Central Park NY at Christmas

Central Park in Manhattan New York, where urban culture meets and mixes with nature, is one of the most visited urban parks in the world. 

A visit in mid December and it is still ebbing and flowing with life and natural beauty. 

The trees stand tall and bare now, but that just shows off the starkness of nature against the backdrop of urban skyscrapers. 

It is an intriguing mix.

The whole park is framed by the city and as the December sun shines, the remaining leaves on the trees and the fallen autumn leaves give a beautiful bronze sheen to a now barren landscape. 

Squirrels scarper down from the trees, they are clearly used to being fed! 

The ice rink is busy ready for the holidays and brightens up the landscape to a festive mood of fun and enjoyment. Horses and carriages parade the parameters leisurely carrying visitors in the crisp December chill. 

Wander along a little further and there is a wonderful Christmas Market on the edge of the park, brimming with a medley of arts and crafts and street foods from all over the world. 

Perfect for some festive shopping. 

Trees glisten in a natural copper haze against the glass of the buildings as you head towards it; they almost beckon you to come along and enjoy yourself. 

A most enchanting place to be on a crisp and sunny December day. 

Last Days of Autumn

The Last Days of Autumn

November and we saw the last of autumn, 

Reds, russets, browns and golds. 

The tree's glorious goodbye,

Before winter falls.

Late autumn sun on the mountains and trees,

Blue skies, fluffy sailing clouds.

In what is now a cool, crisp,

And winter warning Breeze. 

Mosses, so green in summer, 

turned now to a bronze shimmer.

Ready to transform themselves to a protective brown,

As winter's onslaught gives a glimmer.

The last of the fairies toadstools,

Standing tall and bright in the mossy light.

But, like the swifts and the swallows,  

Fairies have disappeared long ago for the long winter night.

Trees stand tall in their barrenness grandeur,

Leaves now all lost at Autumn's end.

Not gone yet though,

They trickle leisurely like a stream,

Until the gales of winter descend.

We will wake in the morning to wintertime,

As the pale twilight of autumn disappears.

As though he knows his own and rightful place,

A robin in all his bright glory suddenly and gently just appears.

©KAGraham

The Floating Flower Market Amsterdam

Autumn is a lovely time to take a stroll through the Bloemenmarkt in Amsterdam. It is a very colourful attraction and the only floating flower market in the world. It is supposed to be interesting during all seasons and in October when we visited there was an unbelievable selection of tulip bulbs on display.

There is a vast array of other bulbs too including narcissus, plus green and flowering plants, bouquets of colourful flowers and ... wait for it ...shush, quiet ... cannabis seeds and growing kits. It seems a bit surreal as cannabis is illegal here in the UK, but not in Amsterdam, the strong aromas of cannabis were everywhere! 

The flower stalls stand on floating barges on the Singel Canal, remnants from times past when the flowers and bulbs used to be brought from the surrounding countryside into Amsterdam each day by boat. The market was first held in 1862. 

It is rather a feast of bright colours, not only from the flower and plant stalls, but from all the endless displays of seed packets, bags of bulbs and souvenirs. The stalls are packed full of it all and lots of bric a brac and momentoes of Amsterdam. 

I rather liked the bouquets of brightly coloured wooden tulips and treated myself to some, I'm always enticed when it comes to a souvenir or two! I bought myself a colourful bag of tulip bulbs too. I thought they may be a beautiful reminder in spring of this special trip to Amsterdam when they flower, my first time on an aeroplane just one year post heart and lung transplant! 

Little narrow streets entice you to have a wander across from the market: they are full of cafes, coffee shops, cheese shops and yes there is even a Christmas shop! And yes I was tempted to buy a few Christmas decorations too! 

After a lovely browse, it was time to sit with a latte and just watch the world go by through the view of an orchid: happy days! 

The Tower of London Poppies

Most garden plants are dying back now, but it wasn't difficult for me to think of a flower that signifies November, especially having had a recent trip to the Tower of London to see 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' display, which marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Of course, I'm thinking about the poppy. 

I'm thinking of ceramic poppies too and this breathtaking display that has now more or less filled the moat at the Tower of London. It is both spectacular and moving. While we were visiting it was the half term school holidays and whilst it was extremely busy it was especially emotional to see parents and grandparents with their children talking and explaining about the First World War. I expect it will be always something they will remember and help them in remembering our heroes of war. I know I will. 

It is reported that nearly four million people have visited the Tower of London to see the poppies and it has been so popular that there are demands to extend the display beyond Armistice Day, after which the poppies will be dismantled to be forwarded on to the thousands of people who have purchased them. It is hoped that excess of fifteen million will be raised for charity. 

The installation of the poppies began in August and has evolved each week, with the final poppy being added on the 11th November. By this time there will be 888,246 poppies filling the moat to represent each and every one of those soldiers, who gave everything to bring us peace. It has drawn unprecedented crowds to the Tower of London. 

The ode of remembrance is taken from the poem 'For the Fallen' by Binyan and the phrase 'Lest we forget' is often added as a final line. I think the poppies at the tower have become a very poignant reminder of the men who have served our country in the great war and from the crowds that have gathered they are certainly not forgotten. 

A Special Time of Year and Michaelmas Daisies

October and it is time for the michaelmas daisies to flower in my garden. It is a hardy perennial, its latin name is 'aster' and it has a similar look to a daisy with its yellow centre and fine petals. The flowers look star shaped and bloom in clusters. 

The plant grows between 20cm and 50cm high and its dark green leaves give a good contrast to its lilac flower heads. They can flower between July and October. Mine start growing tall over the summer and come into bud during September. In October they come out in full bloom and brighten up the garden once more after a lot of the summer planting has died back. 

Late September and early October is a very special time in my life. It was the time I got my new gift of life and received my heart and lung transplant. The day before my transplant was a gorgeous day and I'd noticed how my michaelmas daisies were full of bud and I was looking forward to seeing them in full bloom. 

While I was recovering in hospital, my husband brought pictures of them in so I could see them. I was lucky and was allowed out of hospital for a weekend after a few weeks. It was another gorgeous Sunday and I couldn't quite believe I'd had my transplant and come home. I was still learning to walk properly again, but I managed to get down the garden and see them. It was a precious moment. 

Michaelmas daisies will always be significant flowers in my life now, that remind me of that wonderful gift I received and the special person who gave it me.