Galway Illuminated

 

This month’s piece from the Illuminated Ireland series features a photo of Galway.

It’s a college town full of life and fun.  And the oysters were to die for.  Here’s the original photo…

The letter “G” drawing…

And the collage.

Another photo of the final version.

Here are links to the other pieces from the Illuminated Ireland series…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2026/01/glendalough-illuminated.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2026/02/kilkea-rose-embroidery.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2026/03/craggaunowen-illuminated.html

 

And, here are some other previously posted embroideries…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2014/06/embroidery-wisteria.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/03/fighting-fish-orchids.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2025/01/embroidery-world-trade-center-butterfly.html

Cheers!

PJ

 

© 2026 PJ Lehrer

Flowering trees on Park Avenue South

 

Park Avenue South has a variety of different kinds of flowering trees,

which means the avenue is in bloom for a few weeks each spring.

On this visit I caught a little bit of everything.

But, it’s always a bit tricky photographing there because of the constant stream of traffic.

Still, it is worth it for the money shot. 😉

To provide a bit more incentive to visit,

 they have yearly outdoor art shows

This year it’s “Fragile Giants” by Michel Bassompierre.

They’ll be on display until May 11th, so there’s still time to see them.

The flowering trees won’t last that long though.

Here are some previous blogs from spring in Manhattan…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2021/04/spring-flowers-on-ues.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2022/05/park-avenue.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2013/04/spring-in-hood.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2013/04/spring-in-hood-part-2.html

Cheers!

PJ

© 2026 PJ Lehrer

Yoshinos at Central Park: 4/4/26

We've had so much warm weather this spring, that the Yoshino cherry trees in Central Park bloomed early.

Needless to say, a trip to the park to check them out was in order.

I went by Park Avenue on the way over, but saw only one blooming tree – so far.

 Meanwhile the view of the park from 72^nd and Madison was almost as pretty as it was during the white out in December.

That’s because Olmsted and Vaux had the foresight to plant a bunch of Yoshino cherry trees at the entrance to the park on 5^th Avenue.

I love those guys.

Also blooming were the white magnolias.

At 8 am on a beautiful Saturday morning.

Central Park was definitely the place to be.

Before the park got even more crowded, and the skies clouded up.  😊

Here are some more pics of spring in Central Park…

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

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2023/03/almost-spring-in-central-park.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2023/04/central-park-4123.html

Cheers!

PJ

 

© 2026 PJ Lehrer

Central Park Okame trees – 3/31/26

 

When I saw that the forsythia in Central Park was blooming,

I knew it was time to head over to start enjoying spring.

I decided to start the season by going to the Upper West Side to check out the Okame cherry trees.

They bloom from 86^th Street to 96^th Street, across the reservoir from the Guggenheim Museum.

The view of them with the El Dorado in the background is a NYC classic.

Despite groundhog predictions, we’re actually having an early spring.

Some years I have to wear long undies when I photograph spring trees in the park.

This year – t-shirt weather!

But it’s a double-edged sword.  Heat means that the flowering trees and spring flowers won’t last long.

Don’t dawdle or you might miss the show!

Here are some previous blogs from spring 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-41019.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2021/04/41121-spring-in-central-park-2021.html

Cheers!

PJ

© 2026 PJ Lehrer