In Rambunctious Garden, Emma Marris criticizes previous practices of conservation of nature that focus on expelling the human element from nature. She presents the idea that humans should not be excluded from nature but rather involved in and intertwined with it. Her concept of a rambunctious garden is essentially nature made and maintained by humans.

The High Line on the west side of Manhattan, I believe, is the perfect description of Marris’ rambunctious garden. It was built in the 1930’s as an “elevated commercial rail line” to reduce the number of trucks and trains traveling along side pedestrians by introducing an alternate route. The highline carried commercial freight from 1934-1980 but the introduction of the interstate highway system in the 1950’s resulted in a decline in freight traffic and the final freight train to ride the High Line was in 1980. Deconstruction was began in the 1960’s of the southernmost section but and organization called Friends of the High Line stepped in and began advocating for the preservation of what was left from 13^th to 34^th street. Now, the High Line is a walkway above the building servicing as the perfect location for primary succession.

Going to the High Line a few days ago, I had absolutely no idea what to expect especially since the first time I had ever heard of it was when we were assigned to go there. My friends had informed me that it was an abandoned railroad system that has been transformed into a garden. I simply expected railroad tracks and some plants on the side, but BOY, was I surprised!

I was greeted by a beautiful terrace above the buildings, with tons of sunlight and an amazing diversity of plant and animal species. Although I was unable to identify them, I saw an infinite array of plant, shrubs, trees, flowers and several pollinators such as bees and flies. In my opinion, this is the perfect example of Marris’ rambunctious garden, a piece of nature that not only coexists with humans but was actually created and maintained by them. Another example of the way humans coexist with the highline was stated in Richard Slater’s The flora on the High Line, “human visitors to the High Line have probably inadvertently transported seeds to the site, a source of new species,” which contributes to the vast diversity of plants present.

All in all, I greatly enjoyed my visit to the High Line and am grateful that our city maintains projects of this kind that not only protect nature but create a beautiful place for New Yorkers to relax and enjoy it.

Pictures from the High Line, the library was full.

Prior to chapters six and seven, Marris talks about the dangers of introducing invasive species to an ecosystem. In these two chapters, Marris tries to dispel the negative stigma of invasive species by showing the various reasons why invasive species can be beneficial and why people still might not see invasive species as a positive.

Marris first talks about how invasive species can be beneficial to an ecosystem. One example Marris uses is how a foreign species of trees was able to help save two species of songbirds and a species of fruit bat that lived exclusively on Rodrigues Island (97). These three species were in danger of going extinct when the forest was cut down on the island, thus reducing their fruit source. A nonnative species of “fast-growing timber” were chosen to quickly replant the island, but in the end the rapidly growing plants served to save these three species since native species grew quite slowly and would not have been able to stop the endangered species from going extinct (98). Invasive species can play important roles in the ecosystem. In a similar example, invasive species can actually help nature flourish by taking of the roles of extinct species. In Hawaii, exotic birds are taking over the dwindling native bird species’ important duty of dispersing seeds (105). Sometimes the Without these exotic birds stepping in, seed dispersal might not be happening at all in Hawaii. In fact, some studies show that exotic species may even be considered to be functioning better than native species. One study compared a native only forest with former pine plantations of a similar age showed that the pine plantations were “richer in species, had greater aboveground biomass and used nutrients more efficiently” (113). If functionality is measured through species diversity, amount of biomass produced and the efficiency of using nutrients, then exotic species may function better than native species. In addition to this, exotic species may be able to help not only the ecosystem, but humans as well. One such species is the Chinese brake fern that can take arsenic, a harmful poison, out of the soil. Contrary to popular belief, the invasive species do not seem to be overly terrible and can be quite beneficial to the ecosystems.

