Part of Staten Island's awesome Bluebelt system
Taking a stroll through the Bluebelt, we find some raccoon tracks at the edge of a little creek identified as Sandy Brook by a plaque mounted on a nearby stone.
Presumably for the purpose of reducing vehicle traffic in the area, six consecutive intersections along Vernon Avenue are bisected by these diagonal automobile barriers. Another pedestrian triumph over the cars of Staten Island!
One theory: "Queen Anne of England, whose only recorded grace was a 'harmonious voice,' was fat and plain. Her namesake, Queen Anne's lace, is delicate and a marvel of floral intricacy."
Others say the flower's name comes from Queen Anne of Denmark, or perhaps even St. Anne.
A dumpster in a bag. In yet another damning indictment of the modern age, this thing has its own Twitter account.
Did you know that Dumpster is actually a brand name? Not surprisingly, the writers of "The Simpsons" did.
Albizia julibrissin, not to be confused with members of the genus Mimosa (which contains some of the few species capable of rapid plant movement)
Peering through the fence at a detention basin and pond/wetland system in the Lemon Creek Bluebelt. The landscape is so densely treed that I could barely see inside, but it wasn't too long ago that it looked like this.
I had to join these kids on a couple of occasions to keep from catching fire in the blazing heat.
Growing wild, it would seem, at the edge of Bloomingdale Park
