You don’t find a lot of green and flowers in New York—but when you do, they’re so thoughtfully placed, a lovely contrast to the towering buildings. A perfect row of tulips along a glass facade. A surprise cluster of daffodils near a subway entrance. Blossoming magnolias—one of my absolute favorites, and a familiar sight from my California days. It’s all so carefully done, and somehow, it works beautifully against the steel and stone.

The temperatures have been all over the place these past few weeks—balmy one day, windy and gray the next. But looking at the forecast, I’m feeling hopeful: it finally seems like we’re truly out of the woods. The buds are springing, the flowers blooming, and the birds are singing (if you catch them between the honks and sirens). Spring is here.