Category Archives: Trees

Brick in a Stick

Tree trunks grow out, not up, and sometimes engulf whatever might have been resting on them. Someone must have placed this brick in the fork of the tree some time ago. Examples of this kind of “tree hugging” can be more »

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Nature Minute video: Woodpeckers leave their mark on NYC – and feed city wildlife

Without leaves to block our view, winter is an excellent time to take a peek into the lives of city animals and see the daily challenges they face. One type of woodpecker has drilled very distinctive designs throughout NYC’s parks more »

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Posted in Animal Behavior, Birds, Fall, Habitats of City Wildlife, Trees, Videos, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ask the Naturalist: Why do Hummingbirds Like Sapsuckers? A Nature Minute Video

If one species of animal can love another, then surely hummingbirds love sapsuckers. Find out why in this short video annotation. And see our episode: “Woodpeckers leave their mark on NYC” for the full story.

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Posted in Animal Behavior, Birds, Communication, Fall, Habitats of City Wildlife, Spiders and Insects, Trees, Videos, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Who stole the Sap?

Which animal looks like a thief to you? Animals aren’t necessarily polite when it comes to getting food, and they have been known to steal from each other. In next week’s episode about Sapsuckers (a type of woodpecker), we caught more »

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Posted in Animal Behavior, Animals, Articles, Birds, Mammals, News, People and Nature, Plants, Poop, Droppings, and other Calling Cards, Spiders and Insects, Trees | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Juniper Berry Jingle, a Nature in a New York Minute Video

Junipers are the source for a whole suite of products from gin to natural insecticide to…contraceptives? Biologist Kelly Rypkema shows us the real plant behind all these claims and shares her own special recipe for spicing up the holidays. Trouble more »

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Posted in Plants, Trees, Videos, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Juniper Mulling Mix Recipe

Spice up your apple cider, or other winter beverages, with juniper berries, appearing right now on the juniper trees (aka cedars) in your neighborhood. 1 tsp juniper berries 1 tsp whole allspice 1 tsp whole cloves fresh orange peel 1/4 more »

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Posted in Nature by the Seasons, News, Plants, Trees, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off

Gifts from Sandy

I hope everyone is faring better from the effects of Hurricane Sandy as time passes. My neighborhood is slowly making progress. Dry wall, insulation, and sofas, all heavy with water, are being loaded into dumpsters. Downed limbs are being trimmed more »

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Posted in Animals, Articles, Birds, Fall, Mammals, News, People and Nature, Photos, Plants, Story Bites, Trees, Weather and Sky | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Conifer Carol

With no refuge from the driving snow, freezing temperatures, and drying winds of winter, how do conifers, like pine trees, spruces, and hemlocks, manage to survive and even thrive? Join Kelly Rypkema by the fireside as she considers this question more »

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Posted in Nature by the Seasons, People and Nature, Plants, Trees, Videos, Weather and Sky, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

The Local Color

Seeing red? In the Fall, New England certainly does. That brilliant red color is made by a mysterious pigment called anthocyanin. Only some plants produce it at this time of year, and scientists don’t agree on what it does. Some more »

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Posted in Fall, Nature by the Seasons, Plants, Trees, Videos | Comments Off

Why Leaves Leave

Autumn is a busy time for all plants as they prepare for winter, but only some plants have made the drastic decision for abscission. Biologist Kelly Rypkema gets in tune with the energetic flow of deciduous plants as their leaves more »

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