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Queens Botanical Garden 2007-09-09 08:08:00 Queens Botanical GardenFlushing, New YorkYesterday I left early and visited the Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing, New York. I wanted to kind of make a clean sweep of the NYC Botanical gardens having already visited the New York Botanical Garden and Wave Hill in the Bronx, Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the Staten Island Botanical Gardens this summer. It wasn’t as much as an adventure as getting to the Staten Island Garden. I drove to the Metro-North Railroad Station in Katonah, New York and got the train to Manhattan. I then bought a Metrocard and took the #7 Subway train to its terminus at Main Street in Flushing, Queens. It is about a 40-minute ride on the Subway and then I walked the eight blocks south on Main Street to the garden. I took the bus back to the station and you may want to consider taking it to the garden.The new Visitor and Administration Building at the Queens Botanical GardenThe garden was nice, smallish compared to the others but it really had a country atmosphe ...

Miscellaneous Water Gardens 2007-09-07 04:57:00 Miscellaneous Water GardensI saw some great water gardens this summer. I will leave it up to your imagination to think where these were taken. If you look closely at the Water Lily there was a Bee flying around.Just a short post as I have to leave early for work. I have a couple of early meetings and a few things that I have to take care of before the weekend. I am tired already and will have to take a nap when I get home. I am trying to think of something to do this weekend other than go to the NYBG or Wave Hill. I really enjoyed my trip to Staten Island but don’t want to make that journey. I will probably figure something out.I wanted to add we had a big anthrax scare in my little city. When I got home from work the other day there was a message from the Health Department (those broadcast kind) that they were investigating an Anthrax discovery across town. A road here in town, a main one, has been closed for a couple of days. The phone call told me I had nothing to worry about (yea ...

Miscellaneous Water Gardens 2007-09-07 04:57:00 Miscellaneous Water GardensI saw some great water gardens this summer. I will leave it up to your imagination to think where these were taken. If you look closely at the Water Lily there was a Bee flying around.Just a short post as I have to leave early for work. I have a couple of early meetings and a few things that I have to take care of before the weekend. I am tired already and will have to take a nap when I get home. I am trying to think of something to do this weekend other than go to the NYBG or Wave Hill. I really enjoyed my trip to Staten Island but don’t want to make that journey. I will probably figure something out.I wanted to add we had a big anthrax scare in my little city. When I got home from work the other day there was a message from the Health Department (those broadcast kind) that they were investigating an Anthrax discovery across town. A road here in town, a main one, has been closed for a couple of days. The phone call told me I had nothing to worry about (yea ...

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) 2007-09-06 04:48:00 Great Blue LobeliaLobelia siphilitica(low-BEE-lee-uh) (sigh-fy-LY-tih-kuh)LobeliaceaeSynonyms: High Belia, Louisiana Lobelia, Blue Cardinal FlowerI bought one pot of this plant 20 years ago at a plant sale and have been battling it ever since. It is a beautiful color blue but I have had problems with it seeding too much. I finally have contained it to a small area of the island garden and have actually grown to like it. I am not sure if it is a short lived perennial or a biennial but the seedlings seem to flower the first year. It grows fairly tall (up to 3 feet) and is hardy to USDA Zone 5, at least with reports of it surviving in Zone 3. All in all I guess I would recommend it but not for the real tidy garden. More for a moist to wet area that you want a bit more of a wild appearance. I think it would look wonderful in a mass planting. This Eastern United States native likes a little shade in hot areas.There seems to be a little variation in the color of the flower. Mine are this ri ...

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) 2007-09-06 04:48:00 Great Blue LobeliaLobelia siphilitica(low-BEE-lee-uh) (sigh-fy-LY-tih-kuh)LobeliaceaeSynonyms: High Belia, Louisiana Lobelia, Blue Cardinal FlowerI bought one pot of this plant 20 years ago at a plant sale and have been battling it ever since. It is a beautiful color blue but I have had problems with it seeding too much. I finally have contained it to a small area of the island garden and have actually grown to like it. I am not sure if it is a short lived perennial or a biennial but the seedlings seem to flower the first year. It grows fairly tall (up to 3 feet) and is hardy to USDA Zone 5, at least with reports of it surviving in Zone 3. All in all I guess I would recommend it but not for the real tidy garden. More for a moist to wet area that you want a bit more of a wild appearance. I think it would look wonderful in a mass planting. This Eastern United States native likes a little shade in hot areas.There seems to be a little variation in the color of the flower. Mine are this ri ...