Marris then offers an answer to why invasive species are held in such negative light. She suggests that this conception of invasive species partially comes from what people consider differences between species. For example, there are two cousin species of duck, the white-headed duck from Europe and the ruddy duck from the Americas (107). Though they look different and act different, the fact that they are able to successfully create a hybrid shows that they are compatible. The hybrid is becoming dominant, but many people are worried that each separate species will go extinct. Yet some scientists argue that the DNA from both species still carry on so it doesn’t matter if each species separately goes extinct.

In conclusion, Marris provide some great examples to show how invasive species and novel ecosystem can be beneficial to the biodiversity despite misconceptions.

As I walked up the stairs on 23^rd street between tenth and eleventh avenue, all I could think of was this trip that I had for so long delayed due to a belief that the High Line was simply this mundane green space somewhere out on the west side. However, 25 little steps later my predictions were proven wrong. Instead I walked in to this surprising, refreshing and beautiful garden that I knew would be a spot I would come back to on my own in the future. I would assume that most New Yorkers similar to me think of the big parks like Central Park, Madison Square Park or Bryant Part when they seek solace and peace from the busy streets of New York City. Who would have known a ten-minute bus ride from my college was another vast rambunctious garden waiting to be discovered.

The High Line resembles a “commercial railroad paralleling 10^th and 11^th avenue” because simply it was exactly that during 1934-1980. The original High Line, which opened up in 1934, was designed as a solution to “Death Avenue” by allowing freight trains to travel at an elevated level rather than side by side with pedestrians and automobiles. Its purpose was filled as the “West Side Improvement Project,” but post 1950’s its purpose was no longer needed, due to the introduction of the Interstate Highway System.  Slowly by slowly the highline was starting to be broken down in the 1960’s, nonetheless the Friends of the High Line organization stepped in alongside the Rail Banking program to preserve what was left of the High Line through 13^th-34^th street. Eventually this abandoned area became an ecologic phenomenon as it served as an ideal location for primary succession. The “abandoned lichens, bryophytes, forbs, grasses and woody vegetation grew unmolested by human and train traffic,” and transformed the High Line into another serene place tired New Yorkers could go for comfort (Slater.)

I believe that the High Line serves as a perfect example of a Rambunctious Gardens as author Emma Marris describes. She defines the term as nature that is “tended by us,” and it can be any of strip of land that contains any sort of greenery (Marris, 2.) The High Line is exactly that considering its origin is an abandoned railroad track, and even more so considering that human disturbance has further evolved this area as a vascular plant site. When walking through it the natural pollinators are present suchas the various dandelions and bees, however this place truly proves itself as a rambunctious garden because of its location. It is elevated through Manhattan and many of the building surrounding it have created their own little terrace Rambunctious Gardens to further increase the greenery of the location. All in all the High Line is another example of how humans are bring nature in their cities in any free space possible. Just like Marris I believe that this is the correct conservation method to incorporate in cites.  

The High Line covers several Manhattan neighborhoods on the West side. With many access points, which are near multiple public transportation stops, this public park stretches for over one mile between 10th and 11th Avenues on top of the old freight rail line. As an elevated park, the views of NYC’s skyline and other storefronts are pretty unique.

After sections of the freight railroad were shut down in the 1960s, the High Line turned into a messy and wild environment, unkept and unmaintained. A non-profit organization called Friends of the High Line began to work towards preserving the High Line and turning it into a public park. From as early as 2002, specific species like “lichens, bryophtes and vascular plants at the High Line” were collected and classified (Stalter, 388). With all the data compiled, the results showed that the High Line had “161 species in 122 genera in 48 families” (Stalter, 388).

It is discussed that multiple factors contribute to the public park’s diverse variety of species. Some include human visitation as a “possible source of transported seeds and new species”, and human disruptions like littering, trampling, soil compaction, and fires (Stalter, 300).

Therefore, in an attempt to limit some of the damages caused by humankind, the High Land has many rules, enforced by the park’s personnel. Some of these rules include, NO: walking on gravel/plants, picking flowers/plants, using amplified sounds, using bikes/boards/skates, littering, etc. It seems that the High Line wants its human visitors to create as little a disturbance as possible to its man-made and man-maintained environment.

