Tell us about your green thumb (or lack thereof)

[+ Just Chuck]

Do you have any plans for this Saturday’s World Naked Gardening Day?

 

[samhexum]

Vibrant Planters Adorned by Local Artist

Brooklyn-based artist Martha Antonelli transformed 16 drab-looking cement planters at Park Place and Fourth and Ninth streets.

The artist hand-painted vibrant, abstract botanical designs onto 16 cement planters as part of a Park Slope beautification project. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

https://www.brownstoner.com/brooklyn-life/park-slope-fifth-avenue-artist-commission-planters-antonelli/

 

[samhexum]

The 11 Best Gardening Tools You Can Buy At Dollar Tree (And 4 You Should Avoid)

Dollar Tree's gardening range includes all kinds of stake lights, so you can illuminate your plot when the sun goes down, and colorful pinwheels that deter critters and delight children of all ages. There are also several standouts among the products that have been a hit with shoppers, as well as a few duds which were not.

https://apple.news/A0uAjMsqjQ4WXcerzmDKklw

 

[samhexum]

Hummingbirds Can’t Resist This Vibrant Flower—and Why Garden Experts Say It’s a Must-Plant

Plus, some additional gorgeous options to usher in all the hummingbirds.

https://apple.news/AO-QCAPLURuC8B4ZsmjzwtQ

 

Edited July 12 by samhexum
but he ain't gonna tell you why

[samhexum]

In partnership with the Parks Department, City Council Member Lincoln Restler’s office planted more than 300 trees this past year in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. 

The effort is part of an ambitious street tree plan launched four years ago to expand the tree canopy in every neighborhood throughout the district. The office has planted over 1,000 trees since 2022. 

Urban trees are most vulnerable during the first two years after planting, when the average mortality rate is about 12%, according to a study by the Center for Urban Resilience. In some previous years, however, Greenpoint and Williamsburg have seen mortality rates nearly twice that average. In 2014, for example, WNYC reported that more than 22% of newly planted trees in the area died.

The Parks Department recommends that newly planted trees receive about 20 gallons of water per week, especially during the hot, dry summer months. “If neighbors can help water new trees on their block, it makes an enormous difference,” said Eliza Relman, a spokesperson for Restler’s office, said in an email to Greenpointers. She also urged neighbors to keep tree pits free of garbage, road and sidewalk salt, and dog waste, all of which can contaminate the soil.

Another common mistake is adding extra soil to tree pits. “While it may seem helpful, excess soil can suffocate the tree, as well as provide a breeding ground for fungi and insects.”

There are a few different community volunteer groups for tree care. The council office supports any neighbors who want to help take care of trees, so anyone interested can contact them at [email protected]

[samhexum]

Greenway Botanical Garden: A New Era for the Naval Cemetery

Alyanna De Vera

Ten years ago, this landscape was opened to the public with a simple but ambitious vision: to create a place of pause along the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. Guided by the stewardship of Brooklyn Greenway, the site has since evolved into something greater than was initially planted. Over a decade of growth, conservation, and care, a remarkable diversity of plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife has taken root here, transforming the landscape into a thriving ecological community.

© Marvel

Previously fenced off and largely forgotten, the Naval Cemetery's history and significance were known to few. The design by Nelson Byrd Woltz and Marvel sought to honor that history while reimagining the site's place within the city. A native meadow and pollinator habitat were established above sacred ground, while an elevated boardwalk allows visitors to experience the landscape without disturbing what lies beneath.

© Marvel

© Marvel

© Marvel

Recognized by Botanic Gardens Conservation International,

Greenway Botanical Garden gains international accreditation

the site now officially takes on a new name: Greenway Botanical Garden at the Naval Cemetery. This change marks the culmination of that first decade of growth and stewardship, and is the first-ever botanical garden in NYC to be accredited by Botanical Gardens Conservation International.

