Greenery and flowers, birds singing and warmer temperatures ... it's a perfect time to venture outside into the nearest natural spot to find respite. New York City's parks and natural spaces provide enjoyment for millions of people and habitats for plants and animals, some of them rare or endangered.

When you think of New York City images, the first thing that comes to mind might be a bit different than the scenery in the photo below. 

No, it's not a photo of an Appalachian forest, but of a wetland in Staten Island. You can bring the Library with you on your explorations to help guide you in your walks as you discover the denizens of our natural places in woodlands, wetlands, beaches, and your front yard. For example, to identify the ferns in the foreground of the picture and to learn more about them, you may want to turn to A Field Guide to Ferns, or A Natural History of Ferns.

Many wildflowers are blooming in our woodlands, and you may have come across some that are similar to those pictured below in a photo by the author which was taken in High Rock Park, a natural preserve on Staten Island. 

You can identify flowers using a field guide from NYPL's catalog, perhaps the Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. There are trees in the photo too. Use a guide like New York City Trees: A Field Guide for the Metropolitan Area, or The Sibley Guide to Trees, to gain understanding of the diversity of trees in our urban environment.

Want to learn more about nature in New York City, and enjoy its parks with your family? Try a Big Apple Safari for Families, or A Field Guide to The Natural World of New York City.

Happy hiking ...