, especially because I'm not stuck in a dreary office all day; I can actually enjoy the weather.  I know this is just a tease, and we're in for two months of rain and those few and far between taunting warm days, but this was a nice reminder that winter really doesn't last forever.

almost there

Snow Trees

I got back from Arizona and it turned into a winter wonderland here. I love the snow trees.  Now it's sunny and all the snow is melting--but there are icicles everywhere! 

This is an ivy-covered tree:

Some of these trees are the same as the ones in this post. Check it out if you are so inclined.

Trees

I've been photographing the trees in the neighborhood when I walk in the morning. I remember moving in to our house and being amazed at how many trees are growing along the streets--There weren't supposed to be trees in New York, but we live in Jackson Heights: the 'garden city.' All of the gardens are behind locked gates, but we still get to enjoy the trees:

This one has lichen growing up the trunk.

And this one has ivy.

This one's in an off-limits-to-the-public garden.

(but we still get to peek)

I love this photo because the Coned Guy was

talking on his cell phone and looked really bored.

The trees here are magnificent--And all the rain we've gotten this year has made for an explosion of moss and lichen all over their trunks. I tend to walk the same way every day because there are so many beautiful prewar buildings with community gardens and well maintained grounds. I notice something new every time, and I enjoy the architecture and gardens.