UniqNYC
Ella (Fitzgerald) sings “Autumn in new york…Why does it seem so inviting…” Louis (Armstrong) follows “On the benches in central park…Great autumn in new york…Its good to live it again…”
What makes Central Park so inviting in the Fall months?
There are many obvious reasons including breath-taking fall colors of the elms, pine, oaks and locusts; artfully placed benches, terraces, lakes and ponds (think reflection – double the foliage) leaving you to appreciate every moment and every step you take in the park. For me, it’s the immediate stress relief from the day to day life in NYC and unless you live close to the park, it is likely you will experience some form of stress just getting to the park.
The Science
Bill Berliner is the Central Park Conservancy’s Associate Vice-President of Horticulture and knows the facts about fall. “Three factors influence leaf color — leaf pigments, length of day, and weather. As days grow shorter and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaves take place. Leaves lose their green when chlorophyll production slows and finally breaks down, allowing other pigments in the leaf to show through.” Which is why November is the best month to see fall foliage in Central Park this year.
The Players
Maples, Oaks, Pine, Elm, Gingkos are just a few of the diverse tree types in Central Park. Keep this in mind as you walk through the park.
The Locations – Top 3 Best Places
1. Great Hill and the Ravine in the North End – 103rd to 105th Street on the West side of the Park
The North End is the considerably more rugged area of the park north of the Reservoir. Covered in acres of woodlands, Great Hill is a rare meadow sitting amongst a true deciduous forest of elm, oak, hickory, maple, and ash. Walk down the slope to the Ravine where you’ll find arches and streams and some of NYC’s hidden waterfalls. With the city’s skyline no where to be seen and surrounded by vast natural beauty, this fall foliage experience is as good as being in the Adirondacks!
2. The Mall – 66th to 70th Street on the East side of the Park
The Mall is the grand promenade of Central Park, a 40-foot-wide walkway surrounded on each side by quadruple rows of American Elm, providing a living cathedral ceiling high over the walkway. These giant Elms offer a lime green shade in the summer and as autumn’s yellow and gold leaves fall, they reveal the bold architecture of the trees’ skeletons. Directly east of Sheep Meadow and stretching north to Bethesda Terrace, the Mall is breathtaking in any season. Benches line the mall for strollers to relax or socialize and let go of the hustle and bustle of the big city.
3. Bow Bridge & The Lake – 74th Street in the middle of the Park
Our last location to experience fall foliage in Central Park is the surrounding area around the Lake. In particular by the handsome cast-iron suspending bridge is the shape of an archer’s bow. Connecting the areas of the Ramble and Cherry Hill, the bow bridge is a famous romantic setting in NYC and a signature design feature of Central Park. The lake provides such beauty in reflection of the bridge and the foliage.
With only one month left before the leaves fall and the freezing winds of winter around the corner, I prescribe to you the medication for curing the headaches from your high-stress job and the rush of your every day life – take a walk through Central Park and enjoy autumn in New York!
(5 votes, average: 4.20 out of 5)
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This is the great blog, I'm reading them for a while, thanks for the new posts!
This is the great blog, I'm reading them for a while, thanks for the new posts!
Beautiful photos, would love to go one day.
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