In Harvard Yard

 

It is difficult to walk across Harvard Yard, as I did yesterday to get from the underground station to the Harvard Art Museum, without taking a few photos of such famous buildings - especially when there is a blue sky in the background.

 

The Yard always seems to be busy - with students during term-time but also with many groups of visitors from all over the world.  There are colourful chairs scattered on the lawns and under the trees and anyone is welcome to sit and read or just enjoy the surroundings.

 

The statue of John Harvard, founder of the University is a focus of many tourist photos - as well as being the place where students go to touch the feet of the bronze sculpture (now quite shiny) - said to bring luck!

 

I was surprised to see that the Dogwood trees were still in bloom as they are long over in Virginia..

 

Walking on I could see some large pink and white flowers in front of Emerson Hall.  

From a distance I thought that they might be rhododendrons.

 

Looking closer they were unusual flowers with very unusual buds..

 

Have you ever seen anything looking more like piped icing on a cake or an 'Iced Gem' biscuit?

 

The white flowers were a little further out but equally intriguing.

 

Really a very beautiful flower - now identified by a friend (with the help of Google image matching) as Pink (or White) Mountain Laurel.  That might explain the glossy dark green leaves.

 

Having met a friend for late lunch at the Harvard Art Museum, I walked back across the Yard to the impressive gate which leads back to the bustling traffic of Harvard Square..