The Highline NYC

**updated 6/2017 In 1934, an elevated rail line was opened on the West Side of Manhattan as an efficient way to transport goods from the industrial center today enjoyed my many as West Chelsea. But as we saw emerge post-war through a series of national transportation  initiatives, the automobile was king in America. A grand … More The Highline NYC

Hanoke Gardens, CA

Another stop on the great 2016 California trip was Hanoke Gardens in Saratoga Springs. Hanoke is a classic Japanese style garden, an outward expression of many far east ideals coming out of Japan beginning with the emergence of Buddhism in AD 538. In short, these spaces seek harmony in the natural landscape and highlight natural materials … More Hanoke Gardens, CA

The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens

During my California trip I spent a day at the Huntington, a collections-based educational and research institution in Southern California. What I like about this institution is its equal parity with living and non-living collections. In this case the “living” is a great assortment of plants assembled into a botanic garden, and the “non-living” consists … More The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens

Descanso Gardens, CA

Another stop on my California trip was Descanso Gardens, located northwest of Pasadena in greater Los Angeles. I was drawn to this property for the historical and cultural significance of the landscape over time, especially with the Native American people and Spanish colonization. In the botanic garden world, most east coast institution’s narratives begin sometime between … More Descanso Gardens, CA

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden was another stop on the California trip, and I was especially interested to visit this garden for its emphasis on California native plants as evidenced by its mission statement “to foster the conservation of California’s native plants through our gardens, research, and education, and serve as a role model of sustainable practices.” … More Santa Barbara Botanic Garden