The people of Dead Horse Bay

New Yorkers, doing their thing.

Whatever that may be.

Harlem harvest

If the bees get their act together it will be a bumper blueberry crop. There have never been as many flowers on the blueberry bush.

I missed last year's crop as it ripened while I was still in Cape Town. But the Frenchman collected them all and froze them for me. They were gorgeous. There is less sun here than on the Brooklyn rooftop by about six hours (only around four hours direct, here, where it was all-day, there), but blueberries are forgiving. But how forgiving?

The blueberry has a friend, a taller, skinnier version (I pruned this one quite hard after fruiting) that I picked up at Union Square for $26. A very good price. The same nursery had one-quart perennials, two for $10. Almost too good to be true.

The first harvest. Fava bean leaves. I picked just the tops off the plants.

They were wilted in last night's soy-dressed noodles. The Frenchman managed to taste them before my roasted chile sauce blew off the top of his head.

Winged creatures

I don't know who hired him, but his work ethic is good.

His, not so much. I should install a full bird-length mirror on the terrace.

But looks are everything. And he can sing.

Foraging, with a little help from my friends

Pokeweed shoots, field garlic, milk thistle, greenbriar, Japanese knotweed tips, garlic mustard flowers, violets and mugwort.

What a beautiful day. Yesterday. 

Spotless sky. Faraway blue. 

Birdsong and chipmunk whistles. This beauty is a hooded warbler. He hunted, like miniature death machine, I watched him for a long time. 

Whadyoummmeanomnngngishnardgnmnpolidemnntospeaghweethfuulllmsmndsjdtdmouth?

Spring is unwinding so fast it is hard to keep up.

To catch some of the spring edible action, see my post at Edible Manhattan.

Memorial Day plant walk - Central Park

Columbine

Central Park Memorial Day Ramble

26 May, 11am - 1pm

On the opposite corner from the well-known and very formal Conservatory Garden, the North Woods are Central Park's less-known wild and hilly northwest. In late May this wooded wilderness will be hopping with birds and whistling with chipmunks. It will also be bursting with wild edible plants.

Wild cherry

Come for a two hour stroll and learn to spot and identify wild edibles such as invasive but delicious Japanese knotweed, fragrant mugwort, field garlic, indigenous but weedy pokeweed (learn how to cook it), dangerous dogbane and Northeastern natives like May apples, wild black cherries and serviceberries.

Afterwards, stroll north into Harlem and enjoy brunch at The Cecil.

Pokeweed

We meet at 11am on SW Corner of Lenox Avenue and Central Park North, at the entrance to the park opposite the 2/3 subways stop at Central Park North/110th Street.

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Harlem against violence

I noticed these stickers as I strolled back home, up Lenox Avenue on Saturday. The trees are beginning to leaf out, the avenue was packed with well dressed Harlemites (people dress, here - I have never seen as many hats and waistcoats and polished shoes). And some little stickers fought back against a big sign. 

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In the latest news about the church of Atlah's homophobic rants (recently refreshed for spring), there will be a benefit night on May 20th to raise funds for Harlem's Ali Forney Center.

In reaction to the extraordinarily ignorant message that this church sign shares with the passing world, $5,500 has been raised for the center in the last few weeks, and the special night on the 20th will be a big boost to the organization that supports runaway and homeless youth in the community. Author Stacy Parker Le Melle, of Harlem4Kids, an influential community forum, is the event coordinator.

To support their efforts you may buy a ticket to attend the evening and panel discussion (held at the wonderful little Maysles Cinema around the corner from us). You may also donate raffle items or support without attending.

More here: Harlem Against Violence and Homophobia

Dead Horse Bay edible plant walk

Dead Horse Bay Shoreline
10 May 2014, 12pm - 4pm

Come and explore Dead Horse Bay, the landfill that was used as a garbage dump for late 19th and early 20th century New York City.

Dead Horse Bay treasure

On our way to the old bottle-littered beach we'll find pokeweed and milkweed, wild lettuce and black cherry trees (come back in August for the fruit!). On the shoreline are indigenous bayberry and sea rocket, a leafy form of wasabi.

Common milkweed

Pack a lunch and liquids, bring a camera, notepad and hat. Bathroom at start and finish of walk, at Floyd Bennett Field.

Wild edibles

We meet 12pm at street level on the triangle between Flatbush and Nostrand. The subway stop is Flatbush/Brooklyn College - the end of the line for the 2/5. Then it's a 10 minute bus ride to the wilds of Jamaica Bay.

WALK COMPLETE