• Project: NYC High Line
• Landscape Architect: Field Operations
• Planting Design Designer: Piet Oudolf
• Multiple phase project, First phase opening 2006

QUICK BACKGROUND:  High Line was built in the 1930’s to move the dangerous trains above street level in the dense city area. Trains stopped running in the 1980s, and was slated for demolition until Friends of the High Line worked with the city to turn the area in to a park. Construction started in 2006, and the first section opened in the summer of 2009.

DESIGN OVERVIEW: The High Line is unique for its elevated location and for wandering tightly between buildings and opening up in under developed areas. This gives an intimate view of the city beyond and below. One of the other unique features of the High Line is the preservation of its railroad history and embracing of its wild native growth once the trains stopped running.  Within the final park, these key elements are highlighted with in the surfaces and plant selection/placement.

GET THE LOOK: The High Line website offers so much detailed information with photographs, plant lists, background information that you can really find just about any detail you need to know about the project. If you want to know anything about the High Ling, I highly recommend you visit the site

The High Line site has great source for the plants featured within the High Line. Also they have a small booklet that includes photos of the plants to help you id what you like, see below in the additional reading section.

Here are some good reading material if you like the style of the High Line. I have copies of all Piet Oudolf’s books and highly recommend them to any gardener/landscape designer.

Last week Partners in Preservation announced its partnership in NYC with American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation for a grant contest to help preserve local landmarks. Voting from the community will decided which of the cultural, religious and museum landmarks will receive the grant money.  Within the list there are three projects that are dedicated to preserving landscapes; The Highline, New York Botanical Garden and The Bartow-Pell Mansion Gardens. Below are images and details on each to learn how each landscape will use the grant. Voting ends May 21, so vote daily for the preservation project that means the most to you.

Visit the Partners in Preservation Site to see the other projects are nominated and for additional details.

 The High Line:

• Website: http://www.thehighline.org/
• Location: Manhattan
• Planned Improvement: Restoration of the Tenth Avenue Square sunken overlook deck and stairway repair
• Vote here: http://www.facebook.com/thehighline

New York Botanical Garden:

• Website: http://www.nybg.org/
• Location: Bronx
• Planned Improvement: Restoration of the man made cascade
• Vote here: http://www.facebook.com/NYBotanicalGarden

Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum and Garden:

• Website: http://bartowpellmansionmuseum.org/index.php
• Location: Bronx
• Planned Improvement: Restoration of landmark gardens, 18thc family cemetry, and chestnut tree allee.
• Vote here: http://www.facebook.com/BartowPell

One of the most difficult shapes to achieve in pruning a boxwood is the true sphere. With cones, spirals or hedges you can use guides to assist on the crisp lines, but the sphere takes all skill. We have all seen the bad clipped boxwood balls in landscapes, but when done correctly make a great graphic statement in the landscape.

Grouping fox sphere boxwoods grouped in a landscape. Play off the stone sphere finials. Image found here.

Sphere boxwoods used as a hedge/border around a crushed stone patio. Image from here.

Boxwood spheres mixed with a stone sphere. Image from here.

Grouping of boxwood spheres in crushed gravel and planted with lavender. Image from here.

Mass planting of sphere boxwoods, mixed variety. Image from here.

When sharing ideas with clients, having images that help communicate the feeling, details and texture always help to visual the final design. Thanks to Pinterest and previously Flickr, I can constantly search for inspiration with specific criteria and locations to find exactly what I want. However I still collect gardening and design books/magazines for the edited view of landscapes and gardens. In our design office we have a library of books and years of back issues of Garden Design, Garden Illustrated, defunct House & Garden and many more to constantly thumb through and read when needing inspiration or reference.

I would like to think that our design library would rival the garden department at Martha Stewart Magazine, but I am sure they have us beat given this only a small sample of their  books.

Image from Martha Stewart

We are always looking to add new books to the library, and here are a few on my Amazon Wish List. However I really think I need a trip to NYC to see the High Line in person in addition to the book.

Do you have any other recommendations for us to add to our library?

Photos of Staghorn Ferns have been popping up over Pinterest and in magazines lately. I have loved Staghorns since visiting my grandparents in Florida and seeing them growing in their trees and attempting to bring home samples. Here are some amazing photos of the ferns and a little background in case you wish to grow your own.

