Summer Nights

Update 2010.01.03: Corrected all links to the old Gowanus Lounge domain to the new memorial domain.


Flatbush Raccoon

I know it’s summer when the fireflies are out in force. As are the raccoons (Procyon lotor).

Both made their first appearance in the backyard about two weeks ago: just two fireflies, and just one raccoon. Tonight, multiple fireflies in everyone’s yards, front and back. And a family of raccoons, as we get every year. I saw three little ones at once. I saw the adult separately.

Here are, I think, two of the young’uns, one in a tree, and one on the ground. It could also be the same young raccoon. The one in the tree climbed down, shortly after which the “other” appeared on the ground.

Flatbush RaccoonFlatbush Raccoon

The groundling was very curious about my camera, and came within four feet of me before it realized the camera was attached to a person.

Flatbush Raccoon

Gowanus Lounge recently reported on raccoons sighted in Carroll Gardens. Some folks raised concerns about rabies. I left the following comment:

We love our Brooklyn raccoons!

They are annual visitors to our backyard. And our kitchen on the second floor. They climbed my neighbor’s apple tree to get there. They don’t scale building walls, they climb trees and other structures.

They’re scavengers, looking for easy grub. Don’t leave pet food outside. Don’t feed stray and feral cats and dogs. Keep garbage cans and compost bins and piles covered.

As for rabies, Brooklyn is the best off of all the five boroughs, with only 5 animal cases detected in the past 15 years; the most recent, in 2005, was a bat. Rabies is endemic in the Bronx and Staten Island.

Related Posts

Links

Old news

Blogfest 2008 Coverage

Here’s a list of posts and articles about the 2008 Blogfest from those attending.

Brooklyn Streets, Carroll Gardens
Brooklyn Optimist
Brooklyn Skeptic
City by Storm
Creative Times
cyclechicny.net
Flatbush Pigeon
Gowanus Lounge
Jaki Levy
Lost in the Ozone
Luna Park Gazette
miconian
New York Shitty
NY Daily News
Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn
outside.in
Oswegatchie
Prospect: A Year in the Park
Reclaimed Home
The Road to Nowhere
Stickymap
SuperVegan
Sustainable Flatbush
Urban Seashell
WNBC, Angela Freeburg reporting

Related posts

The Brooklyn Blogfest 2008

Thursday, May 8: The 3rd Annual Brooklyn Blogfest

Brooklyn Blogfest 2008 Banner

The 3rd Annual Brooklyn Blogfest will take place next Thursday evening at 8pm at the Brooklyn Lyceum.

The Third Annual Brooklyn Blogfest 2008 is an event for bloggers, blog-readers, those interested in Blogging, and those passionate about Brooklyn. It is open to one and all and everyone is warmly welcomed. No need to RSVP or be personally invited.
The Latest Blogfest Details, May 2, 2008

The audience, assembled and ready, at last year’s Blogfest
Assembled and ready

This is a chance to meet the faces behind the blogs, learn about the state of blogging in Brooklyn, pick up some blogging tips, hob-knob with your fellow wizards, and all such as that. I’ll be at the tail end of the program, speaking about the mostly monthly Blogades, started after last year’s Blogfest.

Admission is $10, $5 for students.

WHEN: Thursday May 8th, 2008 at 8 p.m.

WHERE: The Brooklyn Lyceum. 227 Fourth Avenue (at President Street) [GMAP]

HOW: R train to Union Street

PROGRAM (subject to change):

