Seen in Trinity Church in lower Manhattan. Looks like something by either Andrea or Luca Della Robbia, but I’ve so far failed to find any further information about it.
Madonna and Child
Stonecrop Gardens – Conservatory
According to a brochure Stonecrop Gardens on the Hudson River Valley Institute site:
The Conservatory at Stonecrop has four wings. Each wing has the ability to maintain a unique
environment with climate control systems. It was completed in 1997, and is used as a display house
in the winter and spring. At that time of year, the display house consists of non-hardy plants and various blooming bulbs, trees, and shrubs. In the summer, most of the plants are moved out into
the garden, so the Conservatory becomes a space for special projects. The heart of Stonecrop is The
Potting Shed, where visitors check in, pick up maps, pay the admission fee, begin their tour, and
have the opportunity to purchase some plants for themselves.
December Flowers
Apart from the odd poinsettia I didn’t think I’d be taking flower pictures at this time of year. I bumped into a neighbour the other day and she remarked that she’d seen some white flowers in a garden along Lake Shore Road. Sure enough, when I looked I came across several clumps of these flowers. I have no idea what they are. I also noticed that there were buds on a magnolia, and in several places shoots were starting to emerge. Friends staying in our other house tell me that dandelions are starting to emerge. The abnormally high temperatures we’ve had recently (and continue to have) seem to have convinced the flora that Spring is here! How I wish that were true.
Colorful Mural
I liked the contrast between the rather dark, dingy doorway on the left and the bright, colorful mural on the right.
Collecting Vintage Photographs
Photography of Billy The Kid, aka Henry McCarty, and members of his gang playing croquet.
Interesting introduction to collecting vintage photographs – something I’ve been thinking about doing for some time. I even bought a more detailed book on the subject: Collecting Photography by Gerry Badger. If you’re thinking about collecting old photographs and need more than this short introduction I’d suggest you take a look at this book.
In 2011, a modern-day treasure hunter was browsing through an antique shop in Fresno, California. Flipping through boxes, he came across an old photograph. An unsmiling group of men, 19th century Americans it seemed, were playing croquet in front of a wooden building in a rural setting. It was an interesting photograph. He paid $2 for it and walked out.After much investigation, it was concluded that one of the men was Billy the Kid, aka Henry McCarty, and the other players were his gang, The Regulators. This was only the second known photograph of the Wild West’s most infamous outlaw. That photo is now worth several million dollars.