Yellow magnolias 2

 

I recently learned that magnolias existed over 100 million years ago!

(Cretaceous period.)

They lived through the extinction of dinosaurs.

And, they are older than bees.

So, they are pollenated by beetles.

How cool is that?

These yellow magnolias are from Central Park.

They line the south edge of the lake near Cherry Hill and bloom after the white and pink magnolias do,

so, if you are a little late to the yearly party,

you can still catch them. 😉

Here’s a previous blog of yellow magnolias…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2013/04/yellow-magnolias.html

 

And here are some of pinks and whites…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2017/04/white-magnolias-at-bbg-2.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2020/04/pink-magnolias-2.html

 

Cheers!

PJ

© 2026 PJ Lehrer

Brooklyn Botanic Garden – 4/17/26

Thanks to some unseasonably warm temperatures in mid-April,  NYC had a blink and you missed it spring.

 

The Kazan cherry trees – which are the stars of the season, bloomed in only two days!

So, I did what any rational New Yorker would do – I raced over to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden before it was too late.

Since I have so many photos of the Cherry Esplanade that I’ll never be able to top,

my true goal was to catch the tulips,

which typically bloom simultaneously with the Kazans and change every year

In addition to the area near the conservatories, they are now planted in the Shakespeare Garden, and the Osborne Garden near the Eastern Parkway entrance.

Sadly, the Osborne Garden was severely damaged by this winter’s storms and the trellises are now heavily scaffolded while they do repairs. 

This unusual breed of tulip actually has multiple flowers blooming from the top of a single stem.  It’s the first time I have seen one like that.

Much to my surprise, I was greeted with a lovely scent when I arrived, because the lilacs were blooming early.  I rarely get a good shot of them – they just aren’t that photogenic – but I always shoot them anyway, just so I can enjoy the smell. 😉

Here are some previous blogs from spring at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/04/cherry-blossoms.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2013/06/brooklyn-botanical-gardens.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-touch-of-spring.html

Cheers!

PJ

 

© 2026 PJ Lehrer

Pale pink roses

 

Since I only posted one photo of the pretty pink bouquet that Edward bought me,

I figured a few more pics were called for.

And while I was at it, I pulled some more photos of pale pink roses from my archives.

These are from the Amherst roof garden.

I selected them for not only their pretty colors,

but also their pretty scent.

With so many pink varieties to choose from,

I figured why not?

I don’t think that I have ever managed to visit the NY Botanical Gardens in the Bronx during peak rose time.

Perhaps this will be the year. 😊

Here are some previous blogs of pink roses…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2015/02/pink-roses.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2022/07/pink-roses-2.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2018/03/european-roses.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/02/amherst-roses.html

 

Enjoy!

PJ

 

© 2026 PJ Lehrer

NYBG sunflowers 2

 

I was walking home from the pool this week

when I was surprised to see that a new sunflower had bloomed in a street pit on York Avenue.

We haven’t quite gone below freezing yet.

But we came close enough to melt some of the tropicals planted outside.

So, I was quite shocked.

But as they say, nature finds a way.

I figured that it was a sign that I should post a few more pics

from the exhibit at the New York Botanic Garden,

even though it wrapped up at the end of October.

I wonder if they have a few late bloomers as well.

Here is the previous post…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2025/09/sunflowers-nybg.html

Cheers!

PJ

 

© 2025 PJ Lehrer

Water lilies @ NYBG

 

When I headed to the New York Botanical Garden earlier this month to see the Van Gogh sunflower exhibit,

I thought I would also check out the water lilies and lotus blossoms since they were peaking.

This is the first chance I have had to catch them at leisure.

I have to say that I was really impressed.  Their collection is even better than the one at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Water lilies have a storied history – petals have been found in 3000-year-old Egyptian tombs.

And, the sacred lotus Nelumbo Nucifera symbolizes eternal life in Buddhism.

Then there’s Monet, who once wrote –

“It took me time to understand my water lilies.”

“I had planted them for the pleasure of it; I grew them without ever thinking of painting them.”

And they have dragonflies and koi fish too. 😊

Here are some other water lilies blogs …

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/11/water-lilies-lotus-flowers.html

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2020/11/water-lilies-2.html

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2021/09/water-lilies-3.html

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2023/08/water-lilies-4.html

 

Cheers!

PJ

 

© 2025 PJ Lehrer