Author: Layne Rodney

This is the picture looking out of my bedroom window before the snowstorm.

The tree is a crab apple tree.  In the spring when the flowers on the tree are blossoming it is just magnificent. Now we only have shriveled-up crab apples.

However, there is a squirrel and a robin eating the apples. One day soon the rest of the birds and squirrels will discover the crab apples, and they will vanish in an instant.

That’s why I call it The Grocery Store. It is a place where they can come and get their food.

I wonder if the robin will stay all winter.  I was told by a bird guide from the Audubon Society that many robins stay year-round and feed off the berries. Hopefully my crab apple tree will help them stay.

Here is a picture of too many Canadian Geese.  I wish they would fly south and leave us alone for a couple of months.

The other day I went to the Bronx Zoo with my grandson. We went to the World of Birds exhibit and saw the bird of paradise. Not only did we see the bird, but it also sang to us. It was just beautiful.

If you look closely at the pictures, you can see the black birds in the tree. I only noticed them because they were telling each other that I was walking. They had a very harsh sound. This sound was not like that of crows but the Raven.

This is the third time I have noticed Ravens in Stamford. The first two times they were fighting with crows. This time they were just hanging out in the tree.

Further down the walk I heard a high pitch sound above me. Looking up, I saw two raptors circling looking for prey. Their wingspan was different from the usual red-tailed hawks. I will have to consult with an expert to find out what type of raptor they are.

The birds are always among us. Usually hidden in plain sight. It was so nice when their singing gave me the opportunity to listen and see them.

These turtles certainly seem to be enjoying summer. This picture is the causeway at the North Stamford Reservoir on Interlaken Road. I like passing this spot often.

As you can see there is a nice water cascade. I can usually start hearing the water when I am 200 feet from the stream. One of nature’s nicest sounds.

I also monitor the drought conditions from the causeway. The water usually stops running sometime in June and does not reappear until fall.

Last year the water started flowing again after we had that huge deluge of rain in the summer. However, we went for a couple of months without rain and the stream dried up again. It was late winter before the causeway had water flowing again.

There are some other places where you can hear the noise of water. Mill River Park is one spot and there are numerous places along the Mianus River. Vally Road in Greenwich, just across the Stamford border and is a great place to see and hear the Mianus River.

Enjoy nature’s sights and sounds.

Today’s morning walk did have a mission, to buy my monthly bus pass at the train station.

I usually walk down Summer Street to its end. Today I changed the route and crossed over to Franklin Street. At the end of Franklin is UCONN On the right and a little park on the left.

They have planted a vegetable garden in the middle of Downtown Stamford.  It is such a joy to see.  I will be monitoring the garden all summer and will report back on its progress.

I then walked down Washington Blvd to the train station. I passed 677 Washington Blvd

These are seats I believe in front of the building.

A little history. My first full time job was at that location at the old Italian Center. My daughter also had her first full time job at UBS. She followed in our footsteps. She also moved to Europe as my wife moved from Europe to Stamford.

Anyway, this is a photo of those same chairs ten minutes earlier. I was struck by the bottle design and had to investigate. It certainly did not look like a two buck chuck wine bottle

I would love to know the story behind the Cognac bottle. Was it two lovers celebrating? Was it Someone down on the luck saying what the hell

This is one reason why I walk. I never know what I will encounter. However, I know there will always be something, and it will be interesting.

Finally, I am writing this blog on the train back to Stamford, I had walked from Jackson Heights Queens to Flushing Queens. I walked from a Hispanic neighborhood to an Asian neighborhood.

There is such variety in the Northeast.

The Stamford Canopy

One thing Stamford has is an abundance of trees.  They are everywhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if we have over 100million trees in Stamford.

One thing that always interests me is the canopy of the forest. That area where the tops of trees merge to look like a giant carpet.

This picture shows a bump in the canopy. This tree is in my neighborhood. It wasn’t until I was on the third floor of AITE that I could see how it disturbs the canopy.

This picture is looking south from the Whole Foods parking lot at Bulls Head. You can see the merging of the Urban with the forest.

