The High Line

Another New York stop was the High Line.

http://www.thehighline.org/

This is something I've wanted to see for ages. 
The fact that it was saved from demolition and turned into a hugely popular and publicly accessible facility is nothing short of amazing.
Probably the most unique above ground level park anywhere.

It's a redundant elevated freight line running between Gansevoort Street and 30th Street and has become, for me, one of New York's icons.

Raised section over 20th Street

Strange our taxi driver neither knew of it nor could he find it despite our precise directions!  
It stands around 30 feet above street level, is green, has trees and plants growing on it, with people walking and jogging along. 
Difficult to spot really!! 
Better believe the stories about NY taxi drivers!

The undeveloped section facing the River Hudson

 It's clearly visible from state highway 9A which runs parallel with the River Hudson, passes the Twin Towers memorial and leads to Battery Park. 
Hmmm..........................!
An interesting and lengthy journey!!

It's lush and dramatic and makes frequent nods to its rail heritage whilst incorporating art works, a market, drink and eateries, view points, an abundance of seating, a children's adventure area and an interactive Lego build. Wow!! All that and free access.

Look at the amount of detail in the loungers. 

The construction is reminiscent of the freight cars and don't you just love the bogie wheels! 

Within this short stretch of track you can position them wherever you like. 

With comfort clearly guaranteed.

Exuberant naturalisitc planting with all year round interest is a strength and works fantastically well.

The clear and knowledgeable hand of Piet Oudolf can easily be detected with many of his signature plants, but  blended here with some native American species too.

I loved this so much I even joined "Friends of the Highline" and treated myself to a book outlining the design, plant selection and specifications plus technical constraints encountered.

Just a work of art in itself and my kind of bedtime reading!!

This deserves at least one more post........so be warned!

From Old York to New York

I was recently lucky enough to have a trip to New York and an opportunity to visit a couple of gardens. 

In this first post, I want to share the delights of Paley Park.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paley_Park

Not what one would normally imagine a park to be but a very valuable public open space in overbuilt and overpowering midtown Manhattan. 

Almost at the 5th Avenue end of 53rd Street this is described as a pocket park and was designed and built in 1967. That it still exists and functions as a refuge from busy New York life is a testament to the success and ingenuity of the design.

The waterfall masks the traffic noise and urban hustle and bustle. 

The trees bring shade in summer and a more human scale to the buildings which surround it. 

The floorscape is interesting. 

From the street to the gates are modern flags. From then on in more traditional and timeless setts have been laid giving a feeling of longevity.

The park is essentially square, with a full time janitor/caretaker's hut on the left as you enter and a hugely popular cafe on the right. 

Meticulously clean, the space is inviting, calming and just wonderful.

Predominantly the colours are green or white.

Green, which is so restful on the eye and white, for a touch of brightness.

 Pots, planted to reflect the seasons provide additional splashes of colour and the white metal seats give an extra airy spacious feel to the space. 

And real birds!

Severe neck cricks from looking up to try and see the sky!  

What the photos cannot convey is the peaceful and tranquil feeling of this space. 

This is simply one of the best designed, most exquisite spaces I have ever visited. And tea (or coffee) on hand whenever you want it!!

Quirky

I like quirky gardens.

And I like things in them which make me smile.

Nice to know sometimes I am on the same wavelength as the owners.

Think they were Wind in the Willows fans?

This little gem could have been easily missed in the luscious and abundant planting, but like all good gardens attention to detail matters.

Lots of themed rooms in this garden and all very different, from floorscape to planting. 

Secluded seating, a summer house, a bog garden and a dry garden all added to its charm.

Another of my late summer visits, I especially enjoyed the colour and form counterpoints in the mixed planting which added visual impact to each plant. 

Heleniums and Nigella

with Eryngium

Crocosmia and Verbena bonariensis

Opening a private garden to visitors is very revealing.

This one I loved. 

Everyone needs a smile and a bit of quirky now and then.

And cake.

Gardened out?

You could well be gardened out before too long but here goes.......

This was another interesting one. A private garden, but one which regularly opens under the auspices of the NGS.

From early beginnings in 1990 the owners have built, not only a super garden, acquired more land, extended their home but cleverly built all the structures in the garden themselves. 

Definitely has the wow factor !

It's not just the structures that have impact but the planting has too.

Romantic views from one room to the next encourage exploration. But how cool is this view?

