In addition to a significant population and numerous famous buildings, New York City has millions of trees. One specific tree, the majestic London planetree stands out among the foliage. These New York giants with wide trunks and long branches reach upwards towards the skyscrapers. Statistics show Manhattan’s most common species clocks in at 83,788 trees, nine percent of its tree population.
In the summertime, London planetrees provide a cathedral-like stretch of green in the Chelsea neighborhood. Walkers can take in the view on a sunny day. Start at the Penn South co-op housing complex at the intersection of 24th St. and 8th Ave., walk past the Fashion Institute of Technology to W. 29th St., then proceed across to 9th Ave. Reality strikes with intensity here—set against an eerie backdrop—the unsettling, dystopian Hudson Yards overshadows the trees.
Years ago, walking along W. 29th St., I heard a loud noise. A branch cracked and fell to the sidewalk. A nearby mom with junior explained there’s a problem. “I’m scared.” the boy whispered. Chicken Little thought the sky was falling. Shocking natural events are nothing new to New York. In 2010, an infant was killed when a honey locust branch fell on mother and child in Central Park Zoo. Excessive dry and extreme seasonal conditions can cause leaf browning and defoliation among other weather risks.
Hardy planetrees are a hybrid of the American sycamore that do well in temperate urban climates. They require the summer heat. The trees act as natural sponges absorbing rainwater, which helps reduce runoff. Drawbacks include roots that can cause sidewalk problems, a ton of leaves to deal with in the fall, and its fruit; those familiar seedy, puff balls can cause problems for asthma sufferers. Cheetah-speckled, olive- brown bark peels-off like layers of old paint. The green leaves resemble a maple leaf.
The New York City Parks Department’s logo is a planetree leaf. Their website closely monitors trees. It’s a terrific online resource for aspiring horticulturists and stewards. Permits of every kind are needed to do anything tree related—construction, removal or planting—so basically, trees are a don’t touch, look only situation. Penn South contracts arborists who conduct inspections and perform maintenance. A small workforce cares for the landscaped property consisting of 15 large buildings with roughly 5000 residents. In a process known as pollarding, trees are pruned.
On an early Friday morning, preparations are underway. Sidewalk areas around and under the urban forest are cleared of pedestrians and roped-off. A truck equipped with a cherry-picker basket stations itself at one end of the block. An arborist dives right into the dense canopy, carefully inspecting from high above. Examining leaves and branches, they prune where needed with a small hand and power chainsaws. The crew clears overgrown branches and dead wood, producing dust and pollen clouds. Foliage is thrown to the ground, gathered, and mulched on the spot as they work their way around Penn South’s perimeter like clockwork.
New York City includes many well-known parks and gardens. Ancient radical hippies, buskers, and tree-huggers all know about a unique tree in Greenwich Village with a dark past. On the northwest corner of Washington Square Park, a fascinating massive English helm is said to be over 350 years old. According to legend, horseback thieves and traitors were hung from “Hangman’s Elm” branches.
In 1819, Rose Butler, a 19-year-old slave, was taken to the gallows 500 feet from the infamous tree where the fountain now stands. Back then, the park was a Potter's Field; an estimated 20,000 yellow fever dead are still buried below. The accused domestic worker was the last person to be publicly executed here.
American Eugene Odum (1913-2002), called “the father of modern ecology,” envisioned the concept of the ecosystem, as we know it. The basic awareness principles of environmental preservation seem progressive—but its roots run deep— from Babylon’s ancient hanging gardens to building green spaces in tomorrow’s cities. Despite our provocative cultural times living with difficult environmental issues, trees still remain a vital resource as city horticulture cross-pollinates with history.