NYC Wildflower Week

Walk on the wild side!
Let our knowledeable field guides introduce you to native plant life in local natural areas.

Sunday, May 4th
Cunningham Park, Queens- 10:00 am
Wild Project Green Roof, Manhattan – 11:00 am
Greenbelt Native Plant Center, Staten Island – 1:00 pm
Prospect Park, Brooklyn – 3:00 pm

Monday, May 5th
Wolfe’s Pond Park, Staten Island- 1:00 pm
Saint Simon Stock School Green Roof, The Bronx- 2:00 pm

Tuesday, May 6th
Hunter Island, Pelham Bay Park, Bronx- 10:00 am

Wednesday, May 7th
Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan- 10:00 am

Thursday, May 8th
Oakland Lake, Queens- 3:00 pm

Friday, May 9th
Bloomingdale Park, Staten Island – 1:00 pm
Gardens of Remembrance, The Battery Promenade, Manhattan – 4:30 pm

Saturday, May 10th
Ocean Breeze Park, Staten Island – 1:00 pm

CUNNINGHAM PARK, QUEENS
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 10:00 AM

Guide: Eric Morgan (ecmorgan3@yahoo.com)

Location: Meet at the North Woods trail at 210th St and 67th Ave

Walk Description: A walk through one of the most undisturbed natural areas in the city with a mature growth of red and black oaks, tulip and hickory trees. In the spring, the understory is filled with a large variety of native wildflowers, flowering dogwood and ferns. We may even see windflower (Anemone canadensis) and doll eyes (Actaea pachypoda), two species of NYC-rare spring wildflowers.

Directions:
Public Transportation: Take the E or F train to Union Turnpike and then the eastbound Q46 bus to 195th street. Or take the Long Island Railroad to Jamaica Station and then take the Q44 bus to Union Turnpike (towards Flushing). Transfer to Main Street and Union Turnpike to the Q46 bus eastbound.
By Car: Take the Grand Central Parkway to exit 20, Francis Lewis Blvd, northbound. Take Francis Lewis Blvd north and make a left at the first light onto Union Turnpike. Make your second left into the parking lot at 196th Place.

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WILD PROJECT GREEN ROOF, MANHATTAN
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 11:00 AM

Guide: Marni Horwitz, Green Roof Designer/Installer, Alive Structures marni@alivestructures.com, 917-743-7735

Location: The Wild Project Theater, 195 East 3rd Street (between avenues A and B) New York, NY 10009 (East Village)

Walk Description: The Wild Project Theater lives up to it’s name with a mix of native wildflowers, groundcovers and sedum on it’s roof. The roof is one of the few green roofs in New York City that include native species. It is 1,500 square feet with a small deck area, solar panels, and lightweight pavers made from recycled materials. The roof was installed by the green roof installation company Alive Structures in September 2007.

Directions:
See Google Map

GREENBELT NATIVE PLANT CENTER, STATEN ISLAND
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 1:00 PM

Guide: Edward Toth, Director (718) 370-9044 (edward.toth@parks.nyc.gov)

Location: Meet at the Nursery

Walk Description: The Greenbelt Native Plant Center is the only municipal native-plant nursery in the country. It is a 10-acre greenhouse and nursery complex owned and operated by the City of New York Parks and Recreation on Staten Island. The center has spent two decades raising specimens of the city’s indigenous flora for use in local restoration and replanting projects. The nursery is the only contributor in the Western Hemisphere of urban seed sources to the Millennium Seed Bank Project of the Royal Botanical Garden at Kew.

Directions: Located at 3808 Victory Blvd in Staten Island.

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PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 1:00 PM

Guide: Anne Wong, Director of Landscape Management (awong@prospectpark.org)

Location: Meet at Prospect Park Audubon Center

Walk Description: Tour recent restorations in the woodlands and along the waterways in Prospect Park. The walk will focus on native plantings as well as invasive plant problems.

