5 ways to celebrate urban nature
As part of NYC Wildflower Week, nature lovers gather on a green roof in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Credit: Handout
Are you ready for a nature walk . . . in New York City? And we're not just talking Central Park. The fourth annual NYC Wildflower Week, running through Sunday, is a chance to explore the city's diverse woodlands, wetlands and gardens -- some 53,000 acres that are home to 778 species of native plants. Check out the full calendar of events and register online at nycwildflower.org. Here are some weekend highlights:
1. Wave Hill
WHAT A guided walk through the grounds of this 28-acre public garden and cultural center, overlooking the Hudson River and the New Jersey Palisades, should offer an abundance of wildflowers, including the Celandine poppy, trillium, Virginia bluebell and wild columbine. Led by horticultural interpreter Charles Day.
WHEN | WHERE Friday at 2 p.m. Meet at the Perkins Visitor Center of Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue in the Bronx.
INFO $8 admission, 718-549-3200, wavehill.org
2. Interactive Plant Fair
WHAT Bring the whole family to this event at Solar One, a sun-powered green education center on the East River. Pot a free native plant to bring home, make seed balls, learn about insects and wildflowers, tour the native plant garden and try your hand at face painting and paper crafts.
WHEN | WHERE Saturday at 10 a.m., Solar One, on the East River just south of 23rd Street under the FDR Drive
INFO Free, 212-505-6050, solar1.org
3. Staten Island Greenbelt
WHAT The Staten Island Greenbelt -- 2,800 green acres in the heart of Staten Island -- is the setting for a moderate-length family nature walk, recommended for ages 8 and up. Jessica Kratz, nature center coordinator of the S.I. Greenbelt Conservancy, will lead the search for trillium, bloodroot, mayapple and other wildflowers. Wear long pants and sleeves and a hat, and bring water.
WHEN | WHERE Saturday at 11 a.m. Meet at the Nevada Avenue parking lot of High Rock Park, Staten Island.
INFO Free, 718-351-3450, sigreenbelt.org
4. Forest Park
WHAT Michael Feder of the Torrey Botanical Society leads a walk through this Queens gem, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also gave us Central Park. It's a last chance to view some fading spring epehemerals; bring binoculars if you'd like to do some bird-watching before or after the walk.
WHEN | WHERE Sunday at 10 a.m. Meet at Wallenberg Square, southwest corner of Park Lane South and Metropolitan Avenue in Kew Gardens.
INFO Free, nycwildflowerweek.org
5. Union Square Park
WHAT You can't get more urban than Union Square, but if you stop by this weekend you'll see highbush blueberry, Pinkster azalea, foamflower, wake-robin, running phlox, wild geranium, Solomon's seal, Virginia bluebells, golden alexanders and wood poppy in bloom in the native plant garden designed by Mariellé Anzelone, founder and executive director of NYC Wildflower Week.
WHEN | WHERE Open daily, 6 a.m. to 1 a.m., Union Square West at 15th Street
INFO Free, nycwildflowerweek.org
