A Picnic at Prospect Park (the Brooklyn Blogade)

The July 2008 Brooklyn Blogade was a picnic at Prospect Park this past Sunday. Mother Nature smiled upon us, as thunderstorms bracketed, but did not interrupt, the picnic proper.

We did, however, get delayed in undertaking a walking tour of Prospect Park, guided by my neighbor Brenda Becker, whose Year in the Park was recently highlighted in the New York Times. While we waited out the rains, we sheltered in the Music Pagoda.

The Tour

At the Dongan oak Monument


Battle Pass


Sullivan Hill


Because we set out 45 minutes later than planned, we had to cut short our tour. But we did make it to the top of the Ravine.

Rustic Shelter


Rock Arch Bridge


Ambergill Falls.

The Picnic

Our hosts, Dave Kenny (Dope on the Slope) and Brenda, organized an awesome spread. Everyone contributed something.

The Shout-out

Nay-chuh

We enjoyed some of the idyllic ideal envisioned by the Park's creators, Olmsted in particular. Mostly insects, but some other orders, as well. There were also lots of chipmunks about, but I didn't get any good shots of them.

The Nethermead


Halysidota harrisii, Sycamore Tussock Moth, Caterpillar. Thanks to Mthew (Flickr) for the id!


Dog-Day Cicada


Thanks to Dave for the id of this Xenox tigrinus, the Tiger Bee Fly.


Catbird


Crayfish

Related Content

My Flickr photo set
Blogade posts

Links

Brit in Brooklyn
Dope on the Slope
Luna Park Gazette
Prospect: A Year in the Park
Self-Absorbed Boomer

Tour Brooklyn community gardens this Saturday, July 26

El jardin esta abierto / The garden is open


This is a reminder that the second leg of the Green With Envy Tour of Brooklyn community gardens is this Saturday, July 26. Tour Two kicks off at 10am from the Brooklyn Bear's Pacific Street Garden, in the triangle at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Pacific Street in Park Slope, near the Atlantic Avenue station.

This is an opportunity to hear about the history of Brooklyn's community gardens, speak with gardeners at each of the gardens, and learn how they organize and operate.

I posted 160 photos from Tour One two weeks ago. Tour Two promises to be just as extensive and interesting.

1. Pacific Street Brooklyn Bear’s Garden at Flatbush Avenue
   
2. St. Marks Avenue Blk. Assn. Community Garden btwn Carlton & Vanderbilt
3. Prospect Heights Community Farm, St. Marks btwn Vanderbilt & Underhill
4. Fulton Revival Garden, Vanderbilt at Gates
5. Hollenback Community Garden, Washington btwn Gates & Greene
6. Classon Ful-gate Community Garden, Classon btwn Fulton & Gates
7. Clifton Place Community Garden, Grand btwn Clifton & Greene
8. Pratt/Clinton Hill Community Garden, Hall St at DeKalb
9. The Greene Garden, DeKalb at Portland
10. Carlton Avenue Brooklyn Bear’s Garden between Fulton & Greene
    

Related Posts

Green With Envy Tour of Brooklyn Community Gardens, July 12 and 26
Brooklyn Bear's Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.1
Hoyt Street Garden, Boerum Hill, Green With Envy Tour, I.2
Wyckoff-Bond Community Garden, Boerum Hill, Green With Envy Tour, I.3
David Foulke Memorial Garden, Boerum Hill, Green With Envy Tour, I.4
Warren-St Marks Community Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy, I.5
Baltic Street Community Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.6
Lincoln-Berkeley Community Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.7
Gardens of Union, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.8
Green With Envy, Tour One, Final Stops 9 and 10

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Flash Flood Watch for NYC through tomorrow morning

Just in from the NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM):

JULY 23, 2008 - FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR NYC

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch beginning Wednesday
evening, July 23. The Flash Flood Watch is expected to stay in effect until Thursday
evening, July 24. Rainfall totals may reach six inches in New York City, with
localized flooding possible.

New Yorkers should exercise caution, as heavy rain may knock down trees and power
lines, and may create hazardous driving conditions. People should avoid walking or
driving through moving water, as six inches of fast-moving water can knock people
off their feet; two feet will cause most vehicles to float.

Related Posts

Floods

Links

NYC Hazards: Flash Flooding, NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

Brooklyn Blogade this Sunday, July 27, in Prospect Park

Music Pagoda, Prospect Park, Brooklyn


The July 2008 Brooklyn Blogade is sponsored by Brenda of Prospect: A Year in the Park and Dave Kenny of Dope on the Slope. The site is Prospect Park:

Brenda of Prospect: A Year in the Park and I are co-hosting this month's Brooklyn Blogade Roadshow, which will be held in Prospect Park near the Music Pagoda (map). Brenda will be offering a guided walking tour of the park prior to the picnic (meeting point TBA). Learn why the park serves as an "oasis for the city soul," the title of a recent New York Times article describing Brenda's labor of love.

There is no charge for the event, although we are soliciting volunteers to bring food (see below) and will be passing the hat to defray expenses.

Come share Brooklyn's backyard with your fellow bloggers. Friends and family welcome, but please let us know you're coming so we can gauge how much jello salad to bring.

Please RSVP at blogade.rsvp@gmail.com.

- July Blogade: Prospect Park Picnic, Dope on the Slope

What: Brooklyn Blogade Picnic In Prospect Park
When: Sunday, July 27th
Time: 12:00 noon - 3:00pm (walking tour @ 11:00 am)
Who: bloggers, prospective bloggers, their family and friends

Related Posts

Blogade

Links

July Blogade: Prospect Park Picnic, Dope on the Slope

Green With Envy, Tour One, Final Stops 9 and 10

Green With Tour at the Gil Hodges Memorial Garden, Gowanus, Brooklyn.


