Weeping Willow

This is a close-up shot of a weeping willow blossom found around the Bow Lakes inside the Central Park recently. The tree has an interesting structure, unlike anything I've seen before. The truck grows up tall and strong but the branches all limp downwards like tentacles of an alien creature.

So what is the strangest tree or animal you have ever seen.

Carnivore

This is a carnivorous plant called Drosera or Sundew that I saw at the green market at Union Square last weekend. The tentacles at the edge of the leaves are super sensitive and can secrete enzymes to dissolve the preys that fall into their grasp.

So are you a carnivore or a vegetarian? What is your favorite meat product?

A Bird in the Bush...

This photo would have been perfect for Christmas Day but it was taken yesterday morning. I was less than 3 feet (1.5 meters) away but the bird ignored me and continued eating red berries from the holly bush while I took over a half dozen photos of it. It was probably thinking, "How rude!"

So do you think it is rude to take photos of people (or animals) while they are eating?

Wasp & Cicada

I saw this wasp carrying a cicada up the tree outside my apartment building last weekend. Upon further research, I found out that it was a cicada killer wasp that preys primarily on cicadas. Incidentally, I heard the cicadas singing outside my office last recently. I guess it's cicada season.

So have you ever heard of a cicada song?

Flowering Tree

I don't know the name of this flowering tree but it stands about 10 feet tall and is covered with these white palm sized blooms. It doesn't have any fragrance -- not that I could detect it. But I love the unusual green and white colors together.

Lately, I have been noticing (i.e. taking more than just a glance at) trees. I found that I love dwarf Japanese maples and fragrant peony shrubs. So do you have a favorite tree or plant?

Cruelty Free Life

Bonsai is a traditional Chinese art of training trees and shrubs into miniaturized version of adult plants. Tree species like maple, pine and elm are regularly pruned to stunt the growth and shape their foliage. Then wires are used to produce pronounced bends and curves in the brunches and trunks to mimic the appearance of age and growth.

This photo was taken on a street in Chinatown. The vendor had a cart full of bonsai trees in different sizes and shapes. Some of the bonsais are about the size of a cupcake while others are larger.

Do you find this practice barbaric or do you think it is an acceptable way to produce an aesthetically attractive plant?