Conservatory Gardens crabapple trees

The Conservatory Gardens are formal gardens in Central Park located at 5^th Avenue and 105^th Street.  There are three different themes – English, French and Italian.

 

They were part of the original park design, planted in 1937.  In the middle of this photograph, you can see the rows of crabapple trees flanking the Italian garden.  They were replaced in the mid-50’s by the ones in these photos.

By the time I got around to photographing them in 2010, 55 years later, they were truly magnificent.

Each path had a row of pink trees and a row of white trees.  When they combined it was magic.

After I saw a photo of them, I stalked them for several years until I got the shot I was looking for.  (This one.)

It was a challenge given their limited flowering season and the propensity for rain in NYC during the spring.

But I persisted.  And in a second shoot in 2021 I added some overhead shots to my collection. As you can see, the trees were massive, gracefully spilling into each other creating a dappled shaded area perfect for hanging on a hot day.

I was devasted in 2023 when I read that they had reached the end of their lifespan and would be removed and replaced.  They were only supposed to last 40-60 years, so it was time.  But I had hoped to photograph them again.

The variety selected for the new trees was Redbud Crabapple, because of their resilience.  But much to my disappointment they are all white. ☹ 

And while the 44 new trees are actually 10 years old, it’s going to take decades before they are tall enough to shade the paths again.

I will miss them.

Here’s a complete description of the restoration… 

https://www.centralparknyc.org/articles/preserving-a-masterpiece-the-next-generation-of-the-conservatory-gardens-crabapple-all%C3%A9es

 

And here are some other posts of springtime in Central Park… 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-perfect-spring-day-in-central-park.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2019/04/central-park-42719.html

 

Enjoy!

PJ

 

© 2025 PJ Lehrer

Lego Flowers

 

The stoop at East 78^th Street between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues on the Upper East Side

is a neighborhood favorite.

According to the owner of the brownstone – Kristi Hemric, Instagram: @khemric

it all started with a little flower arch to cover some scaffolding.

But now it has turned into a full-blown passion project.

Kristi and her family have been treating us to lovely displays which change with the holidays.

So of course, they are always on my list when I venture out.

This year they really outdid themselves with a LEGO flower display for Easter.

How cool is that?

I can’t wait to see what they do next. 😉

Here’s a post about yarn bombing in the Village…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2017/12/crocheted-trees-in-greenwich-village.html

 

Cheers!

PJ

 

© 2025 PJ Lehrer

Irises 2

 

I am such a big fan of bearded irises I am surprised that I haven’t posted more pics of them.

It’s probably because on my previous visits to Brooklyn Botanic Garden

they only had a bunch of blue ones blooming.  (Actually, not this variety, but this color.)

But at some point,

maybe this year,

they decided to mix it up a bit and added a bunch of different varieties to the garden.

 And, as luck would have it, I managed to time my visit perfectly.

The bees were enjoying them just as much as I was.

Check out this really exotic one.

Hopefully he likes to pollinate almonds too.

Here’s a previous blog of bearded irises, and one of Japanese irises…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/05/bearded-irises.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2014/08/japanese-irises.html

Cheers!

PJ

© 2025 PJ Lehrer