Don Sutherland's photos

One of the many glazed ceramic figures that adorn Imperial Chinese architecture. The yellow color is reserved for China’s emperors. There are numerous interpretations of the meaning of the procession of figures found on numerous old edifices. One interpretation suggests that the man at the head of the procession is employed in the service of the emperor and that the mythical beasts trailing him stand ready to devour him if he ever becomes disloyal to the emperor. The dragon at the end of the procession represents the authority of the Chinese state. The above photo was taken in the Forbidden City (Beijing, China)—June 13, 2013 I also want to thank Fu Zhicheng, Chen Xihua, Jihe, Yanqiong, Yanjun, and Lulu for all their assistance while in China. Your help was invaluable in helping make the experience an unforgettable one.

Blossoming Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana) trees at the New York Botanical Garden (Bronx, New York)—April 26, 2014

Cattails (Rye, New York)—April 13, 2014

Crocuses (Rye, New York)—April 12, 2014 The soul of the Spring through its body of earth Bursts in a bloom of fire, And the crocuses come in a rainbow riot of mirth… --“ A Mood of Pavlowa ” by Don Marquis

Daffodils (Larchmont, New York)—April 19, 2014

Montauk Point, New York—April 19, 2014

Narcissus ‘Silver Chimes’ at the Central Park Conservatory Garden (New York City)—April 20, 2014

A tulip is weighed down by snow (Larchmont, New York)—April 16, 2014. Just days earlier, spring had asserted itself quite forcefully with the temperature rising to 77°F (25.0°C) on April 13 and 75° (23.9°C) on April 14 in New York City. However, the spring party was brought to an abrupt end during the afternoon of the 15th. Just ahead of a strong cold front, the temperature peaked at 63°F (17.2°C) at 4:01 pm EDT. Afterward, much colder air swept away spring’s warmth as a steady rain developed. During the night, the rain changed to sleet and then snow as the temperature dove. The snowfall blanketed the ground and even roadways in the New York City suburbs. One could easily borrow from an account published in the April 22, 1835 edition of Baltimore’s Southern Patriot concerning a late-season snowfall that occurred on April 15-16 of that year to describe this year’s mid-April snowstorm. That newspaper wrote: His hoary frost, his fleecy snow, Descend and clothe the ground. In the wake of the snowfall, the temperature bottomed out at 31°F (-0.6°C) in New York City. That was New York City’s first April freeze since April 9, 2007. It was also the City’s coldest reading after April 15 since April 16, 1943 when the temperature fell to 30°F (-1.1°C). P.S. For those wondering about the fate of the tulip and other flowers, the above tulip, other tulips and daffodils all rebounded very nicely following the snowfall.

A pair of crocuses (Rye, New York)—April 12, 2014

Orchids at the New York Botanical Garden’s 2014 Orchid Show (Bronx, New York)—March 30, 2014

After a snowstorm (New Rochelle, New York)—February 4, 2014. The snowstorm brought 8.0” (20.3 cm) snow to New York City.

Orchids at the New York Botanical Garden’s 2014 Orchid Show (Bronx, New York)—March 30, 2014

The leaves of a Japanese Maple are illuminated by the early morning sun with a shadow in the background (Larchmont, New York)—October 20, 2013.

A close-up of ice floes that became stacked on the Hudson River (Sleepy Hollow, New York)—January 30, 2014. The January 21-30, 2014 timeframe saw the temperature average 20.00°F (-6.67°C) in New York City. That was the coldest 10-day period since January 21-30, 2005 when the temperature averaged 19.95°F (-6.69°C). As a result, numerous streams, ponds, and lakes iced up, some developing sufficiently thick ice to allow for outdoor skating.

A doe at the Marshlands Conservancy during a light snowfall (Rye, New York)—January 25, 2014

A snowstorm produces low visibility (Mamaroneck, New York)—January 21, 2014. The snowstorm brought 12.5” (31.8 cm) snow to Mamaroneck.

Japanese Maple (Larchmont, New York)—November 3, 2013

Chrysanthemums (Scarsdale, New York)—October 27, 2013