Directions: The Audubon Center and Visitor Center at the Boathouse is located just inside the Lincoln Road/Ocean Ave. entrance to the Park.
By Subway: Q, S or B trains to Prospect Park station. Exit at Lincoln Road and follow Lincoln Road to park entrance on Ocean Avenue. Walk along the roadway, cross the Drive and continue following the path downhill through the Cleft Ridge Span Bridge.

By Car: From Manhattan via Manhattan Bridge: Go straight on Flatbush Avenue for about 2 miles until you reach Grand Army Plaza. Go halfway around the circle and continue on Flatbush Ave. (the Brooklyn Public Library will be on your left and the Park on your right). After you pass the Zoo and the Lefferts House on your right, make a right hand turn at the traffic light at Ocean Avenue. Follow Ocean Avenue to the next major intersection, which is Ocean and Parkside Avenues. Make a sharp right into the Park (diagonally across from McDonald’s). Proceed slowly on the Park Drive to the flashing light where you make a left into the Wollman Rink Parking Lot. You will be directed to the Audubon Center, a five minute walk from the parking lot.

From Long Island via Brooklyn-Queens Expressway: Exit at Tillary Street and turn onto Flatbush Avenue. Then follow the above directions: Manhattan via Manhattan Bridge.

From Staten Island via Verrazano Bridge: Follow Brooklyn Queens Expressway, Exit at Atlantic Avenue, making right onto Flatbush Avenue. Then follow the above directions: Manhattan via Manhattan Bridge.

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WOLFE’S POND PARK, STATEN ISLAND
MONDAY, MAY 5, 1:00 PM

Guide: Ray Matarazzo, Naturalist, Staten Island Museum of Arts and Sciences, (718) 727-1135

Location: Meet at the Field House

Walk Description: Wolfe’s Pond Park contains mature upland woods, swamp forest, open marsh, ponds, and shoreline on Raritan Bay, making it one of the most diverse parks in the city. This large park is a refuge for scores of native plants and animals.

Directions:
By Rail: Take Staten Island Ferry to St. George. From Ferry terminal, take Staten Island Rapid Transit to Prince’s Bay (Seguine Avenue). Walk south on Seguine. An entrance to the northern side of the park is on the right at the end of Florence Place. To reach the southern end of the park, walk south on Seguine to Hylan Blvd. Turn left on Hylan, and walk to Cornelia Avenue. Turn right on Cornelia, the park entrance is on the right. The walk from the train station to the south entrance of the park is about 2 miles.

By Bus: From St. George take the S 78 (Amboy Rd./ Main Street) bus to Luten Avenue and Hylan Blvd. Walk one block west to Cornelia Avenue. Turn left on Cornelia. The park entrance is on the right.

By Car: From St. George take Victory Blvd south to Slossen Avenue. Turn left onto Slossen. After 2 traffic lights turn right to Route 278 entrance, Staten Island Expressway South. Take the Expressway to Route 440. Follow the signs for the Outerbridge Crossing/New Jersey. Exit Route 440 at Exit 1, Arthur Kill Road. This is the last exit before the bridge. Turn right at the stop sign at the end of the exit ramp. Take the first right, Tyrellan Avenue, to cross over the highway. Turn right onto Page Avenue. Follow Page Avenue to Hylan Boulevard. Turn right onto Hyland and follow the road to Cornelia Ave. Turn right, the park entrance is on the right.

SAINT SIMON STOCK SCHOOL, THE BRONX
MONDAY, MAY 5, 2:00 PM

Guide:Jeanette compton jeannette.compton@gmail.com

Location: Saint Simon Stock School, 2195 Valentine Ave, Bronx.

Walk Description: This thriving green roof was installed by The Gaia Institute in 2005. It is planted exclusively with New York State native wildflowers and grasses. The roof is used by the school as an educational center, an area for learning about horticulture, ecology, sustainability, and art.

