Echinaecia

Here is a macro shot of an echinaecia flower from the City Hall garden. Echinaecia (I don't know which part of the plant though) is frequently used/consumed as an alternative medicine to help the body to fight an infection.

When I first moved to NYC about10 years ago (August 1998), I was constantly sick from "absorbing" every one's germs in the subway train. A friend suggested I take a dietary supplement of echinaecia and golden seal root to boost my body's immunity to fight the NYC germs. I took his advice and it worked. Now, whenever I feel a little tired or a scratch throat coming, I start popping those supplements like candy.

So do you use alternative medicine?

Disclaimer: This blog DOES NOT promote the use of any product for medicinal purpose or make any medicinal claims.

Flower & Bench

I saw this interesting looking bench with flowers planted inside the side arms at Tribeca last week. Isn't this a clever idea? Although I think the bench needs a new piece of wood for the seat.

Also, notice the fire escape in the reflection on the windows? I think there is a restaurant on the first floor of the building across the street.

No questions today.

Flower Box

I saw this flower in front of a window of a church on Christopher Street in the Village. The basement window situation at floor level on the outside of the building but located high up near the ceiling from the inside of the building. This is fairly common in basement apartments to allow light exposure into the otherwise, windowless room.

So do you have a basement in your house/apartment?

Schillers on Rivington Street

This is Schiller's on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side. It is a really nice restaurant that has been around for many year and now, most of its clientelles are mostly young hipsters and tourists.

The reason I took this photo was the flower boxes on the 2nd floor windows of the building. It is quite rare to see something like this in NYC because most buildings have strict rules about what you can and cannot do with the windows, especially if they are condo or a co-op buildings. The rule was instituted to precent flower boxes from falling and hitting someone on the street. In addition, the buildings prefer all their windows to look the same.

So do you have similar rules where you live?

Purple Blooms

Does anyone know the name of these flowers? I think they are garlic blossoms but I'm not 100% certain. It is definitely a perfect flower for the vase because of the tall, thin stalk and gorgeous bloom on top.

So what are you doing for the long weekend (in the US)?

Flower Power

I saw this elaborate mural outside a Mexican restaurant in the Lower East Side a couple weeks ago. It looked like the artist put a lot of time and effort into it and it's quite lovely. Sometimes, I wish I can draw but unfortunately, I'm still struggling with stick figure drawings.

What skills or talent do you wish you have?

Yellow Blooms

I don't know what type of blooms these are but they have beautiful intense yellow flowers and soft green buds on them. There was a table full of them at the green market at Union Square yesterday. This is a macro shot of the blooms.

I would like to wish all mothers out there a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

Pink Dogwood

Last week, I posted a photo of a white and green flowering tree and you guys wrote in and told me it was dogwood. Thanks everyone!! Some of you even mentioned that there are pink ones. This past weekend, I saw a pink dogwood tree and took a photo of it.

It's amazing how much I have learned since I started the NYC photoblog. So what have you learned from your blogging experience?

Flowering Tree

I don't know the name of this flowering tree but it stands about 10 feet tall and is covered with these white palm sized blooms. It doesn't have any fragrance -- not that I could detect it. But I love the unusual green and white colors together.

Lately, I have been noticing (i.e. taking more than just a glance at) trees. I found that I love dwarf Japanese maples and fragrant peony shrubs. So do you have a favorite tree or plant?

Daffodils at Central Park

These daffodils are among dozens of fields of daffodils in Central Park right now since Spring has finally arrived. As you can see, the trees are still bald and slow to catch up. Hopefully, in the next month or so, the leaves will grow into the trees.

Some of my new photos have been added to New York Street Shots recently so please stop by and take a look at them. Other photographers have contributed to the site too and they are all super talented. Check out the list of photographers on there.

You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore

This is a macro shot of some flowers I saw at Central Park this weekend. It would appear that Spring is here but then we had a burst of cold weather on Sunday and Monday.

So what is the weather like where you are at?

Easter Parade & Easter Bonnets 2008

Last year, I posted my first collage of photos from the annual Easter Parade and Easter Bonnets Festival on 5th Avenue, between 45 and 55th Street in Manhattan This year's festivities was held earlier (yesterday) and there was a cold snap of weather in the air. Nonetheless, everyone was out in their finest and most creative attires and bonnets. Here are the photos from the festival.

After the parade, I met up with fellow blogger, CityGirl15 of Gramercy Cafe and Eliot for brunch. It was great meeting them. They are the sweetest couple.

Spring Bloom

I was at the Union Square Green Market yesterday and saw this beautiful bloom at one of the booths selling flowers and fruits. I switched my camera into macro mode and managed to shoot about 12 photos. This was the most perfectly focused and composed photo of the lot.

So are you waiting for spring to arrive?

Happy Valentine's Day

This photo of a rose bouquet was taken sometime last summer when the weather was warn and beautiful. So here's wishing everyone a great Valentine's Day.

Merry Christmas 2007

I ran out of Christmas photos after posting them over the last couple of weeks so I'm using this beautiful bouquet of flowers instead.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Taxi Art

Recently, yellow taxicabs were decorated with flowers to celebrate 100 years of motorized, metered taxis in New York City. The project entitled, Garden in Transit was started by two brothers, Ed and Bernie Massey from California in 2000. Over 27,000 pieces of vinyl sheets were painted by children in schools and hospitals and used to cover the roofs and top surfaces of about 12,700 taxicabs in the city.

Of the painted flowers above, which is your favorite?

Flowers

I was playing with the macro feature of my camera and took these photos of flowers that were sitting in a giant urn on top of a fountain at Union Square. I don't know what kind of flowers they are but they were in bloom even though it is late in the summer.

No question today. Hope you all have a good weekend.

Hydrangea Blooms

I was out in the city this afternoon and saw a hydrangea bush outside a building. Not all the blooms have opened yet and I noticed this particular batch has three stages of growth. There are the little buds and new blooms in the middle the fully open flowers on the edges.

I love hydrangeas especially the pale green colored ones. I also love parrot tulips and bourganvilleas. But for beautiful aroma, nothing beats the scent of peonies.

What are your favorite flowers?

Happy Mother's Day

First off, I would like to wish every mothers out there a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

This photo of a pink magnolia tree is only a few blocks from my apartment. Unlike the white magnolia tree that was in my grandmother's garden, this variety does not give off any scent or perfume but it does produce enough blooms to cover the entire tree.

Since I began taking photos for this blog, I noticed that I have become more curious about plants and flowers than ever before. I would stop on the street, at the park or in a store just to admire a flower or a plant. I guess this blog has made me stop to smell the flowers.

How has your daily photo blog changed you?

Spring, Where Have You Been?

After a weekend of soaking rain and heavy wind that cause severe flooding and numerous train interruptions, I am ready for spring weather to arrive. I want to see sun shine and clear blue skies. I want to see flowers and green leaves. I want to see people jogging in the park.

These photos were taken one afternoon three weekends ago at the Green Market in Union Square. Hopefully, they will appease the Gods who will then grace us with beautiful spring weather for the rest of the season.

Which is flower or greenery is favorite?