Photo Cathy Tyson

Is it an unusual art project, possibly the work of a yarn bomber - also known as a knitting graffiti artist - now dabbling in mixed media installations of burlap and hay? Perhaps a sturdy muffler to ward off aggressive deer; maybe a mutant earthworm? No to all of the above - its actually bumper pads for two lovely trees between Chow and the Lafayette Gallery.

"It's a straw wad of material coiled around the trees," said Associate Engineer Mike Moran. "We're working with large equipment right near the trees, and we're trying to keep them as healthy as possible." The Lafayette Circle project includes improving sidewalk cuts and gutters to make them more ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. C. Tyson