The last two gardens we visited on the Green With Envy Tour, Tour One, on Saturday, July 12, were the Gil Hodges Memorial Garden in Gowanus and the Greenspace at the corner of President Street and 5th Avenue in Park Slope. Not too many photos from either of these. It was the end of the tour, nearly 5 hours after we had started, in the hottest part of the day. I was exhausted and needed to get home, cool down, and crash.

We do it all again this Saturday starting at 10am. Details below.

President Street Greenspace, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Signs

Te amo, Gil Hodges Garden


EL JARDIN ESTA ABIERTO (THE GARDEN IS OPEN), President Street Greenspace

Glam

Canna leaf, Gil Hodges Garden


Black Grass, Gil Hodges Garden


Zinnia, President Street Greenspace

Tour Two, Saturday, July 26

1. Pacific Street Brooklyn Bear’s Garden at Flatbush Avenue
   
2. St. Marks Avenue Blk. Assn. Community Garden btwn Carlton & Vanderbilt
3. Prospect Heights Community Farm, St. Marks btwn Vanderbilt & Underhill
4. Fulton Revival Garden, Vanderbilt at Gates
5. Hollenback Community Garden, Washington btwn Gates & Greene
6. Classon Ful-gate Community Garden, Classon btwn Fulton & Gates
7. Clifton Place Community Garden, Grand btwn Clifton & Greene
8. Pratt/Clinton Hill Community Garden, Hall St at DeKalb
9. The Greene Garden, DeKalb at Portland
10. Carlton Avenue Brooklyn Bear’s Garden between Fulton & Greene
    

Look for more "GWE" Tours coming up this fall in Bed Stuy and East NY, once again sponsored by the new (and still forming) Brooklyn Community Gardeners' Coalition. There'll also be a bike tour in August sponsored by the Brooklyn Queens Land Trust! Lots of opportunities to see Brooklyn's beautiful gardens!

Related Posts

Green With Envy Tour of Brooklyn Community Gardens, July 12 and 26
Brooklyn Bear's Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.1
Hoyt Street Garden, Boerum Hill, Green With Envy Tour, I.2
Wyckoff-Bond Community Garden, Boerum Hill, Green With Envy Tour, I.3
David Foulke Memorial Garden, Boerum Hill, Green With Envy Tour, I.4
Warren-St Marks Community Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy, I.5
Baltic Street Community Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.6
Lincoln-Berkeley Community Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.7
Gardens of Union, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.8

Gardens of Union, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.8

Green With Envy Tour at the Garden of Union, Park Slope, Brooklyn.


The Gardens of Union in Park Slope comprise two gardens nearly side-by-side: The large, active Garden of Union, and the smaller, contemplative Annie's Garden two lots up the block. Both gardens are part of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation:

The Garden of Union lies on Union Street, but the name derives as much from its character as its location. The property is composed of two gardens separated by an apartment building. The smaller, located at 540 Union Street, is known as Annie’s Garden for Annie Thomson (b. 1919), the woman whose determination, energy, and spirit was largely responsible for making the garden come to life. Annie’s Garden opened in 1987. The main space, the Garden of Union, is located at 634-36 Union Street and has been operating since 1979. Both areas are maintained by Parks and garden members, most of whom reside in Park Slope. Other volunteers come from all over Brooklyn, from Howard Beach to Carroll Gardens to Sunset Park.

The Garden of Union and Annie’s Garden are community gardens with well-developed plantings of vegetables and flowers. The bulk of the land in the main garden is devoted to vegetables, and much attention is paid to the ornamental qualities of vegetables. Flowers and herbs are also integrated with the vegetable plantings. The garden regularly yields more produce than the members can use, and much of the vegetables are often given away to members of the community and a local soup kitchen.
- Parks Sign

Grotto at the rock garden.



Lily pool.



This mullein is visible in both of the first two photos above. It towered about 8 feet above us.

Composting

This gardening community is well-known for its active community composting program. The composting area was a highlight of the tour.



Here's the industrial scale composting operation. The plastic tubes are perforated to draw air and oxygen into the base of the compost pile.





More awesomeness is this combination triple-bin compost system and grape arbor.

Annie's Garden

Walking from the entrance to the rear of the garden.




At the rear of the garden are these ying/yang beds.



Looking back toward the street entrance.

Glam Shots

Lunaria Pods, Annie's Garden


Death Valley, Annie's Garden


Harvest wreath hanging inside the door of the tool shed in the Garden of Union.


Hydrangea quercifolia, Oak-leaf Hydrangea, with harvesting basket.


Grapes on the composting arbor.


Rhubarb


Water lily.


Hollyhock.


These beautiful beetles were buzzing and crawling around some squash plants. Probably not good for the squash, but I was intrigued. Anyone know what these are?

Related Posts

Green With Envy Tour of Brooklyn Community Gardens, July 12 and 26
Brooklyn Bear's Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.1
Hoyt Street Garden, Boerum Hill, Green With Envy Tour, I.2
Wyckoff-Bond Community Garden, Boerum Hill, Green With Envy Tour, I.3
David Foulke Memorial Garden, Boerum Hill, Green With Envy Tour, I.4
Warren-St Marks Community Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy, I.5
Baltic Street Community Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.6
Lincoln-Berkeley Community Garden, Park Slope, Green With Envy Tour, I.7