Bronx River Sankofa Virtual Tree Tour

The Bronx River Sankofa Virtual Tree Tour was produced by Morgan Powell, Originator and Creative Director of the Bronx River Sankofa. This blog expands upon his Tree Appreciation Walk attended by more than 75 people. Click on each photo for its description complete with a walking guide so you can find each highlighted tree within Bronx Park. This public park contains 34+ tree types between Waring Avenue and Pelham Parkway… with dozens more outside the tour range. Enjoy the tour video here!

Here is a map of this tour’s starting point at the intersection of Bronx Park East and Waring Avenue:

Here are the main books that informed the tree appreciation walks of both July and August 2013. They are New York City Trees: a field guide for the metropolitan area by Edward Sibley Barnard, American Canopy: trees, forests, and the making of a nation by Eric Rutkow, Urban Tree Book: an uncommon field guide for city and town by Arthur Plotnik, and The Tree Identification Book: a new method for the practical identification and recognition of trees by George W. D. Symonds. Not shown are The Pecan Orchard: journey of a sharecropper’s daughter by Peggy Vonsherie Allen and Oak: the frame of civilization by William Bryant Logan.

Our official flyer for the day. Many thanks to Raphael Schweizer for helping arrange the graphic work by Donal Holway as well as reproduction of many posters seen from Pelham Parkway to Gun Hill Road.

Thank you Joe Linton for capturing this early moment in the Tree Appreciation Walk of Thursday, August 29, 2013. The site of this picture is the intersection of Bronx Park East and Waring Avenue. There were 54 people assembled (mostly beyond the lens) here. We would conclude the tour with 60 walkers. Our first Bronx River Sankofa tour in March 2011 set an attendance record for Bronx walking tours of 110 guests.

Thank you Joe Linton for capturing this moment in which a large Northern red oak provides opportunity to talk about the global (North Africa, Asia Minor, East Asia, Central America, and Europe) distribution of oak species and their many uses by humans over centuries. Such knowledge was derived mostly from the book, Oak: the frame of civilization by William Bryant Logan.

Here is where the tour starts at the intersection of Waring Avenue and Bronx Park East in the northeast Bronx, New York City: https://maps.google.com/maps/myplaces?hl=en&ll=40.861406%2C-73.87057&spn=0.008666%2C0.01929&ctz=420&t=m&z=16 Do you notice that this street has a row of Pin Oaks on both sides? This allee is a hallmark of Bronx Park East! This is where our tour begins on the eastern edge of Bronx Park. Waring Avenue is between better known Pelham Parkway and Allerton Avenue.

Descriptions of distance in this photo album will be given in paces. Your pace length will vary with your height and stride. My pace is approximately 1 yard, therefore all paces recorded here are one yard long.

Summer essentials for me included a breathable hat, a high quality tree guide, a bag for lunch and supplies with notepaper and a yard stick.

Ignore the acorns in this frame as different types of oaks are in the vicinity. The leaf in the center is where we want to focus; it is a Pin Oak leaf. Learn more at http://www.arborday.org/treeguide/treeDetail.cfm?ID=19 Now walk 14 paces W to the Northern red oak just off the entrance path.

Northern Red Oaks are plentiful in this eastern part of Bronx Park. Learn more about Northern red oaks at http://www.arborday.org/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?id=20 Now walk 17 paces northwest to the Empress tree with the wide trunk just north of the path leading into the New York Botanical Garden.

Empress Trees are native to China. Learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia_tomentosa Now walk 23 paces south to a Mulberry tree.

Mulberry Tree. Learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Mulberry Now walk 16 paces southeast to a black cherry tree with multiple mature trunks.

Black cherry tree. Learn more about this native species at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_cherry Now walk 6 paces southeast to a gray birch tree

Gray birch tree. Learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_birch Please continue 23 paces east to a Zelkova tree!

Zelkova tree. learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelkova_serrata Please continue 17 paces southwest to a Sweetgum tree!

Sweet gum tree. You may learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquidambar_styraciflua Please now continue 15 paces south to a Chinese scholar tree.

Chinese scholar tree. You may learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_scholar_tree Please continue 22 paces southwest crossing the asphalt path to a boxelder growing amid a wild-looking margin of trees with little to distinguish it.

Boxelder tree. You may learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_negundo Kindly walk 23 paces southeast -crossing back over the asphalt path – to a European hornbeam just outside of Waring Playground’s fence.

