Tuesday, October 15th, 2013
I got a chance to more closely examine the old Black Locust tree on 7th Street that caught fire on Saturday. I’m pointing the camera down into the trunk. It is in worse shape than I thought. I hope the arborists will leave the burned hulk as a monument and shelter for the squirrels, and it is possible that it may sprout again in Spring. But the structure is compromised enough that the large upright branch should be removed for safety reasons.
Wanting to know about this tree was one of the reasons I started my tree identification map of Tompkins Square Park. The prevalent story I have heard about this tree is that it is one of the few trees surviving from before the 1860′s when the park was cleared of trees to create a parade ground for the militia during the Civil War. The other survivors are the Black Locust on Avenue B near 7th Street, and three large Sycamores, also on the perimeter.
May 2013, Avenue B near 7th Street: Now the last of the Black Locust survivors. It lost a good third of its height in Hurricane Sandy, but it is still impressive.
January 2013: Happier days.
Filed under: East Village, Nature, Parks, Photos- , Tompkins Square Park, TSPTIP - by gamma
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Tuesday, October 15th, 2013
Waiting for a cab on East Houston Street.
Filed under: East Village, Photos- , Zombies - by gamma
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Monday, October 14th, 2013
Window of a 99 cent store on First Avenue.
Hopefully to be used in a convenience store robbery, and not for a 4-year-old’s trick-or-treating.
Filed under: East Village, Photos- , Halloween - by gamma
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Sunday, October 13th, 2013
Another shot of this amazingly ample angel overlooking Tompkins Square Park, this one taken at sunset. Earlier
Filed under: Architecture- , Architectural Decoration, Sunset, Tompkins Square Park - by gamma
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Sunday, October 13th, 2013
I saw the news about a tree burning in Tompkins Square Park last night on EV Grieve. When I saw the photos I knew it was this great old gnarled Black Locust tree on 7th Street. I think the fire department caught the flames before they could kill this magnificent relic, and luxurious home for many squirrels. My guess is that some fool threw a cigarette into the hollow of the tree, and leaves or other flammable debris caught fire. The inner parts of trees are not alive, the life is in the outer layer, just beneath the bark. So I have hope that this tree, that revived itself with sprouts after being severely chopped several years ago, will survive. Here’s hoping that the arborists will let it stand.
Filed under: East Village, Parks, Photos- , Tompkins Square Park, TSPTIP - by gamma
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