High Line Blog

The Chelsea Grasslands this fall. Photo by Bjoern Amherd.

Now that spring is approaching, our gardeners are beginning the cutback process, which will provide space for new growth during the warmer months. In a traditional garden, plants are cut back when their stalks begin to dry during autumn. In keeping with planting designer Piet Oudolf's belief that a plant's dried seed heads are just as beautiful and important as its flowers, the High Line's vegetation was left in its natural state.

Gardener Johnny Linville clears a path through the Chelsea Grasslands.

Come see the High Line in its stylish white coat! After the snow stopped falling early this morning, our Maintenance and Operations team spent several hours using snow blowers, shovels and an eco-friendly de-icer to clear the High Line's paths and stairways. The park is now open south of 16th Street, and we expect a complete opening very soon. UPDATE: The entire park is now open!

Dawn bondant viburnum in bloom.

February is unexpectedly interesting for blooms on the High Line. This month features three plants: witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Pallida'), Dawn bodnant viburnum (Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn'), and sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana).

The rose-colored buds in the picture above are the beginnings of blooms on a Dawn bodnant viburnum, a shrub that flowers during the bleakest part of the winter. Its clusters of flowers have an excellent fragrance in late winter/early spring.

Waterproofing the final sections between 20th and 22nd Streets.

This afternoon, our crews are finishing waterproofing work on the southernmost part of the High Line's Section 2, near 20th Street. Waterproofing the top layer of screed concrete will prevent standing rainwater and damage to the structural steel and concrete. It will also prevent swamp-like conditions in the planting beds after a heavy rain, which can lead to mold and rot.