  • Video: Place Matters: Blogging My World by Blue Barn Pictures
  • Brief Welcome: Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn (Louise Crawford)
  • Speaker: Creative Times (Eleanor Traubman)
  • Speaker: Bed-Stuy Blog (Petra S.)
  • Video: A Walk Around the Blog Promo by Brooklyn Independent Television
  • Speaker: New York Shitty (Miss Heather)
  • Speaker: Gowanus Lounge (Robert Guskind)
  • Speaker: Blogger Smackdown by Gersh Kuntzman, editor, The Brooklyn Paper
  • Video: A Word from WNYC’s Brian Lehrer
  • Speaker: Top Ten Tips for New Bloggers presented by So Good (Heather Johnson)
  • Speaker: Outside.in, a resource for bloggers who blog about where they live
  • Video: A Tribute to Brooklyn’s Photo Bloggers (produced by Brooklyn Optimist)
  • Speaker: Bloggers Reach Out: What is the Brooklyn Blogade? presented by Flatbush Gardener (Yours truly)
  • ANNUAL SHOUT-OUT: Your chance to share your blog with the world introduced by Luna Park Gazette

Related content

My report from last year’s Blogfest
Back in the Day
My photos of last year’s Blogfest
All my Blogfest and Blogade posts

Links

The Brooklyn Blogfest “miniblog” on Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn
Brooklyn Lyceum

First Snow, and Snowbirds, of the Season

Updated 12/6: Added Brian of Brooklyn, who has the most photos I’ve seen so far.
Updated throughout the day Monday, December 3, to add links to other blogs with photos of the first snow.


Slate-Colored Junco, Junco hyemalis hyemalis, in my Flatbush backyard
Slate-Colored Junco, Junco hyemalis hyemalis

We had our first snow of the season overnight. It was in the 20s all day, gradually warming, and it will be in the 30s tomorrow, so it will all be gone soon. I didn’t get any pictures of it myself, but others did:

A Brooklyn Life
Bay Ridge Rover
BK11201
Brian of Brooklyn
BushwickBK
Ditmas Park Blog
Gowanus Lounge
Loopweaver
McBrooklyn
Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn
Pardon Me For Asking
Self-Absorbed Boomer
Sustainable Flatbush

I didn’t get out of the house today. Too busy cleaning, getting ready for guests tomorrow evening. But I was keeping an eye on the bird feeders yesterday and today. The winter migrants are firmly established now: Juncoes, Chickadees, and a little crested one whose name escapes me at the moment. I was looking for nuthatches, my favorites, but I didn’t see any this weekend.

American Goldfinch, Cardulis tristis, in winter plumage. I think this is a female. Thanks to Flickr pals megankhines and PhotoJeff for the id!
American Goldfinch, Cardulis tristis, in winter plumage

The First Brooklyn Blogade, at Vox Pop in Flatbush

Update 2010.01.03: Corrected all links to the old Gowanus Lounge domain to the new memorial domain.


Blogade at Vox Pop

I hope to see many photos, and many posts, from this event. It was great fun.

[Confidential to New York magazine: We weren’t all there, and we’re not all “snarky!”]

Blogade at Vox Pop
Blogade at Vox Pop
Blogade at Vox Pop

Reportage:

The next event will be July 22 in Greenpoint, hosted by Miss Heather, New York Shitty. Watch her blog for more information.

Miss Heather, New York Shitty
Miss Heather, New York Shitty

Anne Pope, Sustainable Flatbush, was my co-host for today’s event.

Anne Pope, Sustainable Flatbush
Anne Pope, Sustainable Flatbush

Many thanks to Sander Hicks and the staff at Vox Pop for hosting today’s event.

Sander Hicks, Vox Pop, sander.gnn.tv
Sander Hicks, Vox Pop

Damn Paparazzi
Damn Paparrazzi
Paparazzi

Petra, Bed-Stuy Blog
Petra, Bed-Stuy Blog

Claude Scales, Self-Absorbed Boomer
Claude Scales, Self-Absorbed Boomer

Rob Lenihan, Luna Park Gazette
Rob Lenihan, Luna Park Gazette

Eleanor Traubman, Creative Times
Eleanor Traubman, Creative Times

Robert Guskind, Gowanus Lounge
Robert Guskind, Gowanus Lounge

Dave Kenny, Dope on the Slope
Dave Kenny, Dope on the Slope

Adrian Kinloch, Brit in Brooklyn
Adrian Kinloch, Brit in Brooklyn

Louise Crawford, Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn
Louise Crawford, Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn

