A Japanese scene and the forbidden photograph

I hope you will allow me a bit of garden tourism.

On a hot, muggy day in July, I visited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  I took a lot of photographs, trying to capture some summer color.  The area badly needed rain, so a lot of the flower beds weren't at their freshest, and some things looked hot and dry.

Toward the end of my three hours there, I started looking for scenes that were cool and peaceful.  There were lots of people sitting and taking advantage of the ponds and waterfalls of the Japanese gardens, so I had trouble getting just a garden shot.

Finally, I found the place you see above.  There were no people around.  But, just as I framed the photograph, a big group of tourists who were Mennonites or of some similar group started walking through.  I kept thinking of how you're not supposed to take pictures of the Amish (I guess this is true of other sects, as well), so every time I would perceive a lull, I'd click, but it would be too late.  I don't know how many pictures I took of this scene, but I finally got one that didn't have people, or so I thought.  When I returned home and looked at all the pictures on my computer, the one with no people did not exist.

At any rate, you can still see how the Japanese gardens had fine examples of how to use texture to create beauty.  Just to the right of the women is a stunning specimen of the weeping katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Pendula').  There were many Japanese maples and some conifers which provided a good contrast to broadleaf evergreens and ferns.

Just to be sure, if you were at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on the last Thursday in July, I apologize for taking your picture if I wasn't supposed to.  I hate not to share this photograph, though, because the place was so beautiful.  If I'd had time, I would have waited it out, but it was just too hot.