Saturday, May 5, 2012

Fort Tryon Park and Heather Garden


My husband and I, along with friends, drove to the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan last weekend to visit the beautiful Fort Tryon Park.   The park was an ancillary site of the American Revolutionary War Battle of Fort Washington, fought on November 16, 1776, between 2,900 American soldiers and 8,000 invading Hessian troops hired by Great Britain. Margaret Corbin became the first woman to fight in the war and was wounded during the battle, and a major road through the park is named in her honor.


Situated on a 67-acre ridge, Fort Tryon Park has commanding views of the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge, the New Jersey Palisades and the Harlem River.  It was built by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., son of the architect of Central Park, in 1935, and gifted to the city of New York by John D. Rockefeller in 1917.


We visited the New Leaf Restaurant located within the park to have brunch. The restaurant's website states: "Housed in a restored 1930s cobblestone New York City Parks Department building and enveloped by lush, forested surroundings, dining at the New Leaf is like visiting a charming, upstate country inn without ever leaving the city."


The New Leaf offers a modern American menu, created by Executive Chef Scott Campbell, which features seasonal dishes made from only the finest locally grown ingredients.  The menus can be read on this link



To begin brunch we shared the basket of assorted House Made Muffins and the Crispy Fried Calamari with mint-cilantro chutney. I had the Croque Madame served with field greens (upper right in the photo collage above) my friend had the Challah French Toast served with caramelized bananas, Vermont maple syrup and house smoked sausage (bottom left) and the husbands both had Ham and Cheddar Cheese Omelet, served with roasted potatoes and Field Greens. Everything was delicious and they kept refreshing our coffee which meant we were able to sit and have a nice long conversation during the meal.


After brunch, we walked along many of the extensive pathways in the park and enjoyed the views.


Perched high above the northern grounds of Fort Tryon Park are the Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum that houses approximately three thousand works of art from medieval Europe, dating from the ninth to the sixteenth century, including exquisite illuminated manuscripts, stained glass, metalwork, enamels, ivories, and tapestries.  All are exhibited in this reconstructed medieval monastery. It is worth a trip to visit this exquisite collection, but we saved it for another time, as the weather was so nice we wanted to continue walking around the park.


The Heather Garden in Fort Tryon Park is one of the largest heath and heather gardens on the East Coast and the largest public garden with unrestricted access in New York City.



Heather Garden has year-round horticultural and scenic interest, and it was very enjoyable to meander along the paths and enjoy the more than 200 varieties of perennials and shrubs. Throughout the spring season, there are drifts of snowdrops, crocuses, narcissi, tulips, spectacular collections of brooms, azaleas, peonies, dogwoods, rhododendrons, and oriental poppies all blooming within the garden.


Just a few close-ups of the beautiful flowers that were blooming in Heather Garden in Fort Tryon Park...truly a magical place to visit!




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77 comments:

Barbara F. said...

I love the photo of you and Vinny. Great photos, I love heather, hardly get to see it, though. Your brunch looked scrumptious, and with coffee refills, right up my alley. xo

Chatty Crone said...

It is sure nice to see how the New Yorkers live compared to us. Nice restaurant and flowers. sandie

Lynn said...

You do such a great job of showcasing the city that you love Pat! Looks like you had a fun day (and ate well too:@)

The Tablescaper said...

You take us to the most wonderful place in New York. I live so close but rarely take the opportunity to visit them. Wonderful to be a part to Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescape

genie said...

Thank you for a wonderful view of Fort Tryon Park and Heather Garden. I really do feel like I was there with you. I would love to spend an entire in that museum.The plants are lovely and walking through them would be a real treat. Your collage turned out beautifully. Thanks for al the effort you put into this post for us.
For some reason my Linky thumbnail did not work, so I show up in the ousting with a question mark. My link is: http://climbingthedigitalmountain.blogspot.com

Ginny Hartzler said...

The flowers are gorgeous, and look at their peak. And the restaurant, so yummy looking, and fresh and healthy! Now I can't wait for you to go into the museum, only I hope they allow pictures!!

Pondside said...

You are rich in gardens and museums, Pat. This year our heather has been exceptionally lovely up here.

My name is Riet said...

What a beautiful park. You made the most wonderful photo's an d mosaics . I just had breakfast but got hungry again after seeing all that delious food you show us here. Love the photo of the handsome couple. THe two of you look so happy.
Have a nice week Pat.

Old Kitty said...

Wow!! Another secret gem! How beautiful! I really really like the cobblestone restaurant and museum - proper solid structures! Fantastic! And the gardens are amazing - love too that its grown from a place of bloodshed and battle to something serene and peaceful!

Thanks for such gorgeous pics! I've just had two crumpets for breakfast and I'm hungry again! Brunch is such a fab way to start the day!

Take care
x

Jojo said...