Modern Shrub Rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ ABC Wednesday 2007-09-05 03:58:00 Modern Shrub Rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ABC WednesdayIf you’re here for Wordless Wednesday that post is below this one. Consider joining us for ABC Wednesday. It is open to all.I always feel a little (tiny, really) twinge of pride when I post a flower that I have grown and photographed. This is growing in the Rose Garden I am tending to on a large farm in South Salem, New York. This little beauty was tucked way in the back but still blooming nicely. There are several large shrub roses planted in the back and before I pruned them they were pretty much snuffing this rose.I am glad that I uncovered this one, as it is a beautiful clear pink with a luscious very strong fragrance. Another one of David Austin’s English Roses it is a cross between Wife of Bath × Comte de Chambord. I must admit that previously I have turned my nose up on Austin Roses and shrub roses in general. I had been favoring Hybrid Teas but the Grandifloras and Floribundas had been creeping in among my favorites. The ...

Modern Shrub Rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ ABC Wednesday 2007-09-05 03:58:00 Modern Shrub Rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ABC WednesdayIf you’re here for Wordless Wednesday that post is below this one. Consider joining us for ABC Wednesday. It is open to all.I always feel a little (tiny, really) twinge of pride when I post a flower that I have grown and photographed. This is growing in the Rose Garden I am tending to on a large farm in South Salem, New York. This little beauty was tucked way in the back but still blooming nicely. There are several large shrub roses planted in the back and before I pruned them they were pretty much snuffing this rose.I am glad that I uncovered this one, as it is a beautiful clear pink with a luscious very strong fragrance. Another one of David Austin’s English Roses it is a cross between Wife of Bath × Comte de Chambord. I must admit that previously I have turned my nose up on Austin Roses and shrub roses in general. I had been favoring Hybrid Teas but the Grandifloras and Floribundas had been creeping in among my favorites. The ...

Grand Central Terminal for Wordless Wednesday 2007-09-04 23:01:00 ...

Grand Central Terminal for Wordless Wednesday 2007-09-04 23:01:00 ...

Chinese Scholar Garden 2007-09-04 05:09:00 Chinese Scholar GardenStaten Island Botanical GardenThe showcase and centerpiece of the Staten Island Botanical Garden is the New York Chinese Scholar Garden. There is a separate admission charge of $5 (US) for this garden. The other gardens are free. I gladly paid and didn’t think to ask if my New York Botanical Garden membership fee would get me break. It didn’t matter as the show was well worth the admission. It is a remarkable garden that has surprises around every corner. I had my trusty Coolpix set to black and white and also had the D70s with the 60mm shooting color. In hindsight I probably should have put the wide-angle lens on the D70 but I like the challenge of trying to get shots with the 60mm prime. I have been wanting to shoot more B&W so I actually used the little camera more. There was a multitude of shots to be had with all the angles and details in the garden.I looked up just what a Chinese Scholar Garden is supposed to be and found this article on Wikipedia:Chines ...

Chinese Scholar Garden 2007-09-04 05:09:00 Chinese Scholar GardenStaten Island Botanical GardenThe showcase and centerpiece of the Staten Island Botanical Garden is the New York Chinese Scholar Garden. There is a separate admission charge of $5 (US) for this garden. The other gardens are free. I gladly paid and didn’t think to ask if my New York Botanical Garden membership fee would get me break. It didn’t matter as the show was well worth the admission. It is a remarkable garden that has surprises around every corner. I had my trusty Coolpix set to black and white and also had the D70s with the 60mm shooting color. In hindsight I probably should have put the wide-angle lens on the D70 but I like the challenge of trying to get shots with the 60mm prime. I have been wanting to shoot more B&W so I actually used the little camera more. There was a multitude of shots to be had with all the angles and details in the garden.I looked up just what a Chinese Scholar Garden is supposed to be and found this article on Wikipedia:Chines ...