Directions:
See Google Map

HUNTER ISLAND, PELHAM BAY PARK, BRONX
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 10:00 AM

Guide: David Kuntsler, NYC Parks & Recreation (718) 430-4684

Location: Meet at the northwest corner of the Orchard Beach parking lot (far left corner from entry booth)

Walk Description: Hunter Island in Pelham Bay Park is home to giant oak and tulip trees that could predate the American Revolution. It also supports one of the richest concentrations of native, rare plants in the city. Of spring wildflowers, expect to see carpets of trout lily (Erythronium americanum) and spring beauty (Claytonia virginica). We’ll also see ramps (Allium tricoccum), lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum), and emerging rare ferns.

Directions:
By Car: From 95 take exit 8B toward Orchard Beach/City Island. Stay straight to go onto Shore Drive. Cross the bridge and pass one intersection and then at the traffic circle, go ¼ around to make a right turn. At the end of the road, make a left onto Park Drive and the Orchard Beach parking lot is on the right.
From the Hutchinson River Parkway, take Exit 5 for Pelham Bay Park. Go straight through the first traffic circle and at the end of the road make a left onto Park Drive. Parking for Orchard Beach is located on the right.
From the parking lot, the Hunter Island Marine Sanctuary is located at the north end of the Orchard Beach Boardwalk, past the Orchard Beach Nature Center.

Public Transit: Take the 6 train, Bx5, Bx12, Bx29, Bx14 or Westchester No. 45 bus to Pelham Bay Park. Transfer to (or stay on) the Bx12 (summers only) and Bx5 (summer weekends only) which stop at the Orchard Beach parking lot. Follow above directions from the parking lot.

INWOOD HILL PARK, MANHATTAN
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 10:00 AM

Guide: Matt Palmer, Columbia University (mp2434@columbia.edu)

Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 218 Street.

Walk Description: Inwood Park’s forests contain mature red oak and some of the largest tulip trees in the City. There is also a rich, moist valley between two rock ridges called The Clove. During the early spring, the valley is covered in wildflowers, which are able to thrive before the thick canopy is filled. Some of these wildflowers include the city-rare downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) and Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria).

Directions:
By Subway: Take the 1/9 train to 215th street and walk north to 218th. Take a left on 218th to the end, and you will reach the park.
Or take the A train to 207th street and turn west onto Seaman Ave and walk north into the park.

By Bus: Take Bx7, Bx12, Bx20, M100 to 207th street.

By Car: From Westside Highway, take the Dyckman St exit. Follow the exit as it merges with Broadway. Drive north on Broadway to 218th street. The entrance to the Park is on the end of the street.
From FDR/East River Drive, go north to the end. The end of the highway is at Dyckman St. Bear left on Dyckman St. Take Dyckman west to Broadway and take a right on Broadway. Proceed north to 218th St and make a left turn and park at the end of the street.

OAKLAND LAKE, ALLEY POND PARK, QUEENS
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 3:00 PM

Guide: Aline Euler, Education Director, Alley Pond Environmental Center (718) 229-4000

Location: Meet at APEC

Walk Description: Oakland Lake is a 15,000-year-old spring-fed glacial kettle pond. Part of the original forest remains and Parks has worked to regenerate other areas with Tulip (Liriodendron tulipfera), Beech (Fagus grandifolia), and oaks (Quercus spp.) trees. Discover the wildflowers that grow in this section of the part.

Directions:
The Alley Pond Environmental Center, Inc. (APEC) is located at 228-06 Northern Boulevard, just east of the Cross Island Parkway – a one story building with parking behind the center.

Subway and Bus: Flushing Line (#7 train) to Main St.; Q12 bus to Northern Blvd.(East). APEC has a bus stop just outside the Center. It is the first building on the right after the X-Island Parkway. The Long Island Railroad also stops at Bayside, where you can walk south to Northern Blvd. and catch the Q12.

Directions from Manhattan: Take the Midtown tunnel to the L.I.E. Stay on the L.I.E. until you get to the Clearview Expressway exit. (Northbound towards the Throgs Neck Bridge). Take the Clearview to the Northern Boulevard East exit. Make a right turn into Northern Boulevard. Go straight for approximately 3 miles. APEC is located just past the Cross Island Expressway on the right.

