Line Upon Line

As I realized the year was drawing rapidly to a close, I remembered there was one thing I had to make sure to do: write a fourth and final installment in a year of seasons on The High Line. Having started with Winter, then Spring and Summer, I made the trip in October to see my favorite reclaimed space in Fall. I took a LOT of photos - some good, some interesting, and some that were not so great! In truth, I was expecting lots of golds, yellows, and reds; but what I noticed as I reviewed the images was a consistent palette of greens, with many blooms in purples and whites. Asters were everywhere as one might expect at that time of year, like these lilac-colored twilight asters:

The striking blooms on this chocolate white snakeroot were like miniature pom-poms, and another example of the wonderful variety of plantings in the park:

Although not titled as such, the setting sun gave a lovely purple glow to this stand of pink muhly grass:

I thought the little white flowers of the wild spurge were charming on their delicate stems - even though the name sounds rather harsh!

I was delighted to discover the petals on this ironweed end in curlicues, and their color provided excellent contrast to the spent blooms around them:

One plant I looked for in particular was the wild quinine with their oddly rounded flowers, both interesting and unusual. And yes, the plant does contain quinine - gin and tonic, anyone?

There were many others, and many that I missed according to the monthly bloom list. But one I hadn't expected to see was the purple hyacinth bean, abundant with blooms and pods, carelessly twined around a railing:

I can't seem to get enough of this wonderfully unique place, and although this is the last post of the series, this is certainly not the last visit. There is always more to see, more to learn, and more to enjoy - both at home and abroad - and I look forward to continuing the adventure with you! So, until next time (and hopefully not too long from now), I wish you a peaceful, safe, and very Happy New Year!!!

>o<

High Summer

This is the third in what will hopefully be a four-part series on The High Line. The first part can be found here, and the second part here.

Summer is definitely here and, a few weeks ago, I knew it was time to get back up on The High Line. I was a little anxious - it was going to be fairly hot and sunny, with the potential of being very uncomfortable, to say the least! Thankfully, the humidity was low and there was even a slight breeze, which was just about perfect for this trip. And, as usual, there were beautiful things to see right from the beginning, like this tangerine-hued butterfly milkweed:

Among numerous varieties of aster, this large specimen was playing host to a hungry butterfly of its own:

There were a number of echinaceas to enjoy as well, and they looked handsome planted together in large groups:

The foliage had definitely grown and filled in since Spring, and tracks that were easily seen before looked like a more jaunty and colorful rendition of when they were still abandoned:

As with previous visits, there were things I had never seen before, like the pointed and somewhat alarming buds on this compass plant, which bloom into quite innocent-looking yellow flowers:

And this rattlesnake master, with its milky blooms and open growth habit:

One of the best things bout The High Line is precisely its elevation. It gives even the most mundane objects a new perspective, like this skybridge calmly basking in the sunset:

It was a wonderful day, but I'll tell you a secret: I have a feeling that Fall might turn out to be my favorite time on The High Line, even though the other seasons have been tremendously enjoyable, too. I'm already planning my next visit - after all, it's just a few months away. And, as always, I hope I've convinced you to give it a go yourself, no matter what the season :-)

>o<

Higher and Higher

This is the second in what will hopefully be a four-part series on The High Line. The first part can be found here.

As the days became increasingly warmer, and I could see the trees in my own yard start to bud and blossom, I knew it was time for my Spring visit to The High Line. Seizing an opportunity at the very end of last month, I set out to discover how things had changed since Winter:

Certainly there were the usual suspects to see - things like redbuds and other flowering trees, plus many varieties of crocus, daffodil, tulip, and other Spring harbingers. But in addition to this mix, there were some other things that were new to me, such as this serpent-like prairie smoke, both softly fuzzy and spiky at the same time:

One plant I'd read about, but never seen in person, was the strangely beautiful fothergilla, of which The High Line has several varieties:

The most intriguing little plant for me was this Indian rhubarb, which blooms in Spring from what looks like nothing more than a stick, and which will (I've read) eventually produce voluminous green leaves:

Because it was warmer, I was able to pay more attention to the non-plant installations featured on The High Line, such as this view-through design based on the Ghent Alterpiece, which creates a framework for looking out as well as looking in:

I also made sure the visit the Rail Yards, which I had missed the last time, with its dozens of train cars trailing into the distance:

There was a lot to see, and it was almost dizzying, but I'm still looking forward to my Summer excursion. I know there will be an abundance of things to enjoy. And so, with yet another promise of things to come:

>o<

Held in Reserve

As you've probably guessed, I'm a huge fan of public spaces that cater to human aesthetics while providing a habitat for plants and wildlife at the same time. Recent excursions have included Central Park and The High Line, both of which I loved immensely. Last month, I visited the Manasquan Reservoir, and it was just as inspiring:

This vast, open space was equal parts invigorating and calming - you can't look at all that water and be anything but relaxed! The thing that attracted me the most was how well human access was integrated into the natural setting. You can stay on the paverstone deck and walkway near the docks and boat launches, or you can continue around the entire perimeter along the rougher gravel trail.

