The High Line, NYC

I have been looking forward to experiencing the High Line Park for a long time now. It's really, truly, amazing.  

How to describe it? Like nothing I have ever seen.  The High Line's website describes it succinctly. "The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side."   

For many years these rail lines were a complete eye sore and the surrounding area was run down and bleak.  Now it's a thriving neighborhood where everyone wants to be, as witnessed by the hum of construction everywhere.

Art is intermingled throughout in the form of murals on adjoining buildings, as well as a curated selection of sculptures that are placed within the gardens.  

Honestly, I didn't like or understand most of the sculptural works that were selected; big blobs of clay that looked like something's innards, hubcaps on pedestals with messages in them. Huh.  I am sure they have some esoteric meaning to life, but I felt like they were actually a distraction.  To my surprise, I overheard many of the NYC residents having a similar experience.    

      

The plant materials are intriguing to me, so I spent much time examining foliage and comparing what native cousins to these live in Colorado.  I guess I am entering into plant nerd territory.

 

This is the day I will remember most of our time in NYC.

Brooklyn Iris

It's been ages since I posted.  The last few weeks have been pretty much a combo of everything that makes the body and the mind feel a little tired.  From starting a new endeavor, to illness that ended with an excursion to NYC.  Yes, I meant exactly that.  illness + travel.  Never had that combo.  Very perplexing.  I was super excited to be in NYC but I wasn't at my most energetic.  What I learned is you need energy there.

Our time there was eventful and fun and inspiring.

The first day involved a 4+ mile walk along the East River Side of Brooklyn.  I loved Brooklyn Heights Promenade.  A gardener's paradise.

But the best photo of the day came while in funky Williamsburg. So much cool creative stuff including the Sketchbook Project.

Yes, that's a clump of Iris.  Graffiti and Iris don't get together that often, me thinks.  

Holding my Breath

I have been in denial about the weather forecast.  When I pulled into the Home Depot lot early today, I could see the once tree filled outdoor area was completely cleaned out.  Not a living thing.  Home Depot people were swarming outdoors moving racks of plants to semi trucks.  I realized that if HD was taking it this seriously, the weather reports could be accurate.

Many predictions of snow accumulation and freezing temperatures overnight.  No!

My alliums are about to open.  The Chinese maple and all our other trees have almost completely leafed out. The peony buds are bursting.  This weather news is sad and somewhat distressing for me and probably many dedicated gardeners.

Yesterday I took photographs of how spring had unfolded, and I snipped as many alliums as I could that were close to blooming.

Looking out the window, I see sleet.  Keeping my fingers crossed that when I wake up in the morning the landscape isn't covered with snow and snapped tree branches.

Tiny Container Challenge

Super Cute, Avon Duck  & ducklings.  1984.   Yes, Avon

For a long while, I had an inspiration to create diminutive gardens. This weekend that's exactly what I did.  In preparation for the Farmers Market, I made several using unconventional, fun containers picked up here and there.



Plastic garden pots flying everywhere...  Succulent soil covering the table.

A lovely hostess gift, don't you think?

The owl horns mirror the succulents

Succulents do outgrow their containers and when
this happens, then these mugs are ready for coffee or tea.

Euphorbia Milii or Crown of Thorns, is one
of my favorite small succulents