Fall Foliage can be Subtle By mid-October, we finally drove to New England in search of the fall foliage that just was not arriving in Riverdale. All that changed by mid-November and the neighborhood is dazzling. We have been gifted with beautiful weather, chill but filled with bright and penetrating sunlight. Although we usually talk […]
Gingko Trees in the fall Read More »
We were walking home Shabbos morning(9-11-21) at 11:30am and passed Independence Avenue & W. 236th St. On that corner (property of PS24), there was a white-flowered buddleia attracting tens of Monarch butterflies. We went back today, Sunday morning (9-12-21), and took pictures and videos. Buddleia flowers tend to bloom and die back quickly and, I
Years ago I planted a Clethra alnifolia, otherwise the Sweet Pepperbush. Although it has bloomed every year, I never paid much attention to it despite its fragrance because the flowers are not highly dramatic. Today, I realized that the shrub was awash with flowers and finally took a closer look. I was rewarded with partially
Conceptual Origin of Today’s Post The idea for this post came from Stephanie Coggins who closely studies Riverdale through a camera lens as she walks her newly adopted dog, Dickie. Dickie – Courtesy of Stephanie Coggins When I was in grade school we were already starting to wear woolens as the new school year began.
Strange Doings in Riverdale Read More »
Mysteries Abound Intriguing incidents seem to occur at the most unexpected times. Recent events certainly fit that pattern. On a recent Shabbos / Sabbath (Saturday, 9-18-21)at approximately 10:45am, our minyan (prayer group) was approaching the end of services. Instead of being inside the synagogue building at W. 246th St and Independence Avenue, we were in
Shabbos Mystery Bird Read More »
Is This a Modern Day Miracle!? If you want to see Methuselah, he is living on a kibbutz in southern Israel! Isn’t Methuselah the longest lived person named in the Bible at 969 years? And wouldn’t he have died a long time ago? Well, yes. All that is true but on our last trip to
Methuselah is alive and well Read More »
Verifying the First Experiment It was so exciting to have an ancient seed germinate and grow that Sarah Sallon of the Hadassah Medical Center decided to repeat the experiment. This was done to rule out any flukes with the first experiment that yielded Methuselah. Once again, she asked local archeologists for seeds from their collections
Methuselah has company Read More »
Photosynthesis by formerly Terrestrial Plants The sea grasses are green because they create their own food through photosynthesis. The green pigment, chlorophyll is sequestered in the plant organelle caused chloroplasts. Therefore, adequate sunlight is important for them in the same way that it is important for terrestrial plants. As photosynthesizing plants, sea grasses are a
The Green Beneath the Sea: Seagrasses Part II Read More »
Our Mysterious Ocean A Day at the Beach Despite having spent many a day on the beach at Coney Island in my younger years, I have never developed a love of the oceans; nevertheless, I have never been oblivious to its importance. Life began in the sea and the sea has nourished the biosphere from
Underwater meadows? Impossible! Read More »
Taking Stock When I was younger, there was a seasonality for produce. We looked forward to enjoying ripe strawberries in springtime and nothing compared to a warm peach dripping its juices in on a hot summer’s day. Over the years so much has changed. Positive changes include progress in the sciences with its attendant health
Rosh Hashanah and Botany Read More »