I was involved in another task, camera in hand, when this caught my eye:


Upon closer investigation, I discovered that the tree had begun to inextricably intertwine itself with the metalwork of the brownstone:

The tree had wrapped itself around a window grate:


It had twined itself around a railing:


I dared to take a few steps closer, and puzzled over this:


Had the nail been put there to stop the tree? Had the tree simply grown around a nail that was sticking out of the wall? I had no way of knowing, but it was clear to me that the tree had full control of this situation.

One window over, things looked even worse for the brownstone. Here, I found that the tree had pulled off a section of the window grating entirely:


I thought it could get no worse than this, but then I looked up, and saw that the tree had invaded a second floor window as well.


Still, I did not appreciate the full extent of the situation until I crossed the street and got a good look at the entire building.


All I could think was, someone's beard needs a trim...

Further along on my walk, I noticed, however, that nature did not always win. I have know idea what this plant's crime was, but it has clearly been locked away in a manmade prison, and all it can do is stick its branches through the bars.


Nature, it seems, cannot always emerge triumphant.

You can find a few more photos in the proof.