Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

  • Weeper

    The amazing thing about this city is how every single block is different. Architecturally, socio-economically, you name it, you never know what you will discover. This goes for the plants and animals, too. Parallel, almost back-to-back, in fact, to the block with the giant American Elm is this big, shaggy Willow (Salix). Another great yard…

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  • Young Night-herons

    A pair of Yellow-crowned Night-herons (Nyctanassa violacea) nested on Governor’s Island this year, a first — in ages, at least. I haven’t seen the nest, but I did run into this youngster over the weekend at Bush Terminal Park. No idea where the natal spot was, of course; YCNH also nest in Jamaica Bay, and…

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  • Lizards

    New York State has three native species of lizard: Northern Fence, Five-lined Skink, and Coal Skink. And one introduced species: the Italian Fence Lizard (Podarcis sicula). P. sicula evidently spread out from a release in Hempstead in 1967. The first time I ever became aware of them was when a photo of a Kestrel taking…

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  • In Da Bronx

    Franklinia in bloom. What a scrumptious flower! And the bees agree. (All of today’s trees are descendants from seeds collected by William Bartram in the 1760s. The plant is unknown in the wild.) On the mammal front, Cottontail and Chipmunk and Gray Squirrel.In addition to the frog, a Garter Snake crossed our path, and a…

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  • Two Butterflies

    Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades).Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos); this one was particularly attached to this pebble.

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  • Forms

    The immature cones of Arborvitae (Thuja).An unknown mushroom, past its prime.Fruit of Ascelepias physcocarpa/Gomphocarpus physocarpus, Balloon Plant Milkweed, also known as Family Jewels and, wait for it, Hairy Balls.Bonus paper wasps in that Arborvitae. Genus: Polistes.

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  • Hedgehog Galls, Ladybug

    According to my own personal memory device, this is the third year I’ve noted these hedgehog galls on this White Oak (Quercus alba) in Green-Wood. This year there is a bumper crop of them.A Multicolored Asian Ladybug (Harmonia axyridis) on the galls.

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  • Nyssa

    Black Tupelo/Blackgum/Bee Gum/Sourgum (Nyssa sylvatica) beginning to turn. Happy September!

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  • Revisiting a Gentle Giant

    Back in May we stumbled upon this magnificent American Elm yard tree in Sunset Park. Yes, it’s growing from the yard, not the sidewalk. It pretty much is the yard of this three-story row house. I walked by the other day. Still there, still too big to fit into my camera.

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  • Elevated Meadow

    Leaning towers of Prairie Dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) Sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus).Asclepias tuberosa going to seed. Both on the High Line.

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