BACKGROUND: Staghorns (also called Elk’s Horn and Antelope ear) get their name from their antler resembling leaf shape. Native in tropical regions of the world, the plants are epiphytes (air plants) make their homes often on the bark and crevasses of trees. Since the plant lives high in trees it lives off of humus (decaying leaves/organic matter) and rain water, and likes bright indirect light. Because of these living conditions, staghorns make great house plants.

Vertical garden designed by Danial Nolan, including Staghorn ferns. Image from Flora Grub.

Image of a large staghorn over a dining table at Terrians. Staghorns of this size are typically found in natural habitats. Image from Karacter.

PLANTING/CARE: If looking for a species to plant here in North East, try Platycerium bifurcatum which is tolerant up to -15 F. When planting Staghorns you can use wooly pockets, boards or baskets with good drainage. Water once a week and allow to dry out between waters. Most nurseries and garden centers will sell Staghorns, moss (sphagnum moss) and boards for growing at home, but I have never seen at Home Depot/Lowes. Or I have found a few vendors on etsy sell mounted ferns.

Wall of Staghorn Ferns on a white wall with a real antler at the center. Image from Sunset Magazine.

Large Staghorn Fern on a black wall makes a dramatic statement. Image from Desire to Inspire.

Staghorn ferns at Martha Stewart's on-set green house. Image from the Marthablog.

Staghorns on driftwood boards from Flora Grub.

Staghorn ferns hanging under a covered porch. Image via Martha Stewart

Grouping of Staghorns outside at Julianne Moore's New York home. Image via Arch. Digest

Fun project via Design Sponge to make your own paper Staghorn Ferns

Image from Jardins du Roi Soleil

The Versailles Planter is one of the most distinct and recognizable garden containers. The planters were created for easy transportation of Louis XIV’s orange tree collection to the Orangerie during colder months at Versailles. The planter was designed by Andre Le Nortre, the original designer of the Versailles gardens, in the 1600s and were made entirely out of timber, but in the 1800’s were redesigned to feature the cast-iron frame.

Image from Jardins du Roi Soleil

The distinct features of the planters include:

• Cast-Iron posts and banding
• Pin construction allows for sides to be removed
• Wood Panels – Typically oak, but can be other hardwoods
• French Pomme de Pin adorning posts
• The official planter has no bottom, but most reproductions include bottoms

Given the quality of the construction of these planters, they are typically very expensive and are often seen at hotels, restaurants and public gardens. The official Chateau de Versailles tree box is made by Jardins du Roi Soleil and features the same construction methods as the redesigned 1800’s boxes. You can also find versions created by Authentic Provence and Inner Gardens. Here is a selection I have found:

For what to plant in your Versailles Planter, you can always follow Louis’ lead and plant citrus trees. But with the weight of the cast-iron, you most likely will not want to move yours for the winter months. Below are some suggestions:

• Boxwoods (both clipped and on standard)
• Hydrangea on a Standard
• Olive Tree

And finally here are some more photos of Versailles Planters to get you inspired:

Image from Giannetti Architects

Image from Paris on Demand

I had a question posted about which would be better suited for a zone 8, small clipped hedge; Green Mountain or Green Velvet boxwoods. Similar to use in this garden.

My recommendation would be to use the Green Velvet Boxwood. These are low growing boxwoods that stay dense and continue to hold color through the winter. I also have this vesitale boxwood used in my landscape at home. The Green Mountain Boxwood, is a larger boxwood that you typically seen clipped into larger ornamental shapes.

Green Velvet Boxwood. Low growing, bright green leaves.

For planting the Green Velvet boxwood here are some pointers:

• Plant on about 2ft centers. In the south your boxwoods will grow faster than up here, however expect them to fill in within two seasons.
• When trimming, clip only the tops for the first few trims. This will force growth horizontal first, and them give you more height after it has hedged.
• When planting, amend the soil with some organic matter (such as leaf compost). In South Carolina thesoil is more sandy and the boxwoods are heavy feeders and the organic matter will help promote growth.
• Mulch the roots, this will help keep the roots cool during the hot summers.

Green Velvet Boxwood

Comparing Green Velvet's growth over the years.

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Last week I posted this photo of a client’s containers from a few years ago on Pinterest and it got repined quickly. There was a question on the plants used so I figured I would do an official breakdown on the container.

Here are the same containers from previous years. We were able to use the same Phormiums from year to year by wintering in our greenhouse. We also have the Agave from last year in our greenhouse to transplant back this year.