Please note that this picture captures a tree different from the one you will encounter if you are doing the tour on site within Bronx Park near Waring Playground. This is a European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) tree. Learn more about this highly ornamental tree at @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpinus_betulus Close examination of the fruit – after the summer 2013 tour – revealed it is not native Hornbeam! Please continue 22 paces west to a large and tall Silver linden.

Silver linden has a distinctive tonal contrast between its two sides. Learn more about this tree here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Linden Now walk 8 paces south to a 40+ foot tall Black Walnut.

Black walnut. Learn more about this tree here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Walnut When you are ready, please walk 37 paces west – crossing the asphalt path connecting the park entrance and Waring Playground – until you are at the edge of a steep decline just a yard or two from the Bronx Park East fence. The relatively narrow – trunked tree displaying lots of seeds mid summer through early fall is an Ash tree.

Note that this particular Black Walnut – farther to the south – is not the one my paces would lead you to. Thank you Wade Hanley for capturing this moment in which a beautiful Black walnut allows opportunity for us to gather around and explore its endless economic offerings in food and furniture.

Learn more about Ash trees here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_trees Then walk 11 paces southwest to a nearby hickory tree that is just off the asphalt path.

Hickory trees are celebrated with this definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory_tree Now, enter Waring Playground to the west. The first tree in your field of vision beyond the playground fence is a young honey locust tree.

The lighter toned tree in the foreground is a honey locust tree. It stands in stark contrast with the much larger trees around it within the fence of Waring Playground.

Honey locust tree leaves are celebrated here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_locust The south side of the Waring Playground comfort station is where you will find the Little-leaf linden as you exit the playground and rejoin the paved park path. It’s only four or so yards from the drinking fountain.

Here is a view from inside Waring Playground. The tree nearest to us is the Honey locust while the little-leaf linden can be seen a few yards past the blue and red play equipment.

Little-leaf Linden. Learn more about me here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little-leaf_Linden

Do you see the distinctive long and narrow bract from which fruit hang on this Little-leaf linden branch? Learn more about this species at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little-leaf_Linden Just parallel with this particular Linden on the opposite side of the gate is a Hawthorn tree showing off it’s characteristic thorns. It’s a relatively short tree with relatively narrow trunks. Please walk toward it!

Learn more about this Downy Hawthorn tree here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downy_Hawthorn When you have finished exploring this small tree, kindly walk south along the paved path approximately 75 paces past 2 lamp posts. To your left, you will see a somewhat tropical-looking Ailanthus tree 13 paces off the path.

Look at the thorns of this Downy Hawthorn tree. Learn more about this Downy Hawthorn tree here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downy_Hawthorn When you have finished exploring this small tree, kindly walk south along the paved path approximately 75 paces past 2 lamp posts. To your left, you will see a somewhat tropical-looking Ailanthus tree 13 paces off the path.

The Ailanthus tree is celebrated here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailanthus_altissima There is a large one with younger ones nearby like the one depicted here. Now turn west, standing in place, and notice a narrow – trunked Norway maple just 5 yards away!

The Ailanthus tree is celebrated here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailanthus_altissima Now turn west, standing in place, and notice a narrow – trunked Norway maple just 5 yards away!

Look at the propeller-like fruit on the Norway maple card beneath the Norway maple leaf. This common city tree is described here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway_Maple As you stand in place however face south – the direction the parallel path leads – you see a small lawn ahead of you. A mature Cottonwood towers in the near distance near the Thwaites Place gate of this park. Walk approximately 75 paces toward it.

Thank you Wade Hanley for capturing this moment in which we were walking between Waring Playground within Bronx Park toward a towering Cottonwood tree on 8-29-13.

The Cottonwood tree stands as a focus of a small lawn near Thwaites Place gate. Learn more about this great American species here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_tree Once you get close to it, standing beneath its canopy, see the lamp post to your right (west). A group of American Beech trees grows just beyond. You will see them from the paved path.

Heart-shaped Cottonwood tree leaves shown here. Learn more about this great American species here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_tree Once you get close to it, standing beneath its canopy, see the lamp post to your right (west). A group of American Beech trees grows just beyond. You will see them from the paved path.

Savor the distinctive look of this colony of American beeches. Learn more about these trees here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Beech The next major tree (approximately three stories tall) along this paved path has very deeply grooved pale bark and compound leaves. It’s Amur cork.

American Beech. Learn more about these trees here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Beech The next major tree (approximately three stories tall) along this paved path has very deeply grooved pale bark and compound leaves. It’s Amur cork.

