Mysteriously multiplying Christmas trees in Brooklyn

“How did my seven-unit building produce ten dumped trees? Don’t ‘miracle of Christmas’ me, Brooklyn, you’ve got some explaining to do,” says playwright and keen-eyed New Yorker Mike Lew.

Any theories?

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Brooklyn: Sara’s “Needle Bed” opens tonight at Open Source

After a much-too-long period of silence – during which I’ve been focused primarily on music – I am happy to share my newest solo work which has swung back into the realm of Urban Plant Research: an installation made from recycled Christmas trees!

I hope those of our readers in New York City will consider joining me at the opening of my show Needle Bed this evening from 7-9pm at Open Source Gallery in South Slope, Brooklyn. Despite the ridiculously freezing temperature outside, it will be festive!

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Brooklyn: Slideshow at Open Source Gallery, Oct. 14

Urban Plant Research is back in action in Brooklyn! On October 14, we’re presenting a slideshow and discussion at Open Source Gallery in South Slope, as part of the gallery’s ‘Church of Monika’ program of Sunday morning art-related gatherings.

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Germany: the fate of Christmas trees in January

What’s this? Could it really be a polar bear getting ready to eat a discarded Christmas tree? Indeed, our friend and faithful Urban Plants reader Phyllis alerted us to a strange and amazing January urban plant tradition that takes place each year in zoos all around Germany.

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Brooklyn: Nighttime weeds along the Gowanus Canal

On a recent warm night while traversing the Gowanus Canal, I spied a couple suspicious green characters lurking about, like this many-headed ivy monster…

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Brooklyn: Trees wearing sweaters

The weather has been very mercurial lately, swinging from warm summery days for short sleeves to gusty days like today when I go back inside to get my sweater. The weather is whipping the trees around too and I bet some of them would be happy to have sweaters too, like these trees I saw in Brooklyn back in January. 

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Brooklyn: Oak treeling discovered in windowsill garden

My housemate, who tends a garden in our backyard along with a few pots inside the house by her window, recently discovered a volunteer sprout in one of the indoor plant pots. But when she pulled up the “weed,” she discovered it had taken root from an acorn! A tiny little oak tree had developed inside of her room!

Impressed by its tenacity, we placed it in a jar with some water. Maybe we’ll plant it outside somewhere one of these days.

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