Sources of Plants for Brooklyn Gardeners

See also:


Update 2011-06-13: Corrected address for Root Stock & Quade.
Update 2010.01.03: Corrected all links to the old Gowanus Lounge domain to the new memorial domain.
Update 2008.05.09: Added GRDN.
Update 2008.04.29: Added J&L Landscaping, Kensington.
Update 2008.04.18: Added Kings County Nurseries. Added link for Zuzu’s Petals.
Update 2007.05.25: Added Shannon Florist.


Gowanus Lounge called it:

Red Hook is turning into Brooklyn’s Gardening District. … No less than three garden shops are now open in the Hook. The Chelsea Garden Center Brooklyn has been operating for a couple of weeks at 444 Van Brunt Street, a block from the Red Hook Fairway. The Gowanus Nursery, which lost its space on Third Street, reopened last month at 45 Summit Street. And, this weekend saw the Grand Opening of the Liberty Sunset Garden Center on Pier 41 at 204 Van Dyke Street.
Is Red Hook the New Gardening District?, Gowanus Lounge, May 14

And the Times plays catch-up:

A new group of large nurseries that have suddenly sprung up in Red Hook, Brooklyn — since March, three have opened within blocks of each other — is a welcome surprise for many of the city’s gardeners.
New York’s Nurseries Try a Transplant, New York Times, Today

But Red Hook is not the only place for Brooklyn Gardeners to buy plants locally. (And isn’t Gowanus Nursery technically in Columbia Waterfront, not Red Hook?)

I’ve bought plants through mail order for years. It used to be that the only plants I bought locally were annuals from the Greenmarket at Union Square. Over time the growers at the Greenmarket began offering more interesting annuals, perennials and shrubs. I learned that I got more for the money buying locally than through mail order. And since the plants I bought locally were larger than those I got through mail order, they had a better start and were less likely to fail before becoming established. (Not to mention if it took me a couple of weeks or months to get around to planting them at all.)

It got even better when I moved from the East Village to Park Slope. I’ve lived in Brooklyn for 15 years now, and I’m still learning about new local sources of plants. I’ve bought plants at all of the following locations except for J&L Landscaping and Kings County Nurseries Chelsea Garden Center and Liberty Sunset. Each has something slightly different to offer for variety, expertise, and access to transportation. Prices vary widely. The Brooklyn Terminal Market generally has the best prices, but requires a car to get to it.

  • Brooklyn Botanic Garden Garden Shop, 718-623-7280
  • Brooklyn Terminal Market, several independent vendors, Foster and Remsen Avenues, Canarsie, 718-444-5700
  • Chelsea Garden Center, 444 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook, 212-727-7100
  • David Shannon Nursery & Florist, 3380 Fort Hamilton Pkwy, 718-436-4521
  • Gowanus Nursery, 45 Summit Street, Red Hook/Columbia Waterfront, 718-852-3116
  • Greenmarket, Grand Army Plaza, Saturdays (The one at Union Square is the best place for plants. Lots of selections, and accessible by subway.)
  • GRDN, 103 Hoyt Street (between Atlantic and Pacific), Boerum Hill, 718.797.3628
  • J & L Landscaping, 702 Caton Ave, Kensington, (718) 438-3199
  • Kings County Nurseries, 625 New York Avenue, (718) 493-2363
  • Liberty Sunset, 204-207 Van Dyke Street, on Pier 41, Red Hook, 718-858-3400
  • Root Stock & Quade, 471 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11205 718-832-1888
  • ZuZu’s Petals, 374 5 Avenue, Park Slope, 718-638-0918

Related Posts

Liberty Sunset Garden Center, July 20, 2007
Brooklyn Terminal Market is NOT Closed, June 22, 2007
Chelsea Garden Center, June 16, 2007
Opening Day at Gowanus, March 31, 2007
A Visit to the Brooklyn Terminal Market, May, 2006

Blogfest Coverage

Update 2010.01.03: Removed all links to the old Gowanus Lounge domain, which has since been appropriated by some parasitic commercial site.


