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It was sunny and gorgeous this morning, so ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cattitude and I headed out early to go to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden so I could smell the lilacs. Also to enjoy the other flowers--this is important, because Cattitude is allergic to lilacs.
We walked in, and strolled over a fine green lawn lined with azaleas, in shades of red and purple and pink, bright and perfect under a blue sky. Down the stairs to the lilacs. I started sniffing, and Cattitude sat on a bench. I could barely smell anything. I had a brief conversation with someone who mentioned that they all smell different, and told him that that's why I do this every year [1]. That told me that it wasn't that I was too late, it was my nose. I got Cattitude, who gave me a cough drop on the theory that the menthol might clear my nose. We visited the garden shop, where I saw nothing essential, and looked at the water lily ponds, where we saw a couple of flowers, lots of koi, and a mallard with ten tiny ducklings, the first we've seen this season. Then we had lunch--the cafe had fine sandwiches and an apple strudel I was very happy with. After lunch, we visited the fragrance garden. The lily of the valley were in bloom, intense and sweet--that by itself made the trip worthwhile.
They've redone the Japanese garden. It's more open than it used to be, and I think there are more turtles in the pond. Cherries were just about done, and the new design isn't quite as restful. I think they've removed the torii that used to be at an end of the path; the path now goes all the way around the pond. The rose garden already has several different kinds of rose in bloom, including a species rose (I think the label said Carolina) with bright magenta flowers and a wonderful sweet scent.
Encouraged by roses and lilies of the valley, I did lilacs again. It worked much better: I enjoyed the scent of several of the bushes, but it diminished quickly, and I could feel myself becoming congested. I hope I haven't developed an allergy. I may have to go to the New York Botanical Garden in a day or two and check. We finished with the Native Plant Garden--lots of trillium, lots of trees, and they've gotten lady slipper orchids to bloom--and another visit to the lawn and azaleas. I spent a few minutes lying down, from which I concluded that there was an odd blue overtone in the now-gray sky, and that it would be wise to get up before it started to rain.
Thence to Sahadi, to replenish the supply of basmati rice, vanilla, crackers, and the Ceylon Breakfast from Twinings that's still my default tea (though there's a pleasant cup of orange-flavored tea, the "orange douce" I bought on Sunday, sitting next to me right now).
[1] Some years I go to the Bronx instead, but my approach is much the same.
cattitude and I headed out early to go to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden so I could smell the lilacs. Also to enjoy the other flowers--this is important, because Cattitude is allergic to lilacs.We walked in, and strolled over a fine green lawn lined with azaleas, in shades of red and purple and pink, bright and perfect under a blue sky. Down the stairs to the lilacs. I started sniffing, and Cattitude sat on a bench. I could barely smell anything. I had a brief conversation with someone who mentioned that they all smell different, and told him that that's why I do this every year [1]. That told me that it wasn't that I was too late, it was my nose. I got Cattitude, who gave me a cough drop on the theory that the menthol might clear my nose. We visited the garden shop, where I saw nothing essential, and looked at the water lily ponds, where we saw a couple of flowers, lots of koi, and a mallard with ten tiny ducklings, the first we've seen this season. Then we had lunch--the cafe had fine sandwiches and an apple strudel I was very happy with. After lunch, we visited the fragrance garden. The lily of the valley were in bloom, intense and sweet--that by itself made the trip worthwhile.
They've redone the Japanese garden. It's more open than it used to be, and I think there are more turtles in the pond. Cherries were just about done, and the new design isn't quite as restful. I think they've removed the torii that used to be at an end of the path; the path now goes all the way around the pond. The rose garden already has several different kinds of rose in bloom, including a species rose (I think the label said Carolina) with bright magenta flowers and a wonderful sweet scent.
Encouraged by roses and lilies of the valley, I did lilacs again. It worked much better: I enjoyed the scent of several of the bushes, but it diminished quickly, and I could feel myself becoming congested. I hope I haven't developed an allergy. I may have to go to the New York Botanical Garden in a day or two and check. We finished with the Native Plant Garden--lots of trillium, lots of trees, and they've gotten lady slipper orchids to bloom--and another visit to the lawn and azaleas. I spent a few minutes lying down, from which I concluded that there was an odd blue overtone in the now-gray sky, and that it would be wise to get up before it started to rain.
Thence to Sahadi, to replenish the supply of basmati rice, vanilla, crackers, and the Ceylon Breakfast from Twinings that's still my default tea (though there's a pleasant cup of orange-flavored tea, the "orange douce" I bought on Sunday, sitting next to me right now).
[1] Some years I go to the Bronx instead, but my approach is much the same.