Red Zinnias 2007-09-03 07:14:00 Red ZinniasHappy Labor Day to all the Americans out there, For the rest I wish you had a holiday, too. Here are a couple of Red Zinnias from the Staten Island Botanical Garden. The weren't label as to cultivar but they were one of the tall types. I am always a little jealous when I see people growing nice Zinnias. Mine always end stunted, moldy and chewed up.I posted about ‘Zowie Yellow Flame’ Zinnia here:here:You can see I was lamenting about the same cultural problems. I think they are a great flower and this red one was a standout in a sea of green foliage.Not only did I take a lot of pictures at the garden but was snapping all the way to the garden and back. I have a lot of pictures to go through. I was going to go out and shoot some more but that will just contribute to the backlog. Maybe I will go for a walk with my dog instead. So here is a picture from Manhattan. I didn’t know this building was a landmark but the architecture was striking so it doesn’t surprise me. It ...

Red Zinnias 2007-09-03 07:14:00 Red ZinniasHappy Labor Day to all the Americans out there, For the rest I wish you had a holiday, too. Here are a couple of Red Zinnias from the Staten Island Botanical Garden. The weren't label as to cultivar but they were one of the tall types. I am always a little jealous when I see people growing nice Zinnias. Mine always end stunted, moldy and chewed up.I posted about ‘Zowie Yellow Flame’ Zinnia here:here:You can see I was lamenting about the same cultural problems. I think they are a great flower and this red one was a standout in a sea of green foliage.Not only did I take a lot of pictures at the garden but was snapping all the way to the garden and back. I have a lot of pictures to go through. I was going to go out and shoot some more but that will just contribute to the backlog. Maybe I will go for a walk with my dog instead. So here is a picture from Manhattan. I didn’t know this building was a landmark but the architecture was striking so it doesn’t surprise me. It ...

Staten Island Botanical Garden Canna Lilies 2007-09-02 08:27:00 Staten Island Botanical Garden Canna LiliesYesterday I decided to visit the Staten Island Botanical Garden. For those that don’t know Staten Island is one of the five boroughs that make up New York City. Here is more info on Staten Island:Click hereI didn’t get to see too much of the Island but what I did see makes me want to go back and explore it some more. It is quite an arduous journey to get there from Connecticut. The first thing I did was hop in the car and drive to Katonah, New York to get the train to Manhattan. After the train brings you to Grand Central Terminal you have to get the Times Square Shuttle, on the Subway, to go downtown. I knew the #1 line is what I wanted to take to the Staten Island Ferry. Once I got on the #1 line I figured I was all set to ride down to the South Ferry station. Oh no, all trains were stopping several stations from South Ferry due to construction with shuttle buses to go the rest of the way. I decided to walk and of course it was a lot lon ...

Staten Island Botanical Garden Canna Lilies 2007-09-02 08:27:00 Staten Island Botanical Garden Canna LiliesYesterday I decided to visit the Staten Island Botanical Garden. For those that don’t know Staten Island is one of the five boroughs that make up New York City. Here is more info on Staten Island:Click hereI didn’t get to see too much of the Island but what I did see makes me want to go back and explore it some more. It is quite an arduous journey to get there from Connecticut. The first thing I did was hop in the car and drive to Katonah, New York to get the train to Manhattan. After the train brings you to Grand Central Terminal you have to get the Times Square Shuttle, on the Subway, to go downtown. I knew the #1 line is what I wanted to take to the Staten Island Ferry. Once I got on the #1 line I figured I was all set to ride down to the South Ferry station. Oh no, all trains were stopping several stations from South Ferry due to construction with shuttle buses to go the rest of the way. I decided to walk and of course it was a lot lon ...