This morning, I passed by the drainpipe tree on 17th St./5th Ave. that I had observed many times last summer. I was astonished yet again to find its foliage replaced by an array of spiky icicles!
We got a few inches of snow over the last couple of days, and it looks like the melted snow from the roof didn’t drain via the drainpipe, instead pouring down the wall, encasing everything in icicles. The building’s drainage system clearly does not work, but whether this is due to the tree and other plants growing out of the cracks in the building, or whether the presence of plants was a result of the malfunctioning drain system, I can’t say. However, one problem certainly seems to reinforce the other.
While the visual prospect of this cascade of icy forms delights me, my concern is renewed for the sake of the church whose building’s corner is deteriorating.
urban plant research 
Oh look! I remember your post only too well and even tried to find the place in the net. It is a shame and what will happen to the adjoining building, I wonder.
Nice icicles! It’s quite generous of you all to worry about the building. I must be selfish because I just delight in the pretty ice tree.
Jo, you gave me an idea. I found out that the Drainpipe Tree is visible on Google! Check it out.
[…] created by a broken drainpipe system, had captivated me since the summer of 2008 and through the frozen months of winter. For the sake of the church community, I hope the workers got the entire root system out! […]