Usually found, in nice weather, stooped or squatting or reaching intensely in NYC Parks...lost in the weeds...trying to get the perfect shot, with all the passersby staring at me trying to figure out what the heck I'm staring at! ;)

Lifelong nature geek/animal/biology freak who majored in anthropology/social theory/history of medicine as an undergrad (with a heavy biology emphasis). I really got into studying plants and fungi--especially all of our locally native and invasive, often medicinal/edible weeds--at Arbor Vitae School of Traditional Herbalism a few years ago. I also want to do/learn more foraging, permaculture, and good sustainable sources of herbs. Member of Metropolitan Society of Natural Historians.

SOOO grateful to all the botanists and more experienced/knowledgable folks here on iNat (and off) who teach me so much!!

I hang out with plants and pollinators for fun/therapeutic reasons primarily but look forward to upgrading from my naked iPhone lens to capture better macro shots so I/we can SEE more of the mysteries flying around / growing underneath us! I've been in NYC for 11 years now--once herb school opened my eyes to plants, I have never been able to look at this town the same way again. I've been amazed nonstop at the biodiversity that persists in and around NYC--so resilient, just like us humanoid NYers! Since spotting a PORPOISE (!!) 10-15 feet before my eyes on Saturday, and watching with some other folks as it swam right there before us at the shore of Riverbank Park for 10-15 minutes!!?--I somehow have a little more faith in our collective resilience.

By trade, I'm a medical copy editor. If any ecologists/biologists need their papers edited, I bet your writing will be way more exciting than my usual editorial content. =)

Would anyone like to cohost some super-local "plant/nature walks" for NYCers in our Parks, with or without a focus on (young) kids?? Chronic Lyme disease makes it hard to really keep commitments very well these days so would love a partner in crime for that! Also up for more frequent carpooling out of the city, for more SLOW hikes/foraging/observational/camping trips out into the woods.