An EVG reader let us know that a city crew is taking down a willow tree in the 9th Street Community Garden Park … Sandy's floodwaters killed the tree here on the northeast corner of Avenue C and Ninth …
As we understand it, the remaining willows at La Plaza Cultural across the way on the southwest corner of Ninth and C survived due to an underground stream beneath it that provides fresh water (and also makes development in that part of the neighborhood difficult). While those willows lost some branches, they remain healthy.
And EVG reader stickmanpk shared these photos…
These willows were planted by the 'Johnny Appleseed' of the East Village Community Gardens, Liz Christy, a pioneer of community gardening in NYC.
ReplyDeleteLet it be a reminder to people who buy those dumb multimillion dormitory apartments in the area how prone to disaster their investments are.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad an had to be done, but I wonder if any part of the tree could be salvaged. There was still some new growth coming out of the lower trunk.
ReplyDeletea couple hours of salt water did that? damn
ReplyDeleteI happened to notice last weekend a plaque on the willow tree just cut down that said it was planted by Liz Christy and Chino Garcia. Chino, of course, is co-founder along with Armando Perez, of CHARAS, the community and arts group that was housed in the former P.S. 64 at 605 E. Ninth St., between Avenues B and C, and which did so much for the neighborhood. If I remember correctly, the date this now-gone willow tree was planted was 1978. According to a 2003 Villager article, the two willow trees across the street in La Plaza Armando Perez were planted by Green Guerillas founder Liz Christy.
ReplyDeleteYes, fair warning to those that buy property in the flood zones so you can stay cushy in your cheap apartment.
ReplyDeleteGoggla, I've heard that you can cut willows back pretty far and they'll regenerate completely (as the two in La Plaza seem to be doing), but that if you lop too much off or they die back too far, they'll put out green shoots but will never really grow again. That one seemed pretty far gone, alas. I wonder if another would grow in its place?
ReplyDeleteWillows are finicky, magical trees. Want their feet in water. Not too many places they'll grow.
This tree was dead for three years and growing more brittle by the day long a hazard and there are others one on 8th street between C and B comes to mind. There is on in the back of community garden to dead fireman on 8th street between C and D. Do not need a trip down memory lane can watch Amazon "Mozart in the Jungle" for that... do not care if Johnny Appleseed planted it, it is dead remove it safety is the motivation
ReplyDeleteBe safe and anonymous ,and prosper the future is now.Cut out the deadwood and let's plant the seeds of forgetfulness..I will miss that willow.
ReplyDeleteThat thing needed to go a long time ago.
ReplyDelete