NYC Skyline - Day to Night

Who would think, looking at the beautiful weather and New York City skyline views on this last day of May that behind the postcard facade, the city is in turmoil and being undermined with ugliness and hate on the inside. Like this city and so many others, we humans present our own facades that keep both our good and our bad thoughts and feelings contained within. Then, something puts a crack in that protective shell and, for some, shatters it, leaving us without words or actions or impulse control to deal with what we are forced to confront. Like others, who have posted on social media, I don't have the words to express all that I'm feeling just now. But what I do want to do is wish all of you the same that I will strive for in myself: a heart that swells with love and compassion; a mind that tries to see and understand all points of view and does not jump to conclusions or make assumptions; a spirit that is based on hope and goodness and the beauty in life; and actions that make a positive difference. May we all move through this new month of June with the guidance and blessings that we need to be the best that we can be during this challenging, angry, ,hurtful time in our country.

Spring Pink Rose

A close up portrait image of a peachy pink hued rose against the greenery of the rose bush. My first peach rose of the 2020 bloom season.

Historic Central Railroad Terminal of N.J.

The Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, located at Liberty State Park in Jersey City N.J., is a landmark historic building. It is part of a triangle of sites, that include the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, that are core reminders of the history of both travel and immigration in this part of the USA. The first train terminal at this location, built in 1864, was replaced by the current building in 1889. The terminal, which was in operation for 78 years, serviced several train lines as well as ferries coming into and leaving the waterfront location. The station train shed held 12 platforms and 20 tracks. The ferry fleet serviced lower Manhattan and also brought immigrants from Ellis Island to this terminal where they continued on their journeys, via the train lines, to their destination. The station is listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and National Register of Historic Places as well as being named a New Jersey State Historic Site. During Superstorm Sandy, much of the lower level interior of the building was destroyed along with the old ferry slips and pilings and the promenade. After many years of clean up, repair and restoration, the building, reopened to visitors in the summer of 2016.

Pink Azaleas-Light and Shadows

A close up view of the hot pink flowers and green leaves of a small section of a blooming azalea bush with a deeply shaded background..

Monserrat Tall Bearded Iris

A close up macro cluster of tall bearded irises named Monserrat against a green grass background. This historic, lavender color bi-toned iris was cultivated/introducued by Morrison in 1929.

Lower Manhattan and Ellis Island

A view of the skyline of lower Manhattan, including One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower), and Ellis Island as seen from New Jersey. Late afternoon hazy blue skies and warm sunlight tone the structures and lower Hudson River waters.

Pink Peony Sweetness

A portrait close up of a pale pink peony with yellow and burgundy wine hued reproductive center, photographed against a green grass background.

Liberty State Park American Flag Collection

Three images of the American Flags at Half-Staff in a tribute to Memorial Day and to those American who gave their lives to serve the country as well as to honor the lives lost in the Covid-19 pandemic here in the USA. Note that each of these images is available as a print separately and the Liberation monument image is available in a horizontal format as well. Contact me if for more inforamtion.

NJ and NY - Perfect Together

Nature in New Jersey and One World Trade Center and lower Manhattan NYC together in the same frame. The trees and Allium flowers are part of a garden patch in Liberty State Park NJ across the lower Hudson River from the southern tip of NYC.

White African Daisies

A close up view of four white African Daisies with golden yellow centers with a green leaf background. African daisies are perennial plants native to South Africa. More commonly here in the NE USA they are grown as annuals and come in a variety of colors.

Blue Parakeet

While out for a walk in the NJ Meadowlands there were plenty of birds to hear as they chatted and called to each other in the reeds and grasses. In the marsh, the tide was out and, in mid-afternoon, no birds in sight. As I was leaving, saw a flash of blue in the grass and found this lbeautiful little parakeet. Either he escaped from home or was abandoned but it made me sad to know how vulnerable he is in this unknown enviroment for this kind of bird. I hope someone can lure him to a cage or something so that he will be safe.

New York City Sundown Transformation

A view of the skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan, with the Hudson Yards complex at the center, and the Hudson River as sundown colors transform New York City into a veritable Crayola box of colors.

First Rose of Spring

A pink rose newly opened against bright spring green leaves and buds just beginning to show their color. The first roses and rose photo of the season this year.

Lilac Beauty

A close up macro look at a cluster of softly pink-magenta hued lilac shrub blossoms. I could stand next to them for hours just to let their wonderful perfume waft around me. A shame that the bloom is for such a short time. Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) are flowering plants in the olive family Oleaceae, They are not native to North America but have been cultivated to grow here and in many places have become naturalized. This quote by Yevgeny Zamyatin caught my attention with so many shut in due to the virus - "The lilac branches are bowed under the weight of the flowers: blooming is hard, and the most important thing is - to bloom." No matter where we are, there are moments each day that we can use to nurture ourselves so that we can bloom and thrive even when not in the most ideal enviroment. Read more: https://www.wiseoldsayings.com/lilac-quotes/#ixzz6Mu58fOy3

White Dogwood Blossom

A close up image of a white dogwood blossom framed against a background of more blossoms, green trees and blue sky.

Spring Greens and White Dogwood Blooms

A New Jersey landscape scene of multiple Spring green hues in the grass, trees and shrubs punctuated with lovely white dogwood trees in full bloom. Photographed at Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit N.J.

Pink Ruffled Peony on Green

A close up portrait image of a large pink peony blossom against a green grass background with hints of the peony plant leaves and a pink bud. Peonias are a beloved garden flower for spring gardens and come in a variety of types, sizes and colors. This lovely flowering plant, of the genus Paeonia. is native to Asia, Europe and Western North America.

Lower Manhattan in Sundown Hues

The skyscrapers of lower Manhattan, featuring One World Trade Center (aka Freedom Tower) at the beginning of sundown as the last of storm clouds rolled out of the area.

Least Sandpiper - NJ Meadowlands

One of many hundreds of Least Sandpipers seen congregating in a marsh area of the New Jersey Meadowlands, as they stopped along the Atlantic Flyway migration route to feed, bath, and rest in the wetlands.

Snowy Egret NJ Meadowlands

Here in New Jersey, people are still on Covid-19 lockdown. Some state and county parks have opened and it was great to get out to visit the New Jersey Meadowlands for a walk. While people are curtailed in their activities, in Mother Nature's world life goes on as usual. It's spring migration time and the shorebirds, waterbirds, passerines are passing through. Here a shot of a snowy egret fishing for an afternoon snack. Unfoortunately, he moved further out into the distance so only got one shot.

Peace Sign Art

A view of the side of a converted van panted with colorful flowers and designs that included Peace and Love signs and text. Artist unnamed.

LOwer Hudson River NYC and NJ Cityscape

A view of the coastline of Hobokenand Jersey City NJ, the lower Hudson River and lower Manhattan. With so little traffic on the roads due to the Corona virus lockdown,the air is cleaner and one cn see far into New York Harbor and the lasd masses of Brooklyn and Staten Island.