When I visited the High Line, I did not notice such a wide spectrum of species, as Stalter states there is. I mostly saw bumble bees and honey bees, and many flies. Many of the pollinators I saw, however, where around yellow flowers and purple flowers of the High Land, which were consistently found in patches along the park. I did see some weird red and long bugs and a few birds, too, but other than that, it was difficult for me to distinguish many species from each other since they all looked generally similar to me.

Emma Marris’s concept of the rambunctious garden is that of, in simple terms, manmade nature. It requires profuse human involvement in conservation, unlike many of the other methods that she criticizes in her book, Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World. In accordance with this notion of the rambunctious garden, Marris deems it possible and to a certain extent necessary for humans to coexist with nature. Furthermore, this can occur in basically any environment, regardless of whether it is rural or urban or something else entirely. Humans can actively incorporate nature into their lives and surroundings and allow it to flourish while still functioning undisturbed alongside it.

An abandoned railroad track in the middle of Manhattan is probably the last place one would think to find nature. In the heart of what is often considered to be the world’s greatest urban area lies the High Line. Preserved in the hopes of forming a pedestrian walkway, the elevated area that lies just west of 10^th Avenue between 13^th and 34^th Streets began to sprout vegetation after its use as a commercial rail line ceased. Eventually, the pedestrian walkway became a reality, and since then the High Line has become a beautiful attraction, offering a peaceful walkway with plenty of benches for pedestrians that is barricaded on both sides by greenery.

In my opinion, the High Line matches up perfectly with the definition of a rambunctious garden. Human hands constructed the whole space from before it even became the High Line, and the site continues to be influenced by humans in several ways on a daily basis. For example, it is maintained by humans in order to ensure that the vegetation survives and continues to bloom as well as remains on the sides of the walkway. An article by Richard Stalter, entitled “The flora on the High Line, New York City, New York,” only enhances my aforementioned opinion of the High Line being a rambunctious garden with its observations on the human interaction regarding the park. According to Stalter, “human visitors to the High Line have probably inadvertently transported seeds to the site, a source of new species,” (387) which plays a factor in its high species richness and diversity. As for human coexistence with the High Line and the park’s endurance of the urban extremity that is Manhattan, it seems to be doing just fine. There are most likely a large handful of New Yorkers that are not aware that the High Line is even present, and they are not living their lives any differently because of it. This goes to show that we really can have nature in our own backyards, as Marris suggests. Even in New York City, with “drought stress in dry weather, low fertility of soil, human trampling and cutting vegetation, and the smothering of plants by debris such as tires, bottles and additional trash,” (387) the High Line has continued to prosper. Some of it is even shaded by the city’s signature skyscrapers, but that hasn’t stopped the nature in that spot from developing. Thus, although it initially seems rather unlikely, the High Line possesses all of the qualities of a rambunctious garden, which in turn helps support Marris’s argument that such a thing really is possible and beneficial.

(I’m in the middle)

Within New York City, a place surrounded by tall buildings and filled with traffic, there is a strip of vegetation along 10th avenue from 13th to 34th street. A railroad abandoned for 46 years was observed to have gone through something similar to primary succession on bare rocks or on islands. The railroad that was used to deliver commercial goods was abandoned from 1934 to 1980. During this time, “lichens, byrophytes, forbs, grasses and woody vegetation” formed along the rail line untouched by humans. (Stalter) For vegetation to grow by itself in a place filled with skyscrapers and little plants produced with human hands is a good example of Marris’ rambunctious garden.

The High Line was once known as the “Death Ave,” because of the “dangerous mix of rail/motor traffic and pedestrians along its path.” (Stalter) After the rail line was abandoned vegeation began to form on its own, providing evidence that it is possible for nature to grow in cities. Marris believes that nature should be adapted to the city environment instead of just protected and preserved. From her observation, nature is able to adapt to the changing environment created by humans, and even if humans went out to protect the environment in its pristine form from human hands, it will still be affected by humans. So with the success of the High Line building nature on its own, Marris is able to show that nature can adapt to urban areas.

