Douglaston is an area in north-east Queens (near the Long Island border) that filmmakers often use when they’re looking to shoot in an upper-middle class suburban neighborhood. The houses are all relatively large, with (gasp!) actual front lawns AND backyards, and lots of breathing room between properties.
I was scouting Douglaston near Udalls Cove when I passed a house with a beautiful, thickly-set bamboo garden on the front lawn:
Note how high the stalks reach in the above picture. As far as I can remember, I’ve never seen this much bamboo outside of a park in New York.
Best of all: the owner set a path through the side of the bamboo. The overhanging foliage completely blocks out the sunlight as you get deeper, giving it the feel of a secret passageway.
For anyone inspired to do the same, bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth (growing up to 48 inches in a single 24 hour period!) and reaches full height in just 3-4 months! And apparently, it can grow just fine in Queens [Update: based on the comments, this is actually a horrible idea, as it will spread without control and ruin everyone's land...so don't do it!].
I will add that in repeating it frequently for this post, the word “bamboo” has suddenly lost all meaning.
-SCOUT
Bamboo is a highly invasive non-native species and should not be planted anywhere.
A neighbor of ours had an awful experience with bamboo. It’s very difficult to contain unless you are planting it in an area surrounded by concrete or some other such border. It will take over and is very difficult to stop or keep within bounds.
Nothing future homeowners of this property can do to eradicate this absolutely horrible introduced exotic grass- aside from repeat treatments by a dangerous herbicide cocktail spray. Bamboo may remind the oriental immigrant of home but it is an invasive weed NOT a showy magnificent shade tree or other ornamental plant. Bamboo has joined the ranks of Kudzu, Porcelain Vine and the Asian Longhorned Beetle all asian invasive species that cost munipalities and homeowners $ billions to control. Yes and Kudzu is also in Flushing, Queens. Uncontrolled bamboo has already established populations in many NYC parklands.
While your love from bamboo is impressive, you are no Eleanor Crum!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glark/2420711800/
Technically, Queens & *gasp* Brooklyn are on Long Island, so there is no actual “Long Island border” with Queens. It’s understood, though, that you meant Queen’s border with non-NYC Nassau County. I just wish people would get their terminology right & realize Long Island has no borders other than its water boundaries since it is an island.
The pictures, however, are lovely. I agree with the previous commentators that bamboo outside of its native habitat is highly invasive and should not be planted unless you are going to actively prevent its spread. Along with English ivy, it’s one of the worst invasives in the NY metro area.
so, amazing and grand of it. i am also writing the blog about bamboo ! i love it.
Wow, a lot of these comments have such racist undertones! Who knew Bamboo could provoke such anger!
To all the nay-sayers here: you really need to research bamboo a little before you comment! Bamboo consists of around 1000 species and is NATIVE to every continent but Europe and Antarctica. It is absolutely not an imported invasive species; it has grown across the Americas, Africa, Australia and Asia for thousands of years.
Yes, it does tend to spread, but there are 2 types of bamboo: running and clumping. Running bamboo spreads like wildfire if not controlled; however, clumping bamboo grows in distinct “clumps” and is easily contained to small areas. It is an incredibly sustainable plant that is going to be the future of many material industries, is an extremely hardy plant, and, as one study suggests, could be the answer to global climate issues.
Next time you want to knock something, at least know a few facts before speaking.
http://www.bamboosourcery.com/
http://www.americanbamboo.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo
Thanks for the info.
Just curious – is that a “clumping” or a “running” kind in the photos or is it hard to tell?
Bamboo is non native and kills all native vegetation in the NE, like the Australian Pine has done in South Florida. It has stronger root systems than most native vegetation and will literally steal their water until they kill the other trees and plants. This plant needs to be eradicated in NYC. I am having a battle with my neighbors who have planted a small bamboo garden in Flushing, Queens, that has a massive root system beneath the ground and is killing our apple, pear, plum, cherry trees, and is also coming up around all our ornamental vegetation. It’s a matter of time before it kills everything. Anyone who’s tried to kill a bamboo tree will tell you it’s not like native vegetation: you can’t just cut it down. The roots need to be dug out, and cutting it makes cutting massive sewer pipes look easy. Please do not encourage people to plant these types of plants in NYC. Sure, it’s a pretty plant, but it has no place here.
Turn a couple of pandas loose in there, and they’ll at least keep it trimmed a bit…
ahh yes , rip it out and cover it with the most invasive thing in Queens that is robbing everything of water and oxygen and does nothing to clean the air or cool our homes CONCRETE
) . Oh and by the way a plant that reproduces vegetatively is very easily controlled, we just need a little education .
I think that’s absolutely beautiful, and I enjoy the pathway carved through it. It may be the perfect solution to cover up a neighboring abandoned property.
By the by Scout, if you’ve never heard of it, what you refer to by the word bamboo losing all meaning after using it too frequently in short succession is referred to as “semantic satiation.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_satiation
There is a beautiful bamboo “forest” at the Rutgers gardens in East Brunswick Jersey and a small plot in Fort Greene btw DeKalb and Willoughby (I think the actual street is Clermont Ave). Quite interesting to look at.
There are ways of containing bamboo, and there are non-invasive varieties. Running bamboo is invasive because it spreads via rhizomes that can go 10 or more feet from the original plant, and can go under fences and even driveways. It can be contained by placing the proper barrier (18 – 36 inches deep) around the desired area. Clumping bamboo does not spread as quickly, and only goes a few inches from the original plant each year. It is easily contained, though it generally does not grow as running varieties. Out of control bamboo is the product of neglectful owners. Research, contain and care for bamboo. It will not be your enemy.
Here’s a movie idea: about how the residents of that area try to kill off the bamboo spreading through the community. Take a walking tour of the area (it is worthwhile, check out the Forgotten NY web site for some of the history of the place – it was not always so rich), and be sure to check out Parsons Beach, the last chunk of public access beach that has been allowed to be covered over with poison ivy to keep the plebians out of the neighborhood.
This Plant should be banned and people that plant it need to control it or be arrested. Horticultural terrorism
that has been my favorite house in the manor for years now. would be a shame to see it without that amazing bamboo area
That is beautiful. Wow the people are ridiculous in here. It’s obviously staying confined to the area and not causing problems for anyone. It’s created a very pretty forest for the home owner and others to enjoy. Great for the environment. Just because something isn’t native doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be planted. Just don’t plant it on a neighbor’s border and learn how to control it and you’ll be fine.
People are acting like it will take over entire forests and all you’ll see is bamboo when you drive down the highways or look down from a plane. In the grand scheme of things it really doesn’t go far. Eventually it does stop even naturally on it’s own. Either use a barrier or give enough room to grow. It’s easily controlled by mowing too.