Last fall, I stumbled upon this tree, which looks like it’s hovering above the sidewalk at first glance. Does anyone know what kind of tree it is?

Closer view for identification purposes
Posted in Brooklyn plants on 5 December 2019| 6 Comments »
Last fall, I stumbled upon this tree, which looks like it’s hovering above the sidewalk at first glance. Does anyone know what kind of tree it is?
Closer view for identification purposes
Posted in Brooklyn plants, Plants elsewhere in NYC, Uncategorized on 5 October 2018| 1 Comment »
As a California native, I grew up with an abundance of parks, hiking trails and large areas of nature within a short walking distance. That is why I was surprised that the artificial foliage and plants of New York have been catching my attention. The city’s greenery cannot compare with California’s vegetation, but I am interested in how urban dwellers find comfort and privacy in a bustling city where space is limited and its supply is competitive.
Posted in Brooklyn plants, From our readers, tagged art, Brooklyn, christmas tree, photography, pictures, sidewalk, street, tree on 14 January 2015| Leave a Comment »
“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?
Posted in Brooklyn plants, Events/exhibitions/etc. on 23 January 2013| 4 Comments »
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!
Posted in Berlin plants, Brooklyn plants, From our readers, Plants worldwide, Projects from others, tagged Berlin, christmas tree, city, Germany, recycling on 31 January 2012| Leave a Comment »
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.
Posted in Brooklyn plants, tagged Brooklyn, cities, Gowanus, graffiti, ivy, night on 2 June 2010| 3 Comments »
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…
Posted in Brooklyn plants, Questions & discussion, tagged Brooklyn, New York, street art, street trees, sweater, tree on 10 May 2010| 3 Comments »
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.
Posted in Brooklyn plants, Personal plants, tagged acorn, garden, oak, sapling, tree on 13 April 2010| 1 Comment »
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.
Posted in Brooklyn plants, tagged city, tree on 20 February 2010| 1 Comment »
On November 16, 2009 it finally happened. Two men went to work clearing out the drainpipe tree and sealing up the corner of the church on 17th Street at 5th Avenue. This “tree,” really at least 2 or 3 young trees growing out of the side of the building through cracks 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! Otherwise, I’m afraid, there could be a dormant tree waiting for its chance to break through once more…