Castor Oil Plant

Such an odd plant this - the Castor Oil Plant and the name brings nasty childhood associations with it- I don't think I ever had any but I certainly read enough about it. Its surprisingly photogenic however, and the shapes of the leaves and fruit would make for an interesting textile print.

Lily Pool

Is this it? my friend asked as we entered the Aquatic Garden at Wave Hill and I have to agree it doesn't have quite the same presence as their perennial borders. However, the rewards in this garden come with closer inspection. Get down on your knees at the pool edge and you not only see frogs lurking on the lily pads but you come to appreciate the beautiful miniature scenes set up by each water lily their wonderful colors in sharp contrast to the black, black water. Their leaves and stems and those of the neighbouring plants add further interesting shadows and reflections.

Woodland Textures

In the North West corner of Central Park is a wooded area with a stream running through it- a regular route for a weekend walk. There were some interesting visual textures to see. A stand of tall grasses lit by the sun and as pictured above a leafy clump sending up fine long arching tendrils probably once laden with flowers against a backdrop of fallen tree trunks.

Canopy

This morning in Central park looking up to see the sky framed by the lush canopy of trees.

Eat a Peach

Indeed I will now that the Farmers market in Union square are well stocked with local New Jersey Peaches. I really like them like the one pictured - not soft and fully ripe. It would be impossible for a slightly hard peach like this one to taste this good from the supermarket. My every other week visit to the market is now on a twice weekly schedule to take full advantage of all the seasonal delights that are now in full swing.