In addition to its natural beauty and all the available activities, the reservoir does also function as a water supply for the surrounding area. However, it's so lovely, you'd never even know it:

Oh, and that wildlife I mentioned earlier? It's there, too :-)

>o<

High Times

The first day of Spring is just a week away, and everyone has been waiting anxiously for it, myself included. But before I left Winter behind, I had a special trip on my list - and, for the first time last month, I visited The High Line:

The High Line, previously an abandoned rail line, has now been converted into a pedestrian concourse and public park. One of its key features is the integration of existing plants and grasses (the ones that had grown during the decades of the line's disuse) with new plantings of similar, native specimens that are also allowed to grow, bloom, and reseed themselves naturally. In addition, the designers created numerous spaces for people to explore, sit, and enjoy, with the original tracks still visible underneath it all:

As The High Line's excellent blog will tell you, one of the most striking plants there during Winter is, appropriately enough, winterberry. It's an easy-to-spot shrub with those distinctive red fruits that birds love:

Another brightly-colored specimen is the "Midwinter Fire" bloodtwig dogwood, able to display its fiery stems without any obscuring foliage this time of year:

Although much of the High Line is rather bleak during a Winter ramble, it's far from barren. In fact, many passages feel just like a Winter Wonderland:

I plan to return again in Spring, Summer and Fall this year, so I can enjoy the life cycle of this unique space throughout the seasons. It will be well worth the effort, and I'm really looking forward to it. So, until next time...

>o<

A Walk in the Park

Although I've been to New York City a number of times throughout my life, I've inexplicably missed seeing a number of its major landmarks and attractions. Thankfully, I've had the opportunity more recently to spend some quality time in this wonderful city, and apply myself to rectifying the situation—in true tourist style, of course :-)

Last Fall, I had my first visit to Central Park, and it was such a treat!

A little music on the bridge.

Iconic, beautiful, and charmingly intimate for such a large space, the Park has so much to see and do, there will definitely be numerous return visits. In my first ramble, I was able to take in the south-east corner, including some spots I'm sure you will recognize:

Dairy Visitor Center—nearby signs proclaimed it the Dairy House, and it does look exactly like a Swiss-chalet outbuilding nestled in the woods. I almost expected to see cows with giant bells around their necks, grazing placidly nearby:

Got milk?

Chess & Checkers House—featured in so many movies, I felt like I'd been there before. The little building at the center provides you with gaming supplies, and is surrounded by the pergola-covered walk with all those famous benches and boards:

Would you like to play a game?

Bethesda Fountain—located on Bethesda Terrace, and crowned by the Angel of the Waters, my photograph does not begin to do it justice. It was a popular location, and EVERYONE was there to take pictures, too:

Water, cool and clear.

These and so much more, all in the small section I was able to tour that day. Even the plant life and architecture were enchanting, and I really can't wait to return :-)

Gnarly!

So, are there places you've been meaning to see, and things you've been wanting to do that are only a hop, skip, and jump away? Not grand overseas tours, but just what any tourist would expect to see if they were in your neck of the woods? Then by all means, GO. Grab a partner-in-crime, plan a day, and explore—you'll be glad you did!

>o<

How To Be A Tourist

While spending a few days in Mystic last month, I took note of my fellow tourists and how they behaved. I realized they followed a few simple guidelines, and that their approach could just as easily be applied to time spent in your own home town as well as places far and wide:

1. Be enthusiastically interested in everything there is to see and do - there's nothing like it anywhere else in the world.
2. Take lots of pictures - even if it means getting up in the middle of your entrée to do so.
3. Eat lots of ice cream - the official fuel of tourists everywhere.
4. Enjoy your companions - not just the people already with you, but also anyone else in your general vicinity. They're out to have a nice time, too!

>o<



On the Mystic River.