A garden, museum and a great restaurant all in one place makes for a perfect outing. Not to mention the coffee and conversation. Love the flowers.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

What an interesting place. I am fascinated by the Revolutionary War and didn't know a woman took part.

It just amazes me how many wonderful places you take us Pat. Thanks and have a great weekend.
Sam

eileeninmd said...

HI, Pat! What a lovely place to visit. The views of the bridge are wonderful and the gardens and flowers are gorgeous. The brunch looks delicious. Thanks for sharing your day. Lovely photos. Have a Happy Sunday!

Cathy said...

What a lovely day! Beautiful photos of all the spring flowers, Pat. The Cloisters was on my list the last time I went to NY but I never made it there. Maybe next time.

La Petite Gallery said...

This is my kind of afternoon. I have always wanted to see The Cloisters. Thanks for this nice trip, Iwill be visiting more while
I heal up after the hip operation.

Happy Mothers Day Pat..

yvonne

La Petite Gallery said...

This is my kind of afternoon. I have always wanted to see The Cloisters. Thanks for this nice trip, Iwill be visiting more while
I heal up after the hip operation.

Happy Mothers Day Pat..

yvonne

Sarah said...

Pat, this is yet another idea I'm adding to my list. I sure do wish I'd known you when we had our apartment in NYC. You are the best tour guide ever. Thanks for sharing this beautiful garden.

Jessica said...

so beautiful. thanks for sharing

Unknown said...

Great spot and love those flowers!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

The Gathering Place said...

What a perfect time of year to visit the park and see all the pretty flowers. The little restaurant looked quaint and charming. Fun day!

Betsy Brock said...

Gorgeous! And what a fun day you had!

Nellie said...

Lovely post, Pat. Perhaps someday we will take the plunge and visit New York. You have shown us so much to see and do!

Carol said...

You really find the best places to visit, Pat. Looks like a fabulous day in a fabulous park, especially the restaurant. Looks terrific.

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

What an inspiration for my garden! I just love wandering through beautiful gardens! Oh, you meal looked good too! LOL!!! It looks like you had a lovely time!

Have a wonderful week!

Mary

Vee said...

Such a pretty garden to walk through and enjoy. Perhaps the blooms will last longer in this cooler weather we're having. (I note that you are wearing a jacket.)

Susie said...

Pat, I love that park. You sure know where all the pretty flowers are:):) Smiles, Susie

Claudia said...

This is May in all its glory (and the lunch looks pretty good, also!). Next time I visit NYC - it will be in May. When I can walk - outside! What a heavenly day!

podso said...

Right where I went to school! GW view out my dorm window and the Cloisters we went to many times, Fort Tryon not as often. Everything seems to look so much better than it did back in those days! I know NYC has had a face lift! Thanks for a wonderful post!

Michelle said...

So nice to see these wonderful places in New York. I always enjoy your tours!

Jim said...

Terrific post. Visiting from Sunday Bridges.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

The park is lovely Pat, and the food looks wonderful. Isn't the big day coming soon?? You all must be so excited! The picture of you and Vinnie in the mosaic is wonderful too!!

ellen b. said...

Oh my, what a grand place to visit. Has all my favorites food, flowers, views and architecture. Have a great week, Pat!

Kim, USA said...

These place is beautiful and the food looks delish.

Kim,USA

Anonymous said...

So beautiful! I love the flowers and the mosaics. It looks like a wonderful place to visit.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Thanks for sharing this wonderful park. The food looks delicious and the mosaic of flowers so spring-like.

Lorrie said...

Breakfast out and a gorgeous walk sound like a perfect way to spend part of weekend. What beauty!

Ingmarie We said...

A very lovely post. Interesting with the heather garden in the park. Very fines mosaics too.

Ola said...

a very colorful place!
I was interested what the modern American cooking would mean and seeing your pictures I was very positively surprised!
Have a nice week!

Life and travelling
Cooking

Tracy said...

What a BEAUTIFUL and WONDERFUL DAY... And such beautiful food, too! I want to go to The New Leaf for lunch now. ;o) That Croque Madame looks tempting. Happy week, Pat ((HUGS))

carol l mckenna said...

Beautiful photos of a fun filled day ~ thanks, namaste, ^_^

SmilingSally said...

What a lovely day you had! Thanks for sharing your blues.

Happy Blue Monday, Pat.

Could you please fix the Blue Monday link to read:
http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

Chubskulit Rose said...

Hi Pat, all the photos are delightful. I am now your blog's follower.

Blue Eggs, have a great week ahead!

Vagabonde said...

What a wonderful garden. Having a gourmet restaurant within it certainly adds to the experience. The food looks very appetizing. A great post.

GailO said...

I've been to the Cloisters several times with my husband but next time I am going to make sure we see the rest of the park...and eat at the restaurant! Great post Pat!

Rajesh said...

Very nice place, the garden with beautiful flowers.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! Don and I should not have missed this park...it is wonderful! I can't remember the last time I had fried Calamari...my mouth is watering!

