While Central Park is beautiful all year round, beginning in April, almost like clockwork, the park starts to come alive with color. It starts off slowly, and by the end of April into early May the hues are like a rainbow as trees and flowers burst forth. Grab your camera and get ready to take pictures. Rain or shine, the Park cannot take a bad picture!
Everyone has a favorite spot they like to go to in Central Park, whether it is to escape the hustle and bustle of the city noise and traffic or to just photograph its beauty. Escaping to the park during the spring is similar to Dorothy when she opens her front door in the land of OZ. Almost everywhere you go in the park, you can see flowers and trees blooming with color. It is living art.
One of our favorite places to witness this transformation is in Shakespeare Garden, located on the West Side of the Park. The garden only grows plants and flowers that are referenced in Shakespeare's many sonnets and plays. You will be amazed how the garden continually transforms itself, from spring into summer and then into fall. It is a great spot to revisit throughout the three seasons and capture via photo.
Another favorite spot is the Conservatory Garden, which is actually made up of three gardens. This area offers another great getaway all year round. It is considered a quiet zone, where no bikes or ball playing is allowed. Like Shakespeare's Garden, it is a living artwork that changes from week to week, as different plants and trees come alive.
If you enter the Park at 59th off of Fifth Avenue, you will enter in the area known as The Pond, one of Central Parks seven naturalistic water bodies. It is one of the most popular spots in the park to visit. Here you will find both tourists and native New Yorkers escaping for a break or a quick lunch. You can find many secluded areas or benches to take in the beauty of the area. You will also find an abundance of wildlife, due to the fact the area borders the Hallett's enclosures, which is a 3.5-acre ecosystem that mimics the wild, where small animals and birds can thrive in a secluded habitat. along with the varied fauna. It is a popular place to see children and adults alike feed the ducks and geese that call the pond home.
The north end of the pond is where you will see the Gapstow Bridge, which is one of the most iconic spots to take pictures from the bridge or of the bridge. If you are on the bridge look to the south and you will get beautiful views of Central Park South and the world-famous Plaza Hotel. Look north in the winter and you can see ice skaters at Wollman Rink.
The Harlem Meer, is located up on 110th and Central Park North, which is where the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center is located as well. The Meer is a Dutch word meaning small sea. The area is made up of eleven acres, which includes two playgrounds, the Lasker Rink, where one can ice skate in winter or go for a swim in the summer, as well as lush land for native wildlife. The Meer also has a catch and release fishing program. Due to the size and variety of activities that can be found at this location, it also becomes an ideal area year-round to take photos of.
These are just a few classic and iconic spots that are easy to find and to get to. They are great for taking photos whether you are an amateur or a professional, a tourist or a native. Other popular spots include, Cherry Hill and Turtle Pond. What are some of your favorites? We would love to hear from you.
