I'd normally have described this as a scraggly specimen in need of a drastic pruning. But this planting makes me see it anew. And quite striking it is, with its awkward pompons stretching toward the open sky, and the contrasting low perennial surround. (And note there are several more in the distance.) The High Line is doing interesting, creative work, delightful horticultural accents to the Oudolf-designed plantings, and obviously entertaining park goers. These eye-catchers are capturing the public's attention and making them want to know more. A good thing.
Cloud pruning without pruning? Does it grow like that, or is that a deliberate effect?
ReplyDeleteIf not cut back, they do have a tendency to develop bare stems like this one, but I'm sure some intentional "cloud pruning" was used to get just this effect.
ReplyDeleteIn our neck of the woods (Zone 4-5ish) the smokebush isn't totally reliable so many of last year's branches don't leaf out or only leaf out partially. I have always found this annoying, and like you say often cut the shrub down to the ground to get a shorter, more dense bush (unfortunately, though, this can forfeit flowers). But this quirky show, as you say James, puts it all in a new light.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting when you see an element in an obviously well-designed landscape that doesn't fit according to our expectations. I find it often makes my mind go, "Does not compute" for a while! ;c)
Ailsa
We have a similar problem here in zone 6. But I always prefer the larger leaves and more intense color I get from cutting them down. If I want the flowers, I'd use the American smoketree (Cotinus obovatus), which has massive clouds. But I don't have a place to plant one.
ReplyDeleteI did a double take when I saw the High Line photo. Then realized how much I liked it. I'm guessing this new "display" tack is the idea of Patrick Cullina, the High Line's VP of Horticulture and Park Operations.
It could be a happy mistake, oversight, but I tend to agree with you, that's been allowed to happen.
ReplyDeleteI was reading about the Oudolphs over at Noel Kingsbury's blog. They've closed the nursery now, how I would have loved to have gone.
Rob, the High Line is so meticulously maintained, I don't think anything happens by chance. Maybe occasionally planned chance is allowed to happen. And, speaking of Noel Kingsbury's blog, can you imagine Piet Oudolf's garden without the wavy hedges?
ReplyDeleteNo, those wavy hedges are key. I'll spell Oudolf with an 'f' this time. Ever swim with the dolfins?
ReplyDeleteI have read from several sources that this should be a cut-back shrub. So I have religiously done so every year, but now a pom pom or two may be in my future.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to cut mine to the ground anyway (already did). If I had a High Line with a big sky, I might give it a try.
ReplyDeleteThis got me thinking that all of the most pleasing things in a garden happen from neglect, but you may be right that this is intentional. Although it might be under the heading of just let the plant do what it wants to do for the first few seasons. This garden really does seem to have people looking at plants a bit differently, learning to appreciate some new aesthetics.
ReplyDeleteRyan, I agree that a certain measure of neglect (serendipity?) can make pleasing things happen in the garden. I hope the High Line plantings are successful in helping people see plants differently (and the unusual environment on an elevated rail structure "removed" from the street life of the city is certainly as much a part of that as the plants, I think), but how do we know? We have only anecdotal evidence. I guess the best they can do is "put it out there" in a dramatic or unusual way, and hope to spark interest.
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