Les premiers rayons de soleil printaniers

The first rays of sun each spring...

a dry windless day, morning sunshine, 

the green chair of the garden,

and the warmth soaking to the skin

Do I detect a smile of contentment?

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Jardin des Tuileries - des enfants

Jardin des Tuileries

Leaving the Tuileries at the end of an afternoon of play, 

each child holding the hand of an adult

before crossing the busy Rue de Rivoli.

Must be a French girl

Jardin des Tuileries

Rue de Rivoli

75001, Paris

Palais Galliera

Palais Galliera

Although the grounds and the late 19th century building look like a palace, 

it was designed and built as a museum.  

This peek into the side gardens shows what is probably the gardener's shed.

More on this museum soon....

Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris (a mouthful)

10, avenue de la Pierre 1er de Serbie

Rue de Galliera

75016, Paris

Parc des Buttes Chaumont VI

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Although it would appear from this photo that every bench is occupied, 

the park is large enough to hold many Parisians on a weekend day.  

I have never felt crowded in this park,

 and on my last trip walked up to the Temple of Sybil 

for a panoramic view of Paris.

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

75019, Paris

Métros Buttes Chaumont, Laumière, et Botzaris

Jardin du Palais Royal - le weekend

Jardin du Palais Royal

On a Saturday morning, 

these three were feeding pigeons in the garden of Palais Royal.  

The little girl looks a bit frightened by the numbers of these assertive birds.  

Still, a glorious spot for spending a weekend morning with family.

bon weekend

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Jardin de l'Intendant II

Jardin de l'Intendant

On the secluded southwest corner of the grounds of Hôtel des Invalides 

is this quiet topiary garden walled off from the Avenue de Tourville.  

It is far away from the entrances to les Invalides and the tourists.  

In my many visits here I have seen 

families, lovers, readers, walkers, 

and not infrequently a single person 

enjoying the benches and solitude.

Jardin de l'Intendant

Les Invalides

Ave de Tourville

75007, Paris

L'heure bleue - Jardins du Trocadéro

Fountain of Warsaw

fontaine de Varsovie

Not as many fountains as seen in the gardens of Versailles, 

but still a perfect seat to enjoy the water show 

during l'heure bleue (the blue hour).

As the sky darkens one simply turns to the southeast 

to watch the lights of la Tour Eiffel just across the Seine.  

What a festival!

every day of the week!

Fountain of Warsaw

Jardins du Trocadéro

75016, Paris

Métro Trocadéro

Jardin des Tuileries - les enfants dans le parc

Jardin des Tuileries

A Sunday afternoon finds many children in the parks of Paris.  These two were part of a group of five or six who played a game of soccer with imaginary boundaries.  They were not daunted by the scattering of puddles left by the recent rain.

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

Jardin du Palais Royal - des étirements

Jardin du Palais Royal

Some stretches before a run.  

How did she ever tear herself away 

from the mesmerizing view of that incredible fountain?

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Jardins des Tuileries - XXVII

Jardins des Tuileries

This sumptuous park is the largest in Paris at 63 acres (25.5 hectares) 

and provides a grand outdoor entertainment center for Parisians and visitors alike.

Jogging, walking, riding Vélibs, playing pétanque, 

sitting in the ubiquitous green chairs by the side of Grand Bassin Octagonal...

The list is endless

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

Jardin du Palais Royal

Jardin du Palais Royal

He is reading intently in the splendor of this garden.

The fountain must surely be splashing him a bit.

I would have my bare feet propped on the edge

(would have, have had, and will have)

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Jardin des Tuileries - petite fille

Jardin des Tuileries

This little girl with her long braids has Mickey Mouse lovingly wrapped, 

cradled in her arms.  Her chic plaid coat makes me think that...

She must be a French girl, n'est-ce pas?

Jardin des Tuileries

75001, Paris

Jardin du Palais Royal - sous la neige

Palais Royal in the snow

In the first week of December 2010, the snow started to fall gingerly as seen here, 

and by the 8th of December, it was a traffic-stopping blanket of soft whiteness.

The green leaves still on the sculpted trees 

are a pleasing contrast to the white carpet.

Jardin du Palais Royal

75001, Paris

Les couleurs de Paris - le jaune

The garden shed

What a simple description of this little fairytale of a building...

a yellow turret with red trim sitting the midst of a tidy garden

This is my contribution to a five-color series of photos,

and with this I curtsy to yellow as bright as a sunflower. 

 

le Jardin des Plantes

75005, Paris

Métro Gare d'Austerlitz



Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

The first time I viewed this scene it seemed impossible that I was still in Paris, well within Boulevard Peripherique.  On this Sunday afternoon, the park was full of people enjoying a sunny afternoon of leisure.

(Put it on your list)

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

75019, Paris



A hidden garden

This shot was taken through the iron gate 

The glimpse of red caught my attention matched with the bright yellow pansies. 

I thought that I saw a bench and some garden sculptures. 

Too bad it was locked.

bon weekend

Avenue Junot

Montmartre

75018, Paris



Les Invalides - Jardin de l'Intendant

The Jardin de l'Intendant is a sculptured garden on the grounds of Les Invalides.  It sits off to the west side from which there is no exit and is usually very quiet and empty.  I have a short memory and have at least twice tried to leave the grounds in this direction only to turn around.  The photos void of people have been my reward both times in two different seasons.  The summer flowers had not yet been planted but the beds were ready.  If you are in this area it would be a delightful place of repose and quiet, worth a visit.

Jardin de l'Intendant

Les Invalides

75007, Paris

Must be a French girl

After posting the French-girl-wanna-be dressed in a red coat,

I thought that I would show you the genuine article.

Jardin du Luxembourg on a Sunday afternoon is a guaranteed treat for people-watchers and photographers.  Virginia, Holly, and Isabelle joined me for an action-clicking afternoon.  This little girl was running toward the large octagonal pool to watch the action of sailboats or perhaps the toy motor boats shown by Virginia here.

There was no shortage of action in all of Jardin du Luxembourg,

and I will have many more photos to show you in future posts.

Jardin du Luxembourg

75006 Paris



Les petites amies

Walking in Parc de Monceau in November,

I encountered a group of 15 to 20 children on a park outing with their teachers. 

Based on the ages (under 6 years), I guessed an école maternelle. 

Each child was wearing a bright yellow vest with reflective stripes,

and from a distance they looked like a little swarm of bees darting about.

Parc de Monceau

Rue des Courcelles

75008 Paris



Solitude at Palais Royal

Le Jardin du Palais Royal...

On a cloudy day in November, you can have the garden all to yourself.

(Joyeaux anniversaire, Daddy)

Le Jardin du Palais Royal

75002 Paris