To highlight coverage of last Thursday’s Blogfest, I’ve moved all the links from my original post to this one and organized it by media. I’ll continue to keep this up to date as I learn about more.

Video

  • Brooklyn Roundtable (Episode airing 9pm 5/18 will include a video montage from the Blogfest and interviews with OTBKB, BrownStoner, and No Land Grab. Update: I was in the montage!)
  • cruxy (I’m in this one, though not identified. They pan across me at the open mic before they move on to one-on-one interviews with attendees at the reception.)
  • NewsChannel4

Audio

(Watch this space)

Photos, mostly

You can also look at my Flickr set of photos from the evening.

Words, mostly

The 2nd Annual Brooklyn Blogfest, for real

[2007.05.23: Moved Back in the Day to its own post.]
[2007.05.13 23:50 EDT: Moved all links to their own post.]
[2007.05.13 10:50 EDT: Added still more links and link to video.]
[2007.05.12 04:00 EDT: Added several more links.]
[2007.05.11 23:30 EDT: Updated links, and wrote Back in the Day.]
[2007.05.11 20:00 EDT: Added one photo of me, and link love to other blogfest participants writing about the event.]
[2007.05.11 16:36 EDT: Added some photos.]
Assembling
It was a great event. I was too exhausted, achy, and feverish when I got home to write anything last night. I’ll be coming back tonight to write more. A couple of quick notes now.

Update 2007.05.11 23:30 EDT: I’m back. Only minor edits and links added to what I wrote earlier today. Some possibly closing thoughts here.

Back in the Day

[2007.05.23: Moved Back in the Day to its own post.]

Present Day

Ye Olde Stone House
Old Stone House, Northwest view

I met lots of my fellow Brooklynites and bloggers. I am terrible with names and faces and, well, people, mostly, so if I met you or gave you a card, please leave a comment below to slap me a reminder! A special shout out to my neighbors Brenda of Crazy Stable, and Anne of Sustainable Flatbush, both of whom I met for the first time last night.

Our host(ess) for the evening, Louise Crawford, Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn, keeping time with the broom
Louise Crawford, keeping time with the broom

Robert Guskind, Gowanus Lounge
Robert Guskind, Gowanus Lounge

Steve Johnson, outside.in
Steve Johnson, outside.in

Lumi Michelle Rolley, No Land Grab
Lumi Michelle Rolley, nolandgrab.org

Jonathan Butler, Brownstoner
Jonathan Butler, Brownstoner

Norman Oder, Atlantic Yards Report
Norman Oder, Atlantic Yards Report

Eleanor Traubman, Creative Times
Eleanor Traubman, Creative Times

Despite enduring a root canal from the dentist earlier in the day, my partner tuffed it out and accompanied me to the blogfest. His name tag read “Blog Widow” and he found others last night with whom to commiserate. He said “You’re famous” based on the response I received at the open mic. And here I’d thought it was my natural charisma, wit and charm. Or, if not, that the response I received was for “Flatbush” more than me. Represent.

News12 Reporter Heather Abraham recording her voice-overs outside the Old Stone House before the doors opened.
News12 Reporter Heather Abraham

NewsChannel4 Van outside the dog run in J.J. Byrne Park.
NewsChannel4 Van

News12 Brooklyn, Brooklyn Independent Television (BIT), and NewsChannel4 (NYC NBC affiliate) were in the house. (A very crowded and cozy Old Stone House, it was.) BIT interviewed me on-camera along with several others at the end of the evening to get our reactions. And Dope on the Slope conducted a probing and humorous digital audio interview with me. (Note: I wasn’t serious about hoping the Bradford Pears just planted on Cortelyou Road would die soon so they could be replaced. But I bet they will expire before our mortgage does.)