Amur Cork has very distinctive pale and deeply grooved bark. Learn more about this tree at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amur_cork_tree

Amur Cork has very distinctive pale and deeply grooved bark. Learn more about this tree at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amur_cork_tree Get ready to savor the next major tree as you continue to walk south. It has yellow flowers in late winter/ earliest spring and red fruit in early to mid summer. The look of its parallel leaves inform you it’s a dogwood. This kind is called Cornelian cherry (not technically a cherry tree).

Cornelian cherry trees – a member of the dogwood family – can be learned about here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_mas You are now more than half of the way through this tour! Now walk toward and then past the Thwaites Place park entrance and down the ramp within the park. Along the right side of this ramp, you will notice a group of relatively short trees with thorny bark and compound leaves that stand out as extraordinary in their geometry! You might even see a semi-tropical look in them although they are native to this part of North America.

You are a little more than half through this tour as you pass near these street signs.

Do you see the group of Devil’s Walkingstick trees on the right side of this ramp. Learn more about this native species here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aralia_spinosa When you have finished marveling at the natural math of its leaves, continue to walk parallel to and then past the ball field. More and more, you will see Pelham Parkway in the near distance. Please look to your left and cross VERY carefully a lightly trafficed on-ramp to the Bronx River Parkway. You are now walking parallel with a red brick art deco building and parked cars are just a few yards from you on the opposite side of a thick wooden guard rail. Within a 2011 planting of small trees and shrubs here, beneath decades-old tall oak trees, is a shrub with strongly textured leaves and late winter flowers. It’s called Witchhazel.

Thank you Wade Hanley for capturing this moment on 8-29-13 in which we are CAUTIOUSLY crossing a Bronx River Parkway on-ramp at the intersection of Bronx Park East and Pelham Parkway just after viewing an American Hornbeam as we walk toward a quartet of London Plane trees.

Witchhazel trees are written about here: http://www.arborday.org/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?id=242 Neighboring with heart-shaped leaves is more than one Redbud tree.

Redbud trees are written about here: http://www.arborday.org/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?id=6 Are you ready for the next discovery? Continue in the same direction and skirt the edge of this green space, walking west (left) along Pelham Parkway). It may seem a little dangerous here, however there is a safe margin of green space for walking at this intersection of Bronx Park East and Pelham Parkway. Once you have made the turn and are walking as if to the train station in the distance (two blocks away…perhaps you can hear if not see it), you will see an asphalt path within this park that has buildings on one side and cars on the other. The first tree you see here has lateral branches (that spread out almost parallel with the ground toward the bottom) and small leaves. It’s a Yoshino flowering cherry tree.

The Bronx River Greenway you have been exploring is part of the national East Coast Greenway which has slowly been getting built from Maine to Florida. Learn more here: http://www.greenway.org/ and here http://66.240.202.37/puma/images/usersubmitted/file/BxRA_Walking_Guide_Map_Text.pdf

You will be showered with flowers if you are visiting in mid-spring! Yoshino Cherry is written about here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshino_cherry_tree You are now at the intersection of Pelham Parkway and Bronx Park East. Continue east over grass to a group of over 4 trees that stand out for their bark which appears to peal revealing a camouflage effect. They are London Plane trees.

Here’s a London plane tree! Learn more about these trees here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Plane_tree After you re-live memories almost everyone seems to have with these VERY popular trees, please step to the right. You will be walking east (against nearby Pelham Parway traffic) until you see a row of relatively short trees – none more than 12 feet tall – displaying profuse flowers in mid-spring and fruit from late spring to early winter. These highly ornamental trees are Crabapples.

Crabapple trees are celebrated here for you to enjoy:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crabapple With the above ground subway station of Pelham Parkway in sight, continue east along Pelham Parkway until the row of more than 7 crabapples gives way to the most massive tree we have encountered on this tour. This 5 story tree lives before you get to the next intersecting street (Boston Road). Often called the Liberty Tree for its role in the American Revolution, this is an American Elm tree. Please learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Elm

See the Crabapple tree bark? Crabapple trees are celebrated here for you to enjoy:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crabapple With the above ground subway station of Pelham Parkway in sight, continue east along Pelham Parkway until the row of more than 7 crabapples gives way to the most massive tree we have encountered on this tour. This 5 story tree lives before you get to the next intersecting street (Boston Road). Often called the Liberty Tree for its role in the American Revolution, this is an American Elm tree. Please learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Elm

Here is a branch of a Crabapple tree. The building in the background is located at the intersection of Pelham Parkway and Bronx Park East.

The massive tree you see here is an American elm. Would you like to learn more about this VERY historic American tree? Enjoy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Elm Our walking tour is now complete.