Tag Archives: Boston

Tour of the Rose Kennedy Greenway

by sicloot Posted on June 1, 2013

The elevated Central Artery running through downtown Boston was dismantled starting in 2004 as part of the Big Dig. The automobile traffic that would have taken the highway now moves below ground. In its place, Boston got the Greenway. On Thursday, I took a tour of the Greenway parks.

The tour was led by Darrah Cole and Anthony Ruggiero, horticulturists working for the Greenway Conservancy, the non-profit group that manages the parks.

Our group started at the Chinatown gate. The park there has reduced green space because the community asked for a plaza where they could hold events. One end of the plaza is lined with Dutch elm-resistant ‘Frontier’ elms. These elms are a hybrid of the European field elm (Ulmus minor) and the Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia).

Frontier elms on Chinatown plaza
Frontier elms on Chinatown plaza

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2013 Boston Bikes Update

by sicloot Posted on May 22, 2013

Steve Miller of Livable Streets and Nicole Freedman, Boston’s bike czar, spoke yesterday evening on the state of bicycling infrastructure in the city of Boston at a well-attended meeting at the public library in Copley Square. Boston City Councillors and mayoral candidates Felix Arroyo and Mike Ross supported this fifth annual event with their presence. City Councillor Ayanna Pressley may also have been present.

Nicole Freedman next to a slide 'State of the "Hub"'
Nicole Freedman presenting on the state of bicycling in Boston.

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Arboretum: Warblers and Trillium

by sicloot Posted on May 20, 2013

I returned to the Arboretum last Thursday to see if I could pick out a few migrating warblers. I was happy to see four species.

First, the American redstart. These birds spend the winter in the region from southern Mexico and the Caribbean to northeastern South America.

American redstart
American redstart

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Great Horned Owl at Forest Hills

by sicloot Posted on May 17, 2013

I had been hearing reports of a nesting pair of great horned owls and two owlets at Forest Hills Cemetery. I went by the cemetery yesterday to see if I could find any of them.

I found one of the owls high up in a hemlock tree. Since I couldn’t see any feather tufts on its head, I suspect this is one of the juveniles, although its size is already intimidating.

Great horned owl resting on a hemlock branch
Great horned owl resting on a hemlock branch

Thanks to arbotopia for the tip.

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Arboretum: Nests and Hummingbirds

by sicloot Posted on May 15, 2013

The birds in the Arnold Arboretum are now in the thick of spring. On a cool, sunny morning, I watched them build nests, sing to attract mates, and defend their territory.

Female red-winged blackbird holding straw in her beak
A female red-winged blackbird finds material for her nest

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Forest Hills Cemetery on a Spring Day

by sicloot Posted on May 8, 2013

Yesterday was the last in a long streak of sunny and dry days in Boston. I visited Forest Hills Cemetery to see what I could find.

I saw this eastern forktail damselfly resting on a reed at the edge of Lake Hibiscus. Damselflies rest with their wings closed or only slightly open. According to A Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Massachusetts, eastern forktails emerge early in the spring and are very common in this area.

Eastern Forktail Damselfly resting
Eastern Forktail Damselfly

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Urban Nature Walk: Muddy River/Fenway

by sicloot Posted on May 6, 2013

Jef led us on a walk along the banks of the Muddy River on a sunny, seasonal spring day. We first stopped to view some outdoor sculpture as part of the Through the Trees exhibition by studios without walls.

Through the Trees outdoor art
One of the “Through the Trees” pieces.

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Spring Walk Around the Pond

by sicloot Posted on April 29, 2013

We saw a couple birds for the first time this spring on yesterday’s walk around Jamaica Pond. A spotted sandpiper was hopping along the banks, trying to keep its distance from us. When it flew away, it flew low over the water.

Spotted sandpiper by the banks of Jamaica Pond
Spotted sandpiper

We also saw a yellow-rumped warbler. We could easily see the yellow patch under the wing but had to wait until the bird ruffled its feathers for us to see the namesake yellow patch on its back.

Yellow-rumped warbler, sitting still and flashing its rump
Yellow-rumped warbler, flashing its namesake patch on the right.

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Maple Flowers and Marsh Plants

by sicloot Posted on April 9, 2013

It is easy to miss maple flowers, especially on large trees. From a distance, the branches appear to blush and that is all. Look closely and you’ll see a profusion of anthers leaping out of short, red petals.

Red maple flowers
(Male) red maple flowers – accession #15350*A

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Muskrats on Jamaica Pond

by sicloot Posted on April 4, 2013

Jamaica Pond is finally ice-free! The wind coming off the water yesterday, however, did not feel like it. We took a walk as the sun set.

Canada geese in Jamaica Pond

American coots were diving for vegetation and then squabbling once a coot was successful at obtaining some. It’s late in the year for the coots, which should leave for their summer breeding grounds in the Upper Midwest and Canada any day now.

American coots feeding
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