Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world. "The place to observe nature is where you are."—John Burroughs
The chartreuse edition.
And on the micro level, a single seed from the rich crop the tree is now laden with. Remember, elms are wind-pollinated, so the early flowering resulting in early fruiting. On average, it takes 70,900 of these little winged seeds to make up a pound, according to this USFS site.
But wait, a bonus video! If you’re in the area today, you’ll have noticed it’s as windy as all get-out. Here’s the old beast standing up to the gusts with ease. Turn the sound down.
If you’re new to the neighborhood, I’ve been photographing this fine old American Elm with the swooping branches in Sunset Park since November. It is in flower now: the wind-pollinated flowers have no need to be attractive to pollinators. Happy spring!
A reddish tinge about the great tree means that the buds have started to break.
Just barely anyway. For a fine old specimen, it’s low swooping arm — how has it survived generations of hangers-on? — means you can get unusually close.
These photos were taken yesterday on my lunch break. It was in the high 50s.
I’ve been following this tree since last fall:here are all the posts.
Somebody needs a haircut.
Solar powered.
At dawn.
Still at dawn, but with a different filter. These were taken after last weekend’s blizzard.
A long-shot from the apartment yesterday morning.
The night before, Friday, when the snow started, I was looking out the window about 11pm. It was a white night, the lights of the city bouncing down from the low clouds. A large bird came from overhead, just a story or two higher than my fourth floor. It coasted with a light, easy motion of the wings. Its direction was northward. Towards Green-Wood, perhaps, five blocks away.
It was a magical moment. I’ve only seen owls flying a few times, mostly taking off from their roost at twilight as they begin their nocturnal rounds.
So here was the night’s great hunter, deep inside Brooklyn. In truth, there have been Great Horned Owls roosting in Green-Wood for years now. The same ones? I’ve long wondered about their range. Clearly, they go beyond the cemetery fence. We knew that from their nesting seasons in Prospect Park. In 2011, they had two fledglings. As far as I know that’s been their only successful breeding season. Not so long ago I went listening for them after nightfall; nothing was heard above the traffic.
And then the surprise of the owl flying overhead.
Backyard and Beyond 