Perfect Placement

On returning to the New York Botanic Garden I was able to see all of the monumental outdoor sculptures of Manolo Valdés. These enormous sculptures of female heads portray an understanding of gardens and vegetal growth in ways that are beautiful and playful. One sculpture in particular seems to be perfectly integrated into its surrounding landscape - reflecting the spreading, branching trees that frame it. "Fiore" is 17 feet high and its headdress incorporates the forms of oak and maple leaves. This bronze and steel work provides an agreeable color contrast to the lofty trees and greening lawn and creates a splendid vista.

Adonis Flower

Even though the temperature was only 33 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday morning, this yellow-flowering early spring perennial has been in blossom for some time now. There are numerous plants named 'adonis' and they bring to mind the Greek myth of the beautiful youth who was killed by a boar. Flowers sprang from he spot where his blood touched the earth. The flowers of myth are red but many yellow flowers celebrate a return to life each spring.