There are over 600,000 trees lining the streets of New York City and the beds around them amount to 400 acres of soil.  According to last Sunday’s New York Times, people will take advantage of the spring weather to satisfy the urge to do some gardening; even though the little plots of earth technically belong to the city, the neighbors will take ownership and plant flowers and  erect fences of wood, poles, old skateboards or cement blocks. Some have turned the space into a memorial for a departed loved one.

The parks department recognizes the effect trees have on flood control, lowering temperature and absorbing carbon dioxide among other benefits, and last year planted 15,000 trees in poorer neighborhoods.

Way to go,New York!