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  • Home
  • PRESERVE & RESTORE
    • Ecology >
      • RutgersSiteVisit
      • Ponds
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    • Invasive Species
    • NativePlants
    • Trails Maintenance
    • Clean Ups
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    • noelTaylor
  • ENJOY
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  • B W Kids
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    • MemberInfo >
      • archive
    • presidentReport-Jan-21
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    • PastEvents >
      • Halloween-24
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  • JPL blog






brightwood park discoveries



Slime Mold!

5/24/2023

 
 This morning JPL and I came across each other in the park.  I was excited to hear that he discovered a patch of slime mold near the entrance of the park, on the right side of the trail.  I ran there and recorded the creature that I learned about in my first year of high school.  I noticed an extension of the slime mold to its left that appeared as a running animal.

*  Slime mold is a simple organism that consists of an acellular mass of creeping gelatinous protoplasm containing nuclei, or a mass of amoeboid cells.   In simpler terms, it is neither plant, animal, nor fungi.  Slime mold is a brainless, single celled organism with multiple nuclei!
Picture

Appreciation of Morning Freshness

5/24/2023

 
 The recent rain over the weekend not only kept the plants healthy and the flowers pretty, but also cleared the pollen particles from the air.  After waking up the morning after the rain, I could not wait to take delight at the freshness of everything.   
I first took a walk around my house, and saw wisteria crawling over the fence from my neighbor's yard.  The flowers and the buds looked beautiful under the morning sun.  On the vine hanging water drops looked like crystal beads on a necklace.  Buds of new leaves were like professional dancers performing on the stage by extending multiple arms.  In Brightwood Park the overgrowth of wisteria has been a threat to many trees and there is a current effort to remove it.  Yet at many homes it remains ornamental as long as the growth is under control.  
 
Going to the park early in the morning, the chance of seeing birds and animals is higher than the rest of the day.  Although the great-horned owl was not home, I was able to see a gray catbird on a nearby tree branch and a green heron from a distance away.  Along with the catbird and the heron, a mallard duck served as my photography model.
 
The reflection of the trees in the pond has always been an attraction to artists.  Today I saw a triangle-shaped stone located across from the dam and bridge.  With a fresh impression of the waterfront area of Manhattan where I visited a week ago, I named it Brightwood VIA 57 WEST.

The rain we had yesterday and last night not only kept the plants healthy and the flowers pretty, but also cleared the pollen particles from the air.  After waking up I could not wait to take delight at  the freshness of everything.  

I first took a walk around my house, and saw wisteria crawling over the fence from my neighbor's yard.  The flowers and the buds looked beautiful under the morning sun.  On the vine hanging water drops looked like crystal beads on a necklace.  Buds of new leaves were like professional dancers performing on the stage by extending multiple arms.  In Brightwood Park the overgrowth of wisteria has been a threat to many trees and there is a current effort to remove it.  Yet at many homes it remains ornamental as long as the growth is under control.  

Going to the park early in the morning, the chance of seeing birds and animals is higher than the rest of the day.  Although the great-horned owl was not home today, I was able to see a gray catbird on a nearby tree branch and a green heron from a distance away.  Along with the catbird and the heron, a mallard duck served as my photography model.

The reflection of the trees in the pond has always been an attraction to artists.  Today I saw a triangle-shaped stone located across from the dam and bridge.  With a fresh impression of the waterfront area of Manhattan where I visited a week ago, I named it Brightwood VIA 57 WEST.

The rain we had yesterday and last night not only kept the plants healthy and the flowers pretty, but also cleared the pollen particles from the air.  After waking up I could not wait to take delight at  the freshness of everything.  

I first took a walk around my house, and saw wisteria crawling over the fence from my neighbor's yard.  The flowers and the buds looked beautiful under the morning sun.  On the vine hanging water drops looked like crystal beads on a necklace.  Buds of new leaves were like professional dancers performing on the stage by extending multiple arms.  In Brightwood Park the overgrowth of wisteria has been a threat to many trees and there is a current effort to remove it.  Yet at many homes it remains ornamental as long as the growth is under control.  

