New York City of Trees
Photographer and Parks Department veteran Benjamin Swett catalogues the city’s majestic branches
As spring tries to battle off the last bouts of winter in NYC, we are all anxious to get back to our favorite outdoor spots and explore some new ones. Just in time to answer that itch is Benajmin Swett’s newest release, “New York City of Trees“. The writer and photographer spent the past 13 years in the New York City Parks Department, where he had an opportunity to catalogue some of the city’s finest greenery. In his new book, Swett shares some of his favorite New York trees, telling the story of each one with the reverence of an old friend.
Photographed throughout the four seasons, the background of each tree is described along with an explanation of its significance to the neighborhood in which it stands. Written almost like a love letter to New York’s parks, the book showcases the importance of these natural monuments to the city’s past and its cultural fabric through a series of moving personal accounts and observations from Swett’s time in the Parks department. We love Swett’s thoughtful inclusion of all of the proper names and heights, which helped us get better acquainted with some of New York’s native species.
Due out on 26 April 2013, the book is available for pre-order through Amazon for $19.
Images by Kat Herriman
