Wednesday's parting shot

Spring vibes along Second Street between the Bowery and Second Avenue... thanks to the EVG reader for the pic!

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Robert Miner 

Spring cleaning on Seventh Street...

An early spring report from 97 St. Mark's Place

Text by Donald Davis 

Photos by Kelley Ryan 

This is an early planting report on the regenerative (no turning of the soil) tree plot in front of 97 St. Mark's Place. 

This information may help guide others who are trying to deal with rat burrowing. When the rats dig, they toss dirt and kill any seedlings before they have a chance to grow.

Last fall, we tacked chicken wire directly on top of the soil, successfully deterring the rats from burrowing. The last rat to make an effort was found dead last November after trying to crawl beneath the wire. We chose to leave it in situ for the winter. Recently, what we presume to be hyacinths have begun to sprout from the carcass (future generations of humans take note). 

Our perennial crocuses have emerged through the chicken wire hexagons after a tremendous upward push of the soil. With minimal guidance, the leaves have erupted. Last year, these guys suffered from the rat dirt. They look fine now, well on their way to flowering.

We have planted most of the plot with seeds that have worked well in this soil and light in the past. A second batch of winter rye, which grew over the winter, was planted, along with lettuce, sunflowers, and bachelor buttons. 

With the rain, we should see some emergence in a few weeks. You still have a few weeks to prepare your anti-rat efforts before the official planting season. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Regenerative agriculture in the East Village

Sunday's parting shot

Spring view from Ninth Street-Stuyvesant Street...

Monday's parting shot

A little spring from 10th and A today... happy spring equinox.

Sunday's parting shot

Thanks to Goggla for sharing this moment of beauty today... the magnolia tree in the New York City Marble Cemetery on Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue is in full bloom...

Spring break in Tompkins Square Park

Spring scenes today via Goggla...

Tuesday's parting shot

Photo in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon by Lola Sáenz...

March 21

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

A few photos from today's — pick your hashtag! — #WinterStormToby #SnowDay #4Easter #Noreaster4 etc. ...


[Photo by Peter Brownscombe]


[Photo by PB]


[Reader-submitted photo of the New York Marble Cemetery]


[Reader-submitted photo of 7th and A]


[Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg]

Equinox

Equinox

Equally the seasons compose the year,

Sun lifts its head above the horizon fair,

Winter quietly slips as Spring draws near,

Flowers split the soil their beauty everywhere,

Color holds the eyes interpretation,

Reluctant winds still tug at life ascending,

Standing bright Springs growing affirmation,

Light warming breaths hope reverberating,

New life coming in pulsing abundance,

A migration of birds, singing, nesting,

Folk coming from far and near, attendance,

Bands happy, Jazz Day, Dance Day, Rocking,

Soon lighter clothes we will be wearing,

Iced drinks sipping, hot coffee drinking.

•

peter radley

Spring forth

Tompkins Square Park today via Bobby Williams...

A sign of spring

The Hare Krishna tree in Tompkins Square Park is in bloom, as seen in the above photo via Steven...

St. Mark's Place in bloom

EVG reader Susan Schiffman shares this photo of St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

Spring where we can get it

Photo on East Fifth Street by peter radley

The first day of spring, 2015

Along Tompkins Square Park today via Bobby Williams...

So long to the last day of spring, probably

Photo this evening by Bobby Williams

A good sign

At the Tompkins Square Park Greenmarket today. A good sign that maybe spring is here?

Via

Spring on St. Mark's Place

By Bobby Williams.

3 spring-like scenes

Photos today by Bobby Williams.

Spring

Dave on 7th in the spring wonderland of Tompkins Square Park...