Going to the park early in the morning, the chance of seeing birds and animals is higher than the rest of the day.  Although the great-horned owl was not home today, I was able to see a gray catbird on a nearby tree branch and a green heron from a distance away.  Along with the catbird and the heron, a mallard duck served as my photography model.

The reflection of the trees in the pond has always been an attraction to artists.  Today I saw a triangle-shaped stone located across from the dam and bridge.  With a fresh impression of the waterfront area of Manhattan where I visited a week ago, I named it Brightwood VIA 57 WEST.

The rain we had yesterday and last night not only kept the plants healthy and the flowers pretty, but also cleared the pollen particles from the air.  After waking up I could not wait to take delight at  the freshness of everything.  

I first took a walk around my house, and saw wisteria crawling over the fence from my neighbor's yard.  The flowers and the buds looked beautiful under the morning sun.  On the vine hanging water drops looked like crystal beads on a necklace.  Buds of new leaves were like professional dancers performing on the stage by extending multiple arms.  In Brightwood Park the overgrowth of wisteria has been a threat to many trees and there is a current effort to remove it.  Yet at many homes it remains ornamental as long as the growth is under control.  

Going to the park early in the morning, the chance of seeing birds and animals is higher than the rest of the day.  Although the great-horned owl was not home today, I was able to see a gray catbird on a nearby tree branch and a green heron from a distance away.  Along with the catbird and the heron, a mallard duck served as my photography model.

The reflection of the trees in the pond has always been an attraction to artists.  Today I saw a triangle-shaped stone located across from the dam and bridge.  With a fresh impression of the waterfront area of Manhattan where I visited a week ago, I named it Brightwood VIA 57 WEST.

Recent Developments in the Sanctuary

5/11/2023

 
 It has been a while since I last shared my Brightwood Park adventures.   While I still have hundreds of photos to process,  I would like to present to you a few interesting developments which caught my eye.

First, it is confirmed that a great horned owl moved into the famous old tree house near Prospect Street.  When I examined the image I took, I am unsure whether this fellow was making a funny face to me, or was born with cross eyes.

Second, sandpipers appeared last Saturday and almost visited the park everyday at the small pond.  I think I saw a male and a female today.

As far as the plants are concerned, a large flora of bluebell flowers (with blue-purple, pink, and white colors) came on stage.  Nearby there were a few jack-in-the pulpit plants.  The flowers of the latter almost changed everyday and developed beautiful colors and patterns.

The fungi are not lagging behind.  Near where the bluebells are, a group of mushrooms of schizophyllaceae grew in adorable formations on a fallen tree branch.  Some looked like Chinese fans and others appeared like human feet with multiple toes.  A few tree fungi (polyporaceae?) grew on a large log.  One of them had a shape like a heart, which reminded me of a patch of moss that I saw and shared a picture of two years ago (included in this album).  When you fall in love with Brightwood Park, you can really experience a heart-to-heart relationship with the plants, the birds, and the animals here.

    Chuan-Chu Chou

    I am a frequent visitor of Brightwood Park and enjoy sharing my discoveries.


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Location

Brightwood Park is on the North end of Prospect Street.  Go past Franklin School and look for the entrance on the left.

What Our Members Are Saying

"I love the work you are doing at Brightwood.  Your efforts have shone a light on the essential elements of the park that we all cherish: its natural beauty and tranquility."

"I have a deep fondness for Brightwood park and would like to see it restored, remain natural and continue to be a site of passive recreation."

"I loved growing up in Brightwood Park !"


"I found Brightwood a few years ago and it's a great place to find wildlife, fish, and enjoy nature. Nice and quiet; good place to un wind and relax. Love it!!!"

​"As a resident for almost thirty years in the Brightwood area of Westfield, I am thrilled to see what is happening to improve and preserve Brightwood park for today and future generations. "


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