Battle Diorama inside Old Stone House
Battle Diorama inside Old Stone House

Update 16:36 EDT: BIT airs at 8:30pm this evening on BCAT (Brooklyn Community Access Television). I hope to try and catch it to see if I made any face time.

Update 19:45 EDT: And here is the man behind the blog, yours truly, Flatbush Gardener. Thanks to the blogfest participants who dared risk their lenses against my visage.

Flatbush Gardener, present day
Credit: Robert Guskind, Gowanus Lounge

Link Love

All the links now have their own post.

Events and Resources: Hanami and more at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Flower Detail, Prunus “Okame”
Cherry Blossoms

Gowanus Lounge noted an article on New Yorkology about the first cherry tree to bloom this Spring at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, more than a week before Hanami, the cherry-viewing season, officially begins this weekend. I saw that tree in bloom when I visited on Forsythia Day. I didn’t get to write up that visit yet; the least I can do is pump up this tree’s 15 minutes of fame. (It’s not as impressive as the cherry tree which bloomed in December, which I didn’t get to see.)

Before you visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, you should visit their Web site. Their Plants in Bloom page shows you what happens where and when: not just right now, but for every month of the year. Some areas are of particular interest only at certain times of the year, and knowing whether or not they’re worth a peek in advance of your trip can help you plan your visit. For example, Daffodil Hill was not quite peaking when I was there on Sunday, while the Bluebell Wood was showing only winter-damaged foliage. Of course, much of the garden has lots of things even when they’re not in bloom, but this still is a good indicator of what you might expect to see.

But this time of year, the hype is all about the Cherry Trees. Hanami runs from this Saturday, April 7, through Sunday, May 6. The big event is the annual Sakura Matsuri, the Cherry Blossom Festival. This year it’s the end of April, Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29. There’s always an impossible number of events highlighting many different aspects of traditional Japanese culture, including music, dance, theater, crafts, and more.

Leading up to and during Hanami, BBG maintains a special map on their Web site, just for the cherries.

BBG’s CherryWatch (Hanami) Blossom Status Map showing the single specimen of Prunus “Okame” in bloom at the time of my visit.
Blossom Status Map, Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Each cherry tree on the map is linked to a popup summary of the plant, as shown here, which links to a detail page describing the specific variety. Here’s what BBG has to say about ‘Okame’:

This hybrid of the Formosan and Fuji cherries was introduced to Europe in 1947 from Japan by Captain Collingwood Ingram. Its deep carmine-rose buds open to lighter tinted flowers before leaves appear. This small- to medium-sized tree is excellent for small gardens and is also showy in fall, with orange-red leaves. This variety is recommended by the Garden Club of America’s book, Plants That Merit Attention.
Prunus ‘Okame’

And here it is: the single flowering cherry tree.

Lone Flowering Cherry and my Doppelganger
Lone Flowering Cherry and my Doppelganger

The other photographer in the photo seemed to be everywhere I was on Sunday, so I had to shoot around him a lot. For example, he was standing next to me (or I next to him) when I took this upward-looking shot against the overcast sky:

Cherry Blossoms

Finally, here’s a different shot of the same cluster of flowers at the top of this post. I like the background of the out-of-focus branches in this one; it works like an oversized mat in a picture frame. I think I’m going to process this one a bit and try to lighten it up without losing the mood.

Cherry Blossoms

Links

Flowering Cherries at BBG

A Big Brooklyn Gardener’s Weekend

Too much to do on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, I won’t get to all of it:

Saturday, March 30:

Sunday, April 1:

I’m sure there’s lots of other things going on this weekend, but these are things which I’m planning to attend, or wish I had the time to.

Thanks to Gowanus Lounge for reminding me about Prospect Park Opening Day this weekend.

PS: Big = the weekend, not the gardener.
PPS: Okay, the gardener is kinda big, too.