Victorville, CA: Tumbling like a tumbling tumbleweed

High winds are prevailing in southern California and the Central Coast, reports my mother in her first, eyewitness contribution to Urban Plant Research. In Santa Barbara County, she can hardly venture outside because of winds over 25 miles per hour. She also read that over in Victorville, which lies between Los Angeles and the Mojave Desert, the wind has residents trapped inside for another reason: it has swept mountains of tumbleweeds against their houses, blocking doors and windows! Check out these Google Image search results she sent over:

We here at Urban Plant Research have long been interested in tumbleweeds and urban tumbleweeds (tumbling, windblown plastic bags). Are their tumbleweeds where you live?

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Collecting specimens in Berlin-Lichtenberg

Berlin is in full bloom. Spring started early this year, so now, in mid-May, we are finding the city’s green spaces and empty lots covered in foliage, wildflowers and interesting weeds. On yesterday’s walks (to forage elderflowers near the residency studio, and later exploring Karlshorst with its allotment gardens and green spaces around the racetrack), we found ourselves interested in the specific plants we encountered, and collected some specimens.

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Looking forward to Lichtenberg / dance party!

In just a couple days, Sara will arrive in Berlin on for our one-week residency in Lichtenberg. This morning, I picked up the studio keys and took the opportunity to scout out the area for interesting plants. Here are a few things I saw. It looks like we’ll find plenty to explore! So stop by the blog: we’ll be posting about what we find, and where we’ll be working in public spaces around the district.

Also, an interesting Part 2 has just been added to our event next Friday…

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Hasselt, Belgium: the frosting on the lawn

Winter’s hit Europe. Snowy hurricane Xaver blew over Germany today, and over in Belgium, our creative co-conspirator Pablo Hannon documented frosted plants. The icing on the cake of winter.

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Another way to do urban plant research

Two different urban researchers, charmingly named of Field Office, made a video about looking at Berlin plants. It reminds me of how, when I arrive in a new place, I suddenly don’t recognize most of the trees, leaf shapes, anything really except a few international plants like lawn grass and dandelions.

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Berlin: Fox seen in Britzer Garten, again!

Is the clever, bespectacled fox on this Britzer Garten sign a depiction of the same fox we saw taking a stroll? And why are foxes considered to be so clever?

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Berlin: Foxy friend in Britzer Garten

Can you spot the foxy friend in this picture? Not that my friend A. is not foxy, but look closer; there is second friend in the photo.

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Lichtenberg: First crocus of 2013

The first crocus I’ve seen this year. There were snowdrops too. Spring is near. Can’t wait.

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Berlin: Big leaf, fall color

When leaves start falling in autumn, they sometimes amaze me with their size. The enormous leaves from tulip trees, for example, can be as big as your face! This one, from a plane tree on a Berlin street, isn’t quite that large, but it’s still pretty big.

Our colleague, local ecologist, is also collecting leaves – quite a few more than I’ve gathered so far.

If you’ve found any interesting leaves in your neighborhoods, let me know!

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Dandelions around the world!

Photos in response for our call for dandelions, to wrap up the week! This dreamy close-up is from Sarah Parker, aka @sparkler on Instagram, as is the following trio…

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