“This transformation offers a reminder that landscapes, like cities, are never finished. Along the waterfront—where land and water, history and ecology continually meet and adapt—this place stands as evidence that time, care, and thoughtful design can turn a forgotten site into a living garden, a public resource, and a monument to renewal.” -Scott Demel, Partner at Marvel, lead architect of the Naval Cemetery project, and BGI Board Member for many years.

a sustainable native plant sanctuary located at 61 Williamsburg St W in BrooklynMain features include a raised wooden boardwalk, a 50-species wildflower meadow, and a native black cherry tree grove

History and Design

• Former Naval Cemetery: Holds over 2,000 unmarked graves from the Brooklyn Naval Hospital.

• Raised Boardwalks: Built above the ground to protect the remaining human remains.

• Urban Ecology: Designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects to support local pollinators like bees, moths, and monarch butterflies

Visitor Information & Guidelines

• Access & Transport: Located along the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway with free bike racks on site (no car parking lot). You can check upcoming events on the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative Events Page.

• Strict Rules: Visitors must stay on the wooden boardwalks at all times, picking or cutting plants is prohibited, and animals or dogs are not allowed inside. 

[samhexum]

 

Throughout the summer at the Abib Newborn Garden in Brownsville, high school and college interns are learning what it takes to cultivate a vibrant community garden.

Abib is one garden part of the Learning Gardens program started by the nonprofit City Parks Foundation that seeks to reimagine hands-on learning about gardening, food, biodiversity, cooking and lifeskills. With 37 different crops to maintain in the garden, the summer internship is a big aspect of the program.

“These students are learning very personally what it means to be a community gardener, " said Chrissy Word, the City Parks Foundation Director of Education. “They are growing food. They are learning how to be urban farmers. They are interacting with community gardeners who are part of those gardens.”

The interns are mainly recruited through schools by Program Manager Katina Leier during the school year. They then go through interviews and a four month training program with Leier in the spring to learn about organic gardening, food justice and urban sustainability before becoming paid interns for the summer.

Interns complete plant checks, plant new seeds and teach workshops to younger community groups. A majority of the interns never worked in a garden before, according to Leier.

Read more:  https://www.bkreader.com/non-profit-community/brooklyn-learning-garden-helps-youth-dig-into-their-future-12605777

[samhexum]

Urban Forest Plan Will Add Trees in Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Gravesend

Brooklyn is greener than it used to be but has fallen short of the city’s goal of 30 percent tree canopy to reduce flooding, pollution, and temperatures.

by Gabriele Holtermann, Brooklyn Paper

As summers grow hotter due to the climate emergency, New York City is taking a crucial step toward addressing the devastating impacts of climate change on people and the ecosystem with a new plan for city trees.

The Urban Forest Plan aims to expand the tree canopy — the land covered or shaded by trees — as part of the city’s long-term climate resiliency strategy, outlining ways to equitably increase tree canopy coverage to 30 percent by 2040 by adding an average of 700 acres per year for the next 14 years.

Led by the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice in collaboration with the NYC Parks Department, City Parks Foundation, Partnerships for Parks, Natural Areas Conservancy, and The Nature Conservancy, with support from WXY architecture + urban design, the plan serves as a roadmap to preserve existing tree canopy on public and private land, plant more trees, and expand the network of people caring for the ecosystem.

Michael Treglia, lead scientist for The Nature Conservancy’s New York Cities Program, is excited about the comprehensive plan for New York City’s urban forest.

“The city’s never had a holistic kind of approach to thinking about the tree canopy that really provides so many benefits to New Yorkers in lots of different contexts, especially thinking about heat as we’re dealing with these heat waves and such, but also in terms of flooding,” Treglia told Brooklyn Paper.

The plan builds on efforts in the last 15 years or so to plant bioswales with trees covering 30 percent of New York City by 2017 to absorb rainwater and reduce temperatures. In Brooklyn, largely treeless blocks from Fort Greene to Ocean Hill and Brownsville were greened with trees and native plants.

According to 2021 data, tree canopy covers 23.4 percent of New York City, or approximately 45,000 acres. Since 2017, canopy coverage has grown by 1.2 percent. However, canopy coverage remains unevenly distributed across the five boroughs. Staten Island has the largest canopy coverage at 33.4 percent, followed by Queens at 26.7 percent, the Bronx at 22.7 percent, and Manhattan and Brooklyn at 19.5 percent each.