Directions from LaGuardia Airport: Grand Central Parkway east to Whitestone Expressway to
Cross Island Parkway south. Exit Cross Island Parkway at Northern Blvd. (Exit 31E). APEC will be
on the right as you come off the exit ramp.

BLOOMINGDALE PARK, STATEN ISLAND
FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1:00 PM

Guide: Ray Matarazzo, Naturalist, Staten Island Museum of Arts and Sciences, (718) 727-1135

Location: Meet at Maguire and Ramona Avenues

Walk Description: See Staten Island's second best spring wildflower display in a 2 mile stroll of a mature forest along a truly meandering stream. This is Staten Island's best classical meandering stream with oxbows to boot. See masses of spring beauties and trout lily in bloom. A gentle walk along an easy trail.

Directions:
Public Transit: From the Staten Island Ferry, take the Staten Island Railroad from the St. George terminal and get off at the Pleasant Plains stop. Take the x22 from East 57th St/ 3rd Ave Bloomingdale Rd. The preserve is on the east side of the street.

By Car: From the Korean War Veterans Memorial Parkway coming from Outerbridge Crossing, exit at Drumgoole Rd and then make a left under the expressway on Maguire Ave. Take Maguire less than ¼ mile into the park. To use the expressway from Richmond Ave take the Maguire Ave exit and make a right turn to Maguire Ave. The Forever Wild portion of the park will be on the left side. From RT. 440 (West Shore Expressway) take the Bloomingdale Rd exit and turn left at the stop light. Take Bloomingdale Rd. to Drumgoole Rd. west and make a left. Take Drumgoole west to stop light at Maguire and turn left. Follow Maguire into the park.

GARDENS OF REMEMBRANCE , THE BATTERY PROMENADE, MANHATTAN
FRIDAY, MAY 9, 4.30 pm

Guide: The Battery Conservancy, 212 344-3491

Location: Meet at Castle Clinton National Monument in the Battery

Walk Description: The 10,000 square foot Gardens of Remembrance feature native grasses and perennials. These vast perennial gardens are the first phase of the horticultural master plan devised by renowned Dutch garden designer, Piet Oudolf. The plan combines 114 varieties of hybrid perennials and native plants, offering stunning beauty through all four seasons, while contributing to the sustainability of the park’s landscape and greatly increasing the efficiency of the Conservancy’s maintenance operations.

Directions:
The Battery is accessible from State Street and Battery Place. It is adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.

Public Transportation: East Side Express 4/5 to Bowling Green, or Midtown Local R/W to Whitehall Street, or West Side Local 1 to South Ferry

By Bus: M1, M6, M15 to South Ferry

By Car from the Upper West Side:
Take the West Side Highway / West Street south to the Battery Place exit. This is the last exit before the Battery Tunnel underpass. See map for available parking.

By Car f rom the Upper East Side:
Take the FDR Drive south to Exit 1 – Whitehall street. Parking is available immediately after the exit at 1 New York Plaza.

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OCEAN BREEZE PARK, STATEN ISLAND
SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1:00 PM

Guide: Richard Lynch, Sweetbay Magnolia Conservancy (rtlynch@verizon.net or 347.526.5507)

Location: Meet at the Northwest corner of the park at Quintard Street and Olympia Blvd.

Walk Description: Ocean Breeze Park (like many coastal parks in New York City) was originally primarily Spartina saltmarsh that was filled with dredged sand in an effort to create more upland areas. In some places the park is very dry (the higher elevations) and dominated by native and non-native coastal grasses and forbs (including large colonies of several species that are now considered endangered in New York State). In other (lowland) areas, freshwater marshes have been formed and support a diverse native flora, including the largest stand of Scouring Rush (Equisetum hymale) on Staten Island. For those interested in birds as well, Ocean Breeze contains the largest colony of American Turkeys in New York City (estimated at 300 birds). They can often been seen displaying or foraging in the park.

Directions:

By car from the Verrazano Bridge: stay on the West bound service road and turn left on Hylan Blvd; app. 1/2 mile turn left onto Old Town Road; This road turns into Quintard; Ocean Breeze Park will be two blocks on the right-hand side.