Three lots of water features, a mammoth pergola, summer house, artisan's retreat............the list is endless. 

Just maintaining the garden looks like a full time job and a real labour of love.

Look at the floorscape under the pergola.

And the still pool with Roman portico

The list is long................ and goes on.

And so I hope does the garden.

Walkie Talkie and Sky Garden

The Walkie Talkie building 

http://skygarden.london/sky-garden

has come in for a deal of criticism - not least by the broadsheets who gave it a very sniffy review. 

Perhaps they were right, as it's just received the doubtful accolade for the worst architecturally designed building in London.

But whatever its perceived faults in architectural terms, one cannot deny the stunning views from the top floors or the technical challenges of the planting.

And at what economic cost were these floors not developed as either retail or office space - or even residential?

The height and shape is stunning and competes with The Shard for excess and command of the skyline. Even better than the Shard is that entry is free, but a pre-booking must be made. 

Looking down on The Shard from across the Thames

You're so high that planes coming into land at London airport are scarily on the same level 

Breathtaking is an often overdone word but this simply is.

But for me it's the planting that steals the show. Just look at this.

And this

Can you imagine hauling planting medium and full sized trees up 34 stories?

And then setting up the watering and heating to ensure everything thrives and remains healthy.

If you want a special treat and a daytime view of London, book into one of the restaurants for lunch. An evening meal is just as spectacular with the twinkling lights of London as the magical backdrop.

But for a simple visit as part of your London trip, you can do no better than just sit and enjoy the view.

It's a very special place with a great ambience.

Is this what's meant by Urban Jungle?

September colour

Maybe now is the time to look at late colour in the garden to help brighten the lengthening days and dispel a little of the post summer gloom. 

There are some local gardens which do this really well; for example, 

RHS Harlow Carr https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr, 

Breezy Knees, http://www.breezyknees.co.uk/ and the incomparable 

Scampston Hall http://www.scampston.co.uk/

Always take inspiration and ideas from the experts!

Whilst at RHS Wisley this year I treated myself to a couple of plants (well, more than a couple actually) the stunning Rehmannia Walberton's Magic Dragon being one. 
                       Not easy coming back on the train with this giant!

This was one of the plants in the running for 2015 Plant of the Year award and it's easy to see why.

  Mine has flowered prolifically from May and is scheduled to continue to do so into late Autumn.

There are lots of herbaceous perennials which are late flowerers and good doers. 

Depending on your soil type, site, colour or shape preferences and with a little bit of research you can always find a plant to fit the bill.

Echinaceas and asters are my personal favourites.

Echinacea purpurea 'Black Samson'

 

Aster frikartii 'Monch'

          
            Or if you like drama and zingy combinations, how about this one?

Agastache 'Black Adder' with Monarda 'Panorama'

Or try

Tiger Lily

Which will flower in September and October.

Or maybe a collection of reds and oranges a la Christopher Lloyd?

Centranthus ruber 'Coccineus'

Gaillardia aristata

Crocosmia 'Star of the East'

  

That's got to cheer up any dark day.

So................. get out your gardening books and start making plans now!!!!!!!

A private garden

Another summer NGS visit, this time to a very private and secluded garden. 

Hemmed in on all sides the access is through the front door and out via the kitchen. No peeping over the garden wall at this one!

The plot itself is narrow but the length of the single story home, which looks to be an outbuilding conversion.

It's in shade from the nearest building most of the day and the original outlook from the kitchen was this tall brick wall. 

Not an unpleasant view but not ideal either, since the outdoor space is to the right behind yet another wall.

 To make a truly awful comment it was all wall to wall with walls all around.

But a caped garden designer came to the rescue.

Clever design addresses the garden diagonally and uses strong geometric lines on the floorscape. 

This draws the eye along the length of the plot and makes the space appear larger when viewed at an angle.

Reinforce this with brilliant planting and the seating at the far corner of the garden completely filters the view of the house. This creates a wonderful feeling of isolation and privacy. 

A great relaxing spot.

Convenient seating nearer the house provides a cosy eating and drinking area for the owners.

Throw in a few box hedges to add to the structure and all year round appeal and you have the perfect outside space. 

I especially like how the floorscape reflects the surroundings; brick from the walls, terracotta from the roofs and muted stone paving to reflect the access route.

More importantly the view from the kitchen is now a delight, with tall grasses and herbaceous perennials creating a stunning outlook. 

Brilliant.