Berry Tart

A while back we were invited to dinner at a friend's house. I asked if I could bring dessert and went to a French bakery,  Mademoiselle Patisserie in Patchogue where I bought this delicious berry tart.

 

Twin Cherry Trees

 Two more cherry trees in Yaphank.

Blue Point Pinks

I still have a few paintings of cherry blossoms to post even though the blossoms are pretty much gone here. The greens have taken over. This was painted down by Corey Beach in Blue Point. 

Planting Fields Arboretum #2

There were so many views with the cherry trees at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay. These were flanking the trellises that will be covered with roses soon.

 

Planting Fields Arboretum #1

A few weeks back we had great weather and I visited the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay a few times. The azaleas were starting to bloom. 

Salt Shack Sketches

My friend and I planned to meet at a car show at Tobay Beach along Ocean Parkway to sketch. By the time I got near the beach, the backup traffic was at a standstill and I had been sitting in traffic for more than an hour and still had a long distance to go. I called her to let her know I wasn't going to make it, and as soon as traffic inched along enough for me to make a u-turn I left. 

As I was heading home I came near Cedar Beach, and I noticed people entering the parking lot. I decided to check and see if the beach building was open. I was surprised that not only the bathrooms but the restaurant (Salt Shack) and bar were open too (but with limited food). It was a beautiful, sunny day and a lot of people were enjoying the outdoors. I sat on a fence by the dunes to capture this view of the building.

When I finished I grabbed something to eat and headed back outside. There was a live band playing on the outside deck and everyone was enjoying the music and the sun. Right in front of me was a couple with a lady in a wheelchair. From their interaction I assume that the older lady was the woman's mom or grandmother. As the music played they held hands and moved to the music. It was a really sweet scene, and I couldn't pass up sketching it. I may have missed sketching at the car show, but I thoroughly enjoyed the day!

 

Return to the New York Botanical Gardens

After sketching the cherry trees at the New York Botanical Gardens one weekend, one of our members asked that the NYC Urban Sketchers also visit there while things were in bloom. The daffs, the tulips, the cherry trees, the lilacs, the peony trees and the rhodies were all in bloom when we were there so it was arranged that we would go again. Since I had been painting so many cherry trees I decided that my first stop would be the lilac garden...oh, what a lovely smell. They were in bloom in various shades of purples and lavenders, as well as whites. It was beautiful!

Across from the lilac garden is the actual cherry tree location. Last week we had been to daffodil hill, but this was another area of the gardens. Right at the edge overlooking a small hill was this massive, wonderful cherry tree, the thought of painting anything else went right out of my head. lol

This is the sight that was before me.

By the time I finished this painting I knew I needed to get back to the Conservatory where our show & tell would be. I took the tram, but I only had a short time before we were starting. I started a sketch of some of the potted plants in the area, but didn't get to finish them. I did take a photo so hopefully I will be able to complete it at home.