However, Environmental Justice communities in New York City — neighborhoods with unhealthy levels of air pollution and, consequently, greater health risks — have 19 percent tree canopy coverage, compared with 26 percent in other areas. In all boroughs, there are neighborhoods with canopy levels far below borough or citywide averages. In Brooklyn, the neighborhoods with the lowest canopy coverage are Sunset Park West, at 10 percent, and Gravesend and Bensonhurst, at 13 percent.

The benefits of trees in an urban setting are numerous: They are natural air conditioners, lowering surface and air temperatures by providing shade and cooling, and can cool city streets by up to 2 degrees Farenheit. Forested natural areas are, on average, 6 degrees cooler than surrounding neighborhoods. Trees protect against harmful UV rays, provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and manage stormwater runoff.

New York City’s 7 million existing trees remove 1,100 tons of air pollution and sequester an estimated 51,000 tons of carbon per year, helping to slow the pace of the climate emergency. They also reduce stormwater runoff by 69 million cubic feet.

More trees also improve public health by reducing cases of acute respiratory illnesses and lowering instances of heat-related illnesses and deaths. Studies have shown that nature can positively impact mental health and reduce blood pressure and stress.

“Trees provide lots of benefits, especially in this context of climate change,” Treglia explained. “Trees are not the the full solution to any of these problems, but as we think about the city, [or] any global megacity, as we’re dealing with the climate changing world, trees and other nature based solutions are really a critical part of a more resilient and livable city that people can thrive in, while also supporting biodiversity and just a more verdant landscape that people can enjoy.”

Achieving the goals of the UFP requires cultivating current and new stewards of the urban forest, from strengthening volunteer stewardship practices and opportunities to expanding urban forestry-related jobs.

Treglia contrasted the new strategy with the MillionTreesNYC initiative launched under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg as part of PlaNYC, which focused on encouraging sustainable projects across the city. While he credited the earlier program with contributing to gains in tree canopy, he said the current plan goes further by pairing planting with long-term stewardship and protection. Planting large numbers of trees is valuable, he said, but “without having long-term maintenance, long-term plans, and maintenance of the trees that were already present, you know, it’s not really certain what the long-term changes will be.”

“The Urban Forest Plan is really looking at trees and tree canopy holistically across the city, not just on public property but also on private property, and thinking about how people can be engaged in what we refer to as the New York City urban forest,” Treglia said, acknowledging that the tree-planting initiative under Mayor Bloomberg was valuable but different. “Being able to look holistically through the lens of tree canopy really requires thinking about not just planting new trees, but also how do we really protect and preserve and steward the trees that we have across the landscape.”

[samhexum]

Mamdani, Hochul announce $8.4 million initiative to transform concrete medians into green infrastructure across Queens

[samhexum]

A bus shelter on Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood has a brand-new look, and city officials say it could be the start of an environmentally friendly redesign that could spruce up transit stops across the five boroughs.

The roof of the B12 and B14 stop outside Bargain Hunters discount store now features a “green roof” with native grasses and other vegetation.

The adornment adds color and life to the otherwise drab bus shelter, and officials say the plants can absorb 16 gallons of rainwater to reduce flooding during heavy rainstorms. Officials say the elevated garden could also cool down the shelter for riders waiting for buses on hot days.

Officials said they’ll use the prototype to collect data and evaluate the feasibility of green roofs as part of a greater effort that transportation officials say could improve life for bus riders.

Sabrina Desir, a Brownsville mother of four, was excited about the addition as she boarded the B14 bus.

“I think flowers and having green stuff in general is actually amazing because we don't really see that on bus stops,” she said.

The pilot, which has been planned and designed based on two years of community feedback, won’t cost taxpayers any money. It’s being funded by a nonprofit called the Resilient Cities Catalyst, which hired contractors to maintain the plants, according to Jennifer Sta. Ines, who runs special projects at the city transportation department.

The city’s bus shelters are built and maintained by the company JCDecaux. The company doesn't charge taxpayers to set up the structures, but takes in revenue from advertisements it sells on the exteriors.

