Marielle Anzelone is an urban conservation biologist, the former Plant Ecologist for the NYC Department of Parks’ Natural Resources Group, and a contributor to The New York Times. As the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, she and her colleagues work to protect New York’s natural heritage by inspiring the city’s residents.

Most New Yorkers don’t realize that there is bona fide nature to be found throughout the five boroughs. Believe it or not, New York City has more open space than any other city in North America, including towering forests, vibrant marshes, and grassy meadows. That adds up to over 53,000 acres of natural landscape!

NYC Wildflower Week is an opportunity to celebrate and appreciate the native flora that calls The Big Apple home, bringing together thousands of New Yorkers to experience an extraordinary range of activities. Here at The New York Botanical Garden we are proud to host a far-reaching tour of native flora on Friday, May 18. Aside from being free with the price of admission to the Garden (and led by three of our most brilliant botanical minds), the tour will also give you a sneak peek at our as-yet-unopened Native Plant Garden.

For their fifth year, NYCWW is expanding to include all of NYC nature, including salamanders, birds, and mushrooms–and it’s all happening between now and Sunday, May 20. Free events include guided nature walks, garden tours, and children’s interactive fairs. For more information visit the NYC Wildflower Week’s website, and get to know the nature near you!

My apartment’s not exactly the first place anyone would think to have a Christmas tree. It’s the size of a toddler’s shoe box and my daft cats have a sweet tooth for pine needles. However, for thousands of New Yorkers who did decorate trees for the holiday season, this past weekend was an opportunity to not only retire 2011′s evergreens, but grant them a second life.

24,231. That’s the number of trees recycled during this year’s MulchFest. It soundly tops last year’s final count of 17,000, and with good motivations–it’s the best way for New Yorkers to keep their conifers out of the landfill (the compost is probably better used elsewhere). On Saturday and Sunday, thousands of city residents hauled their trees to one of 35 MulchFest collection spots throughout the metropolitan area, handing over their firs and pines for a cup of coffee and a bag of mulch.
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Rustin Dwyer is Visual Media Production Specialist at The New York Botanical Garden.

Even pushing 65 years old, he’s still the lovable little engine who just wants to play in the field. In honor of our annual Holiday Train Show, Tootle the Train™ , the star of the classic Little Golden Book, has pulled into Botanical Garden station for a series of performances at the Janet and Arthur Ross Lecture Hall.

The show runs on most days, so be sure to check the website for dates and times.