A place for all things nature

A place for all things nature

This space is a collection of my adventures.

  • Who lives here?

    Curiosity happens for me when I am connected to my body. After an intense mindfulness training weekend I found myself experiencing a desire to stay grounded and connect with nature. On my walks I was curious about voids, black holes in tree trunks. Who lives there, I wondered. I began to imagine the common animals…

  • Mountain Inspiration

    Mountain Inspiration

    Painted as a series, these watercolour landscapes were sent to friends and family this holiday season. I am hoping these small images can bring peace in the mind -a moment to rest. My inspriation comes from a recent visit to the Canadian Rockies.

  • Journaling to Connect Self to Nature

    Workshops are great. I attended one couple of weeks ago that was about nature education and bringing journaling to help children create a sense of belonging and curiousity. As an environmental/marine scientist, I observe nature to make connections and come up with questions that I try to solve and further our understanding. This work however…

  • Change of Season – Phenology of Plants

    Changes are occuring here, outside my window. The sumac buds are dulling in color from their vibrant red. The London Plane tree leaves are changing and falling to the ground. Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) are presenting themselves again with bright red fruits.

  • Keeping Trees Safe – NYBG

    I travelled to the New York Botanical Garden recently and photographed some of my favorite trees. I thought I would share with you the importance of preserving living trees on this beautiful land in NYC. Below are trees not just native to North America but are native to Europe and Asia. Red Oak standing tall…

  • Tree Appreciation

    I’ve been spending time observing trees recently. Here are a few images of my findings. Each tree has a connectedness to the other beings in nature and to us. I found many fungi and lichens attached to fallen trees. These organisms are especially interconnected to each other.

  • Female Horseshoe Crabs Laying Eggs

    While at Crossbay Blvd. Queens on May 25th, 2020, I observed a female horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) digging in the soft sand laying her eggs. Later, I observed males trying to find these buried eggs to fertilize them. This was exciting to me, they were working very hard to continue their next generation. Below are…

  • Horseshoe Crabs (Limulus polyphemus) Transport Ulva

    These critters (Limulus polyphemus) more closely related to scorpions and spiders, travel from the deep sea to breed on the Eastern Atlantic coastline and Gulf. Carrying with them Ulva, perhaps U. linza, a rapid proliferating species of Ulva known to habitat the Yellow Sea in China. Part of the composition of the world’s largest Ulva…

  • Branta bernicla foraging Ulva

    While at Dead Horse Bay, Brooklyn, New York on May 12, 2020 I watched a flock of Brants feeding (photos shown below). Branta bernicla, the Brant goose, usually feed on eel grass in estuaries. Since eel grasses are not present in Jamaica Bay, the Brants feed on the green algae Ulva among other organisms. However,…

  • Macroalgae of Gerritsen Beach, New York

    Taking a walk down to Gerritsen Beach from Marine Park on March 24, 2020 during low tide, I found several species of macroalgae common to New York coastal waters. Gerritsen Beach is located in south Brooklyn, New York City. Below are a few videos of macroalgae in action.

  • Bryophytes – Features of Green Algal Ancestors

    On March 14, 2020 we, (my partner, a friend, and I), went hiking at Harriman State Park in New York. My friend being from Southern California was fascinated with the moss (Bryophytes) growing in the park because he doesn’t see them in the dry desert climate. Many photos later I decided I was going to…

  • Ulva compressa L. Tubes and Blades in Jamaica Bay, NY

    The video here was taken in June of 2016 at Marine Park, Brooklyn, New York. Ulva compressa L. tubular morphology is abundant. This video was taken in July of 2015 at Norton Basin, Queens, New York. Ulva compressa L. blade-like morphology is abundant.

  • Ulva species found in New York Coastal Waters

    Below are common Ulva species found in the coastal waters of New York, USA. Some of the specimens have been genetically tested and compared to studies identifying specimens with cytology and morphology. These specimens were collected between the years 2013-2019. You’ll notice I’ve found that Ulva compressa, known to have a tubular morphology, also has…

  • Common Macroalgae Found in Southern Taiwan

    Below are genera that are commonly found in Southern Taiwan. Specimens were collected in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan in May of 2015. Images were contrast enhanced. Chaetomorpha antennina (Bory de Saint-Vincent) Kutzing Chaetomorpha crassa (C. Agardh) Kutzing Chnoospora pacifica J. Agardh Chondria armata (Kutzing) Okamura Cladophora meridionalis Skai et Yoshida in Yoshida Dictyopteris repens (Okamura) Borgesen…

  • Common Macroalgae Found in New York Coastal Waters, Edited to Enhance Features.

    Below are common genera of macroalgae found in New York coastal waters. Sampling sites include Point Lookout, Long Island, Port Jefferson, Long Island, Montauk Point, Long Island, and Jamaica Bay, New York City. These images were edited to enhance the macroalgae features to show more vibrant illustration of color and contrast. Each specimen was scanned…

  • Common Macroalgae Found in New York Coastal Waters

  • Research of Marine Macroalgae

    Introduction I am passionate about marine macroalgae (seaweed). My goal is to research ways to utilize seaweed in our daily lives. Whether it’s helping oysters get their nutrients and thrive or inventing ways we as humans can consume seaweed, I aim to provide a method for this goal. I am interested in your ideas. Feel…