The canopy is a mystical place.  We can’t really explore it in person. I once participated in a video shoot where a drone with a camera went up just past the trees. The sight of the canopy emerging is truly spectacular.

There are many spots where you can see the canopy.

Next time I will list some spots to see the canopy.

This is Stamford, a strong suburban town.

This is Stamford, a strong and growing urban city.

This is Stamford, a town with many rural areas to it.

This is Stamford, a city with water. Long Island Sound and numerous rivers, streams and ponds.

I am writing this because I was at a meeting recently where the presenters talked about Stamford having a strong urban and suburban element. I thought they were missing so much more of Stamford.

Stamford is truly a diverse city. Not only do we have diversity with our citizens, but we also have diversity with our geography.

Start at Kosciusko Park and proceed North on Washington Blvd. If you are driving in twenty minutes you will have passed through all the different areas of Stamford.

I don’t think there is another town or city in Connecticut that has this range of diversity. Stamford is certainly unique.

Stamford is also a city with art. There is outside art all over Stamford

Recently my wife and I went to Wave Hill Gardens in New York City.

It is a lovely garden located in the Bronx with great views of the Hudson River. Nice flower beds and truly a feeling of being in a rural setting.

The easiest way to get there would be driving. However, as you know me that would be the last resort to try. We went the train/ walk route

We took Metro-North to Fordham Train Station in the Bronx. From there we walked west on East Fordham Road. Our destination was the University Place Train Station. East Fordham Road is a bustling road. Car traffic and pedestrian traffic is heavy. There were numerous street vendors selling vegetables and other items. 30 Minutes into the walk We stopped at Mario’s Pizza shop on the road.  I have been there many times. The pizza is very good.

From there it was a short walk to University Place where we took a train on the Metro-North Hudson Line to Riverdale

 The train ride was only ten minutes and offered great views of the Harlem River and the Hudson River.

Wave Hill is a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk from Riverdale train station. You truly feel you are in a country setting. It is surreal walking in New York City yet feeling like you are in rural setting

The journey was a great way to enjoy the diversity of New York City and experience part of New York that is not on the typical tourist radar.

Last Saturday March 29^th was an interesting weather day. The Stamford Temperature reached 76 degrees Fahrenheit and then dropped 25 degrees.

I was walking when it started to drop. It wasn’t gradual. One step it was warm, the next step was noticeably colder. I was surprised that there could be two temperature extremes right next to each other. It felt like there was an invisible curtain separating the temperatures.

I don’t think I have ever experienced a temperature drop like that where one foot makes such a difference.

Another reason to walk. Experiencing nature and all that life has to offer. If I had been driving in a car I would have missed the whole experience.

My grandson likes nature, and fishing is one of his joys. We have visited the local aquariums Norwalk, Mystic and Coney Island. I wanted to take him to the National Aquarium in Baltimore Maryland as I had heard it is very good

It is a three-and-a-half-hour train ride from Stamford to Baltimore.  I didn’t want to spend seven hours on the train just making it one day. So, we spent the first day in Philadelphia.

Arriving in Philadelphia we checked into our hotel and then we crossed Delaware like Washington and spent the afternoon at the Battleship New Jersey.

It was most impressive. The ship is enormous, and guns are enormous. There was so much history with the ship.  It is well worth the visit.

I must say the Philadelphia people are hardy. The temp Saturday night was in the 40s with strong wind and all the outdoor restaurant tables were full.

Sunday morning, we took the train to Baltimore. A ten-minute taxi ride and we were at the Aquarium.

The Inner Harbor is quite nice.  We could see Fort McHenry. The frigate Constellation is moored close to the aquarium.

The aquarium is well worth the visit. It was well laid out. The number of fish one could see was large.

They also had a rain-forest and an Australian section. The aquarium met all our expectations.

The logistics. Stamford to Philadelphia Saturday morning leave 8:55 arrive in Philadelphia 11:20

Sunday, leave Philly at 9:37 arrive in Baltimore at 10:50

Leave Baltimore at 5:03 and arrive in Stamford at 8:45.

If you book early enough the tickets are not that expensive