SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Jeez man this aint Coruscant.

I'd like to separate Blomberg from the Million Tree plan. Such ideas are not new, they did not originate with him.

Additionally, Bloomberg did not create the environment where there is a large disparity between rich and poor in the city. He has made his money by servicing the needs of the upper classes but the system will stay in place whether he is mayor or not. Additionally, attempts in the past 40 years to address the manifestations of poverty have been failures. Don't expect new attempts until the economy totally collapses.

I'm afraid that like or not, we are going to have trees in an increasingly urbanized environment. We do need to maintain them properly, but they are necessary, both environmentally and aesthetically. For too long we have taken the simple solution of merely removing unhealthy trees. Time to reverse that pattern.

Can trees grow in small openings? Yes! The problem is not to the trees, it is to the man made obstacles to its growth. Look at all of the uprooted sidewalks. Nature will adapt. What we create artificially may not.

Obviously though, if we are irresponsible in maintaining what we place in an artificial environment there will be consequences. Trees whose roots are damaged require time to recover from the trauma. They become unstable and as we have seem, susceptible to the effects of weather and disease. So what we should we do? We can start by taking steps to ensure that trees do not become the victims of our progress. We make those who do work that might impact negatively upon trees aware of what they must do to protect them. And we pass laws to impose that responsibility upon them. But we do not turn backwards. The idea of one million trees of far more than a public relations coup for politicians. It's the means of creating a balance of nature and concrete.

Actually, very little of the sidewalk was thrown up because the tree seems to have had very few roots left. It's a wonder the tree stood as long as it did, and it wasn't a very old tree, either. You'll notice that there was recent sidewalk work, and some of the tree roots were cleanly cut off.

Look, here in the city we have few chances to learn about nature and living things. Most people really don't understand that trees have roots which require an adequate volume of healthy soil to grow in. Roots are what keep a tree from falling over. You can't just cut them off if they're in the way, and you can't expect a tree to grow well or get big if you plant it in a small concrete hole.

If we don't care enough about trees to set aside room for them when streets are re-designed and re-paved, then we shouldn't have them. Increasing population density with an increasing number of vehicles means some hard choices. On the other hand, just as the gap between rich and poor is increasing in this city, the level of care for upscale green spaces, like the High Line, and regular old neighborhoods is also getting more unequal. If you enjoy living in a caste system, be sure to vote for Bloomberg and his million trees again.

Need help weeding?

Clare, I've never seen anything like the growth of wild vines and even wildflowers before. My backyard has become a botanic garden.

We had too much rain this year. And some of the most fertile soil in the United States. So things are totally out of control.

I don't know if it is the wind or birds pooping seeds but we have a problem.
I'm not talking about things being brought into this country.
I'm saying we already have old stuff to deal with,

It's so bad, Clare. It's overwhelming the government as well as organizations that try to deal with the problems that have been caused by an influx of new incest predators and the return of diseases that were under control at one time.

You probably remember that we've been here before in the 1980s. I think we're better prepared now, but better inspections of container ships need to be done. The stuff is sent by trucks from the West Coast and eventually ends up here.

Is there poison sumac too? I saw some poison ivy. It's crazy, I don't ever remember seeing these things here.

Oh, did I say sumac? I meant to say that too.
I love you Lisanne, you are very informative,
But the city has been neglectful.

Oh, and the poison oak.

Same for the poison ivy that is ALL over the neighborhood.

Now they are.
Day late and a dollar short.
If you get my drift.

Correction, I meant 520 thousand.

Clare, for once the city is actually doing something. Our "green" Parks Department is trying their best to replace fallen trees and plant new ones as well. The goal is to have 1 million trees in NYC by 2017. Right now we're at 5.2 million.

http://www.milliontreesnyc.org/html/home/home.s...

Let me elaborate. All the boroughs are in need of grooming and replanting trees.
Sorry but just like our health care system preventative medicine is mostly used in the Botanical Gardens. I would think parks, highways and city streets should get more attention, but nooooo.
And, I have to sweep up leaves from trees that are not even on my property.
Properly bag them (buy paper bag) and dispose on the proper days or be fined.
Someone has a sense of humor.
I'm not laughing.
Save it for Monday. lol

And so it begins, again.
Wait for the ice and wind.
It's too late now.
1/2 the trees in Sheepshead bay are either
dead, rotted, infected, infested or mildewed.
Our great city really neglected this call.