Elizabeth Adams, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s senior adviser charged with making buses “fast and free,” said green bus stops could help riders escape the heat while they wait to be picked up.

“At one bus stop it might be 90 degrees outside. In another neighborhood, it's 15 degrees higher because of a lack of trees, lack of greenery, and a lot of concrete,” she said.

The city has also installed reflective film on the roofs of three other bus stops in the neighborhood, which city officials said could cool the underlying pavement by 25 degrees.

The green roof pilot on Pitkin Avenue will be in place through at least November, and officials will also monitor nearby reflective roofs through May 2027.

 

[samhexum]

There’s some bad chi in the trees.

A citywide plan to increase the Big Apple’s foliage is planting seeds of anger in Bensonhurst, where residents complain that the location of the saplings will ruin the Brooklyn nabe’s “perfect” Feng Shui.

At least seven new tree beds will be erected directly ahead of front doors — blocking good energy from entering the home and even welcoming sinister spirits into the community, the concerned neighbors said.

“For the Chinese residents who live here, this is not simply about the appearance of a tree. This is the entrance of our home. The place we and our families must pass through every single day. It can affect our sense of comfort and peace when entering and leaving our own home,” Tina Tam, 65, told The Post outside her Bay 32nd Street home.

“We are nervous … This is our superstition.”

A slew of sidewalk trees will be planted in Bensonhurst as part of the city’s Urban Forest Plan to dramatically expand canopy coverage across the five boroughs in the next few years.

Mayor Mamdani announced Wednesday that 18,261 trees have been planted so far in fiscal year 2026 –the most since 2016 — to reduce heat and increase green space.

The Bensonhurst plots were picked based on several factors, including pedestrian accessibility, underground utilities and traffic infrastructure, the city said.

But at least seven “a new tree will be planted in this location” stickers slapped on the sidewalk earlier this month simply served as a bad omen for Tam and her Bensonhurst neighbors, many of whom are dedicated subscribers to the ancient Chinese tradition.

Feng Shui is the practice of arranging one’s home to welcome and maximize good energy and harmony.

“When we bought the house, we observed there’s no tree, so we picked right away. It was perfect,” said neighbor Wendy Chen, 38, through a translator.

When asked what they would do if the city plants the tree in the planned plot, Chen and Tam both exclaimed: “Move!”

“If something affects me, my fortune — of course!” said Tam.

Any object in front of a front entrance disrupts the Ming Tang, or the welcoming space where energy flows, warned Feng Shui master RD Chin.

“As a resident, what do you see in front you? Your life is blocked. There’s that symbolism that something is blocking your way … If that’s in front of my front door, I would probably make a stink about it,” said Chin.

Ironically, trees are very conducive to positive “chi,” or the energy in one’s life — but only if they are planted in the appropriate location, Chin said.

“Planting the trees will enhance the chi energy of the neighborhood, because you’re creating mother nature to be part of our human existence. And that’s good. This is part of being in the natural environment,” he continued.

The trees could also bring in bad luck by absorbing the bad energy and anxiety that is already in the neighborhood because of the issue.

“Residents could get a lot of bad luck, they could get an illness, they get into a car accident. The money God cannot come to the home. Things like that,” explained Robert Luo, a Bensonhurst Feng Shui expert helping the neighbors fight the plantings.

Residents have enlisted the help of City Councilmember Susan Zhuang in asking the Parks Department to reconsider the location of the trees.

In some cases, it comes down to a matter of inches, they pleaded.

“Let me be clear: Bensonhurst loves trees and wants shade on hot summer days, cleaner air, and greener blocks for our kids and seniors, but with respect to Chinese Culture,” said Zhuang.

“I’m confident we can work together to plant every tree this neighborhood deserves while honoring the community that lives here.”

A spokesperson for Parks said it was in communication with Zhuang to accommodate the concerns without sacrificing the project.

“We are always ready to work with community leaders and members to accommodate concerns when planting, while ensuring we fulfill our mandate to expand the City’s urban tree canopy as required by Local Law 148 of 2023,” the department said.