Great Potential

Tavern on the Green in Central Park has closed after over 60 years in business. I snuck into the back outdoor seating area to see what remained to be auctioned. Just A 15-foot Godzilla (or King-Kong?) left. Really I wanted to see the building. Although, I never had a desire to eat there I often wondered what the building looked like, close up. Built in 1870 as the home for the sheep that grazed on the meadow across the drive, it was bastardized by Robert Moses in the 30’s to make room for a restaurant. The building still has great details. Now that the fake topiary and white metal furniture has been moved out, you can see the potential the space still has has. Notice the Hex Block, a true sign: “Robert Moses was here.”

I can’t figure out why Tavern On The Green filled the outside space with so many plants, both fake and real. When the restaurant was there you couldn’t see in or out. And the view of the Sheep’s Meadow is excellent from here.

High Expectations

Visiting The Highline on a cold January day isn't when most people would choose to see the park. But I find the plantings in winter more like what I expected the park to look like; The dry foliage blends together and harkens back to the pre-construction photos, when the Rudbeckia and Salvias didn't dominate and the character was more "weedy."

Vertical Garden

The Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, designed by Tod Williams and Billie Tsein Architects, features two 21' high green walls by Plant Wall Design. The public space has only been open for a short time, and there are some areas where the plantings have died, but generally the plants look great and the felt material that covers all the roots seems to be consistently moist. I am curious how much maintenance they have budgeted for?

Sad Loss

John Cushnie was a witty Irish gardener who made gardening humorous. As a regular panelist on the BBC's Gardener's Question Time he wouldn't mince words when it came to plants he did not like. John Cushnie died of a heart attack on New Year's Eve. He was 66. Listen to a tribute to John Cushnie from the BBC's Gardener's Question Time.