Gracie said...

Always a pleasure Pat. Like coming home to a dear friend.....

Joyful said...

Beautiful photos. It looks like you had a lovely time. I didn't know a woman had fought in the early wars. Something interesting and yet it took so long for women to fight in wars in general. I love the restaurant setting.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Another wonderful tour, Pat! What an lovely park and Heather Garden looks absolutely gorgeous.

Full-On-Forward said...

Beautiful Tour Pat!

John

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Thank you for the tour, Pat. It looks like a lovely place to spend a few hours...I enjoyed the collages too...very colorful. I have to say that muffins and calamari make a rather interesting combination...but it all looks scrumptious!

Snap said...

Gorgeous, Pat. The Cloisters is one of my favorite spots. I love medieval art. I was last there in winter and nothing was blooming. This was a real treat!

KB said...

Great pics. I have pictures of the beach to share this week.

EJ said...

Captured beautifully!

Come and see my Rosary beads, your comment would mean a lot~!

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

I love the idea to visit it a pretty and historic garden, have a lovely lunch and then stroll some more to wear it off. Lovely. Valerie

Jacqueline said...

OH, yum, yum! What beautiful breakfast dishes! You guys are just having way too much fun! The blossoms are outstanding.

The French Hutch said...

Pat, what a beautiful place to spend the day. The scenery is beautiful. I would love and appreciate the beauty and natural surroundings and Jim would love the history. Your mosaics are stunning!
Hope your week is off to a great start.

~Emily
the French Hutch

Lisa@GrandmasBriefs said...

Oh, this looks like a great trip for my husband and me. He'd love the history, I'd love the Cloisters, we both would appreciate the love gardens. Great photos, as always, my awesome photographer friend!

Annesphamily said...

Hi Pat! You really have an interesting blog and I always learn something or recall some wonderful memory visiting you. The brunch selections look wonderful and all the beautiful photos you share are just remarkable. Thank you. Enjoy the week.

Sheila said...

Your mosaics are beautiful and it was lovely to see the beautiful Heather Garden - glad you had such good weather for your visit to the park!

Arija said...

What a gorgeous day out with lovely gardens to wander and good food and good company!

Anonymous said...

What beautiful photos, each one so lovely and filled with nice tones and contrasts.

Black Jack's Carol said...

I really enjoyed the tour! What amazing gardens and I'm think the Cloister will also have some fascinating secrets to discover in a future visit.

Anonymous said...

It looks like you had a beautiful day for your visit. I didn't think I had ever heard of this park until you mentioned the Cloisters. My friends that live outside the city keep saying that they want to take us there when we visit them if the weather is nice. Now I'm really looking forward to when we get a chance to see it.

Kris said...

Lovely. My next door neighbors family is leaving for NYC tonight. Their daughter is graduating on Monday from college. I am so jealous!!!

Latane Barton said...

I've visited New York city many times and never knew about the Park and Gardens. Guess where I'll go next time I am up there?

Tito Eric said...

What lovely photographs. They brought back many fond memories. One of my best friends live in Washington Heights and we used to walk around the park and play frisbee in some parts. They didn't have the restaurant there back then.

Thanks for sharing!

Cucina49 said...

Your photographs are gorgeous! That looks like a wonderful meal and a gorgeous day to be in the park.

Dianne said...

it is a beautiful park
the views are amazing
an incredible sense of space and the bridge is a beauty
your photos are wonderful

Judy said...

So pretty. So interesting. And it loks like a very good place to have a bite to eat! Nice mosaics as well.

Dimple said...

Hi! Thanks for visiting!
I was very interested by this post as I have never been to NYC. It is good to see some of the beautiful parts and learn a little of the history, thank you.

I often switch my edits in Picasa back, except for cropping. I like that everything is reversible! But lately I have been doing more with it and sharing the results.

Blessings!

annie said...

Lovely day. How nice to eat in the park like that.

Louis la Vache said...

«Louis», being interested in history, is going to look this battle up and read about it!

Pamela Gordon said...

Just Gorgeous! I loved this tour. You do such a great job with your photos and information on all the beautiful spots in NYC.
Thank you so much!! Pamela

Jeannelle said...

Looks like an interesting and beautiful place. Makes this farm girl want to visit NYC.

Unknown said...

omg, what a beautiful place! you food photos looks so delish! visiting from blue monday. http://www.heartscontentofamama.com/2012/05/blue-pansy-some-blue-wild-flowers.html

genie said...

How I would love to visit this park. It looks to be a very special place. I think it is wonderful that our first woman “soldier” is honored here. The gardens are so pretty and that entry with all of the tulips is heavenly. I would enjoy walking all around, but I bet I would be spending the day in the Cloisters. I am a nut for that period of history, and to see are and artifacts would be a day in heaven for me. I bet the manuscripts would knock me off my feet. Guess I am going to have to add this one to my Bucket List. genie

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos of the perennials!