October Urban Nature Walk at Cedar Grove Cemetery

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I am indebted to my friend Ale (pronounced Allie) for suggesting the Cedar Grove Cemetery for our October Urban Nature Walk. It's large, beautiful, and unique. It borders the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester on one side and the Neponset River on the other. It is well-planted with sugar maples and other plants that are aglow with autumn colors (including the Boston ivy shown here).


One small section had a thick stand of Japanese knotweed. This invasive species is well known to reduce biodiversity where it grows, as not many North American species will feed on it or use it as habitat.


But someone didn't tell that to the bird that made this nest in it. That's a hopeful sign!


In contrast to many of the graveyards we've explored in Boston, this one is quite contemporary, in fact this stone memorializes two people who don't appear to have passed yet.


There are a good number of Masonic symbols on the early 20th century stones, this one nicely flecked with lichen.


This was the first time I'd seen this particular Buddhist symbol on a gravestone.


This lichen thallus looks like it might be a Green Man when you aren't paying attention.


The choice of a ghost as a decoration at this columbarium struck us as bizarre.


Other decoration was more poignant. "I miss you Uncle John."




Cedar Grove, unique among graveyards, is bisected by a trolley line.




And along one edge you can see the Neponset River, surrounded by protected land.


lizziebelle looks at the koi in this little contemplation pool


While Sarah pets the moss.


I stepped on this mushroom while distracted by a group of about 50 motorcyclists that came through the cemetery. I picked it and brought it home to try to get a spore print to no avail. But its appearance, habitat, and odor (strongly fragrant and pleasant) are fairly distinctive: this is Lepista nuda, the blewit--another first of many for me on this day!