New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-25
WHAT CENTRAL PARK OFFERS.
BEAUTIES OF THE SEASON IN THIS PLEAS
URE GROUND
IMPROVEMENTS AND CHANGES OF VARIOUS
KINDs-THE LARcHEs SEEM TO BE DYING
OUT-THE LILY LAKE

IMPROVEMENTS AND CHANGES OF VARIOUS
KINDs-rHE LARcHEs SEEM TO BE DYING
oUT-THE LILY LAKE.
Even In these days a stroll n spin on a bicycle
drive in Central Park will go far to reconcile a
man or woman to the fate which Keeps him or her
in the city. Changes are constantly made In the
Park and some Of these were pointed out
Tribune reporter the other day by Superintendent
Samuel Parsons In the course OF pleasant drive
The start was at $50 a from the Casino As
one approached the northern end OF the Mall. the
lawn that slopes down to the road had a back
ground Of roses OF Sharon. phloxes and great
masses OF the small variety Of sunhower. A heavy
dew had fallen. and every flower tree and shrub
was looking its best
The Mail has been much improved OF late. The
vases that stood empty year after year have this
year been filled with Towering and colored plants
and with palms The fountains are hecked with
the leaves OF lilies, and the fine avenue OF elms has
been fairly preserved from the ravases Of Insects
Up the West Drive the rose OF Sharon may be
in many places. throwing out her pink flowers
among the green and the sunhower with golden
blush, greets her lord OF the morning
A FINE JAPANESE TREE.
There is one tree in bloom in the Park just az
present. that is. the weeping sophora. This tree
grows to height OF nearly forty feet, and can be
readily identified now by Its dropping fronds or
flowers
color 1t was brought here originally from Japan
and IL doing wonderfully we'll One Of these trees
hangs over the West Drive at about Seventieth-st
shrub. too that is just now coming into bloom
all over the Park is the hydrangea The great
clusters OF flowers have already changed from
green to a pure white. and Will acquire deep
purple when the first frost comes. Up the West
Drive. Nnetie,h-st, where there Is new en-
trance a lot Of planting Is being done on the banks
that flank the new road There is thing 10
mar the sylvan beauty. The larches in the PARK
seem doomed Most Of them have lived their life
OF a quarter of a century. and Mr.. Parsons in
speaking OF the dying trees, said; These trees
bear their foliage throughout the year, and the
sudden changes in climate Kill them There is
a great flow of sap one day, to be suddenly stopped
by a frost that even nature did not seem 10 ex-
pect All these dying trees will be soon cut out but
that cutting is no mean part OF my work
have four experienced lumbermen. who can use
their axes as we'll any men. and they are kept
busy throughout the year. cutting down the dead
trees or thinning where there is not breathing
room In the course OF year we cut down many
hundreds OF trees but the gaps seldom or never
noticed"
BEAUTIES OF THE LILY LAKE
At One-hundredth-st and Eighth-ave. there Is a
little glimpse OF scenery that makes one forget all
about the dying larch. Owing TO the cutting down
OF a few trees the lily lake may now easily be
seen from the driveway The lake Is fringed on
either side with oaks. naples and elms. In the
front are large punches OF the white-howering
water lilies with their crowns OF golden stamens.
and behind these Is a perfect bank OF otos with
their beautiful light green leaves and mass Of
pink and purple flowers. Back or all this IL a
weeping willow that droops its long slender leaves
until they brush the lilies. To see all this in
It's full beauty the visitor must come here before
10 o'clock in the morning FOR the mower OF Ins
lotos dies when the sun beats on II. Another goo1
bed OF the lotos can be seen In the southwest END
OF the Harlem Mere. and there is crowded pond
OF lilies rear the Conservatory Lake
and Eghth-ave. though looking bare and for
bidding just at present promises to De ons OF me
ready found home among the rocks that fiank the
entry. and plants OF Boston ivy Will in year or
Park into pleasant walking road Time ana tlme
Wer rr6uhd for 6eq the 20 maa
the adjoining building lots but Mr. Parsons mas
public Will soon have one OF the prettest paths In
the whole Park opened TO it.
The East Side Drive has many vistas OF great ,
beauty. AS one enters It from the north end OF
the Park. the little wooded hillocks to the right
tainy me az I'm south The uttie Sthers come
out with thelr smaller sisters who have their still
smaller dolls and all enjoy themselves In the
shades OF the trees and II a caterpillar does tum-
be from a Dough above and settle on NAMES
neck and make her scream. why all the others
Of the itte party roar at sne 9 Sye some o, the
finest American beech trees that can be found any
where. but are half hidden away behind less
pretentious trees. which may be cut away 10 show
the real beauty OF one OF America : nnest lear
trees Poplars and oak Of several kinds give
sweet variety the scene. and under an over
hanging rock close the road near Eighty-fourth-
81 was espied a bed of English primroses. They
are said TO be doing well and. perhaps. before
spring with this charming little flower that makes
the copses and hedgerows in England a field OF
the cloth Of gold.
There are three battered old sentines. all tina {
remain OF nine that still try hold up their heads
10 the eastward Of the East Drive. just below the
Casino. These weeping willows. one by one
they have fallen In their tracks and the survivors
are sadly wounded. having lost many limb. but
they put on the best face they can. and the wood
mans axe will not be used TO end their days They
will be allowed 10 die in the old pasture.