Susan Kirby

Flowers

When I first started taking pictures, I was inspired by my mom's rose garden. My father and I would take photo after photo of the roses, and I learned a lot about myself and photography in the process.

This page I hope showcases some of the amazing flowers, plants and foliage I've been privileged to photograph. I don't always know what the name of the flower or plant is, but I always try to "see" it.

You can find more flower photos on several other pages: Floral Beauty 2022, Summer 2021 Floral Splendour, Floral Beauty, Spring 2021, Floral Beauty, Spring 2020, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York Botanical Garden, Governors Island, Snug Harbor and Its Gardens, and Blooming Arizona. And to see hundreds of photos of tulips, visit the blog posting, Tulips in the Wind.

Autumn leaves 2021, October 19, Staten Island

See more spring flowers photographed during the COVID-19 pandemic below, and on Floral Beauty, Spring 2020.

More Beautiful Flowers: A Portolio, Spring 2020

The Community Garden at Riverside Park, 2020

One of the places to see beauty during the COVID-19 lockdown is the community garden at Riverside Park, an oasis of visual delight designed with love by dedicated gardeners on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. These photos are from a visit on May 19, 2020, as I once again take inspiration from Georgia O’Keeffe.

Central Park’s Floral Respites, 2020

Inside the Tulips

The spring of 2020 has been unusual, with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting how often and under what conditions I could photograph flowers and birds and critters. For the most part, I have spent the spring visiting Central Park, maybe two or three times a week. One of the inspirations for my flower photography has been Georgia O’Keeffe, who has inspired me to search inside a flower for the inner truth. I have made several attempts this year to photographs the vibrant tulips, both from the outside and the inside.

The tulips this year have been gaudy, vibrant, almost obscenely delicious. Sometimes eye candy can be chocolate truffles! These shots were taken in April and May.

These tulip photos were taken between April 11 and April 28, 2020, all in Central Park.

Pink Dogwood Splendor at the Swedish Cottage

Following the dogwood as its buds open and bloom. April 11 to April 22, 2020.

Spring Flowers in a Pandemic

We are being asked to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is hitting New York City very hard. For most days I am hunkering down in my hovel, but I have gone out a few times to photograph the flowers in Central Park. I hope that the photos are helping my friends get through these uncertain times.

This slide show has photos taken April 6, 2020, in Central Park.

These photos were taken April 4, 2020, in Central Park.

Magnolia blossoms, in white, pink and yellow, April 4, 2020.

Flowering fruit trees, hellebore, Virginia bluebells, daffodils … April 4, 2020, in Central park.

Tiptoeing Through the Tulips, April 4

April Flowers, No April Fools

When the corona virus keeps you inside more than outside, you try to take as many photos as you can when you do get to go outside. I did a walk in Central Park on April 1, 2020, visiting Strawberry Field, the Ramble, Bow Bridge, and Conservatory Pond. The spring flowers were stunning. I’m not sure which fruit trees I photographed, but my favorite shot is the one below, with the forsythia bush blurred out in the background.

Magnolias Say It’s Time for Spring

The white magnolias below were shot on March 20, 2020. The photo group below these were taken in Central Park on March 22, 2020. They include the pink magnolias, peach blossoms, and other flora.

Late Winter/Early Spring 2020

Summer Colors 2019

Some late summer flowers from Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, September 21, 2019.

The photos in this grid were taken July 3, 2019, in Central Park.

Spring Beauty 2019

Floyd Bennett Field 2019

Summer Blooms 2018

The gardens at Snug Harbor, Staten Island, August 10, 2018

Brooklyn Botanic Garden, July 12, 2018

First seven photos are from Governors Island, last two from Central Park, June 22, 2018

Spring 2018

Central Park, May 21, 2018

Summer Blooms on Governors Island

I did a nice nature walk on Governors Island on Aug. 6, 2017. Here are some of the many wonderful blooms.

Autumn in New York

I shot a video and photographic Ode to Autumn and posted it on Oct. 25, 2016. You can find it on the Central Park: Four Seasons page, or by clicking here.

Here are more of the photos from September and October 2016. The colors were so stunning. I've included a few more on the Bugs and Butterflies page.

This is one of those plants I don't know the name of. But I love the little ant  in the background.

These two were taken in March 2016.

If I Can't Have a Garden, I'll Take Central Park

Central Park is blooming this summer, and the riot of color is almost overstimulating. Georgia O'Keeffe said, “When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment.” That is also the case when you photograph a flower. It makes you really, really look at it.

The photographs that follow are some that made me say "Wow!" when I looked at them when I got home.

Lotus blossoms and water lilies, July 27 (first 2), August 2, and Sept. 8, 2013