Two of our Purple Polos, Anne Houser and Nate Huse, recently adventured to New York City to take in all the sites that the city has to offer. Little did they know that their inspiration would come not only from the gardens they visited but also from the little traces of gardens they found scattered throughout the city. Here’s what Anne had to say about their trip…

Where did you go?

We traveled to New York City.  We stayed in Manhattan and traveled to the Bronx and Brooklyn Boroughs.

Who did you go with?

The group consisted of Bryan & Michele Kinghorn, Nate & Alicia Huse and my husband Brian and myself.

What did you do?

What didn’t we do is the better question. Our first day we checked into the hotel around noon and quickly hit the street. We walked through Broadway & Time Square to The High Line, stopping on the way for a street vendor hot dog.

We walked the 1.45 mile High Line Garden and then made our way along the Hudson River to the 9/11 Memorial Garden.

Just beyond The Memorial was Battery Park.  We ended the day at an authentic Irish Pub adjacent to The Memorial.

The second day we traveled to The New York Botanical Gardens and that night attended Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway.

Day 3 we walked to Rockefeller Plaza, stopping by the Today Show, and then off to Central Park, The Natural History Museum and then had a nice dinner in Brooklyn on the shore of the East River.

Describe New York City.

New York City is a busy place.  Drivers follow an unspoken choreography, suits walk at a hurried pace.  Buildings are tall and their gardens are small but important.

Why did you go?

One of the main reasons for our trip was to visit The High Line.  This space was designed by Piet Oudolf.  The High Line is a 1.45 mile long ‘aerial greenway.’  It was constructed on an abandoned section of the West Side Line in Manhattan.  The design intertwines pedestrian pathways, seating areas, planting spaces flawlessly.

When we visited, The High Line was buzzing with people and bees alike.  Some people sat eating their lunch in what seemed to be their regular spot.  Others were soaking up some Vitamin D on the lounge chairs.  We were not the only ones up there with cameras dropped around our neck, with cell phones in hand taking as many pictures as possible.

There was no way to capture the essence of The High Line in any one shot.  The sunny areas are filled with heat loving perennials and grasses.  Shade trees have already created woodland ecosystems beneath their canopy where appropriate flora abounds.  Many of the plants on The High Line were familiar to our landscape in Omaha.  A few plants, like the big leaf Magnolia & the evergreen holly tree left us wishing they were hardy in our climate.

Walking through The High Line, we may not have noticed all the building surrounding the Park had they not been under construction.  It was a surreal experience to be standing in the middle of a prairie grass planting while looking down the city street below to watch taxi cab drive by.  The High Line was on our garden bucket list and I strongly encourage you to add it to yours.

How is NYC different from Omaha?

Walking the streets of NYC brought an interesting perspective to me and the place where we live.  Here we have front yards, backyards, trees, birds, fields of greens, etc., most of which we take for granted.  In NYC, the gardens grow on rooftops, in small pots on most available windowsills, entryway containers and designated parks.   We found a church with the most stunning collection of plants in containers on their entry stairs.  I took almost as many pictures there as I did at Central Park.  They cherished this space, their garden and understand the relief it provides for people who walk by.  Buildings are tall, yellow taxis and black SUV’s are plentiful and glimmers of green hope pop up all around.

Describe The New York Botanical Gardens in three words.

Grand, Stately & Clean

What is Battery Park?

Battery Park was a line of defense to protect the city in New York Harbor dating back to the 17th century.  There are a number of Memorials dedicated throughout the Park.  Piet Oudolf renovated the gardens along the waterfront named the Gardens of Remembrance.  He transformed the planting from annuals to beautiful low maintenance perennials.

What was your favorite part?

I really enjoyed both The High Line and the 911 Memorial.  The feeling each of the two gardens evoked were quite different.  The High Line was full of chatter and beautiful plants.  The 911 Memorial Garden was so serene and surreal.  To look towards the sky and envision just how tall the Twin Towers stood on the foundation of the two fountains.  To see the 2,983 engraved names of those who passed away.  To see the white roses and little notes tucked in their names. To know that the stranger standing next to you is feeling all the same emotions.  To have a greater appreciation for the photos from that day that will never leave our minds.  To feel truly blessed for the life we are given.

What did you learn and how will you incorporate this in future designs?

One thing I gained a greater appreciation for in NYC was every single space matters.  Big or small.  From a window sill to an abandoned railway design matters and can make or break the space.  Plant compositions were fun and surprising.  There was often a nice mix of loose plants with a formal anchor plant or two.  I really liked how they planted some of their trees in nice tight groups.  The tree groups created drama right away even if smaller trees were planted.  I am excited to use the different combinations and tighter groupings in future designs.

Ready to enjoy the space of your dreams? Our inspired designers would love the opportunity to meet with you and design your custom garden. Contact our office at 402-457-6492 to set up an appointment! We look forward to meeting you.