Jeffrey Tao's Travel Impressions
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CENTRAL PARK IN LATE AUTUMN It was a crisp, bright autumn day. This time of year, the park is at its best in the mid afternoon, with a soft, golden light bathing the trees, grass, bushes and water. This autumn light is all the more precious as it usually begins to wane by three thirty and then yields to twilight and darkness by four. How different everything looks from the verdant, luxuriant vegetation of summer! While evergreens like the majestic spruces have stayed the same, many trees have already lost most of their leaves, blanketing the ground with them. The foliage that remains stands out —the gingko trees proudly display their bright yellow leaves, forming a stunning natural curtain that takes your breath away. They are the stars of the show in this urban oasis, performing a lead role on the stage that is Central Park. Some of the oak trees still have their leaves, now mauve or reddish-brown, and elegantly shaped, each with five petals. One might call them the supporting actors, competent and accomplished, but less in the limelight. And then there are the willows, swaying gently and gracefully in the wind, by the Boat Pond. In August they were a rich jade green, now they are speckled with pale yellow and white, imbued with an understated allure—much like an actress who has passed her prime, but still striking and handsome, carrying herself with dignity and style. What of the hawthorn bushes, with crimson and perfectly round berries, specks of arresting color and vibrancy in the transition from autumn to winter? They are like a new generation of young actors, yet to be established, but already showing their mettle and learning fast.
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by Jeffrey Tao |