After the High Line was abandoned, there was much discussion as to what to do with it. Some wanted the rail line teared down, while others wished to preserve it and transform it to a walkway. The Friends of the High Line wanted to save the rail line and claimed that its transformation would “enhance economic development of the area.” (Stalter) When it was decided that the High Line would be preserved, many species were discovered . The specie richness was observed to be “greater than the specie richness of four nearby New York City  sites” and might just have “one of the highest level of specie richness in any temperate region.” (Stalter) This was clear during my visit to the High Line on September 20. During my visit, there were a variety of plants though most of them seemed similar.

Besides the plants looking similar, the pollinators were as well. I spotted many bees there, a small flying insect, a few moths, and a sparrow. From all the bees I observed, it was visible that they were all different species. Some bees were fat, others were thin, and the shape of their wings were different too. Some bees appeared to have a larger stinger than others as well. Given the different appearances, it was clear that there were different species of bees.  These different breeds of bees coexisted well with one another as some even gathered at the same plants to gather pollen. It seems that some plants attracted bees more than others and some plants attracted only one specific type of bee. From my visit, I. noticed that most of the plants that looked alike were spread out along highline more than others plants that I had only viewed in certain spots.

Although the High Line is reputable as a park built upon on abandoned railroad track, I have not visited such area until this assignment came up. I have heard about it but did not really think about how it would look like until I was walking from the train station to meet up with other classmates to walk around the park. When I first saw it, I did not expect it to be on a suspended railroad. I thought it would on railroad tracks at ground level. After I had climbed the stairs and reach the top, I realized the park was nothing like the image I had of it. The park was a lot more beautiful then I expected it to be. There were many flowers and insects going through the plants. I mostly saw bees but I caught a glimpse of a butterfly or two before.

There were many tourists around taking pictures and walking along the park. To one side of the entrance I entered through, the 23rd Street one I believe, tall buildings were towering over the park while to the other where many stores such as restaurants, pharmacies, etc. Although this park is surrounded by city life on both sides, it still flourishes very well. I believe that the Highline fits into Marris’ concept in her book.

Although the Highline is in the city, and at some areas has tall buildings towering over it, the plants still grow there and flourish. According to Stalter’s paper, humans played a part in how the plants grow. It is said in the paper that “material washed from passing trains and wind—deposited soil added” to the mineral content of the soil. It also said humans may have accidentally transferred seeds to the area, another human interaction to the park.

The Highline shows nature can coexist one with nature not without fencing in the area and that humans may potentially add to the beauty or diversity of it just as birds and insects do. Even though the nature has been touched by human presence, it does affect it negatively as other people may believe when human interact with nature. This visit to the Highline was very pleasing and did change my perspective of how we can affect our surroundings in a positive way.

A wasp

The High Line on the West side in Manhattan has an abundance of nature, as evidenced by my visit there and Stalter’s report on the ecology there. Even though it was starting to rain and very windy, I could still find several different pollinators around the plants on the High Line. Because of the wide array of nature interacting with humans in the middle of the city, the High Line displays Marris’ concept of a Rambunctious Garden.

A bee

I had gone to the High Line several years prior but I had never noticed the variety and extensiveness of the plant fauna there since I was only interested in the interesting architecture surrounding it. Walking through the High Line I noticed a very large range of plants and flowers which I did not expect to see in the city. I was surprised by the dense areas of plants which were thriving on the High Line. Many pollinators seemed to like one certain type of plant and I found a variety of different bees or flies mainly around them. I think I saw a couple of different bees and perhaps a wasp, as well as flies and some other unknown insects. I also spotted several birds and a few butterflies but I was unable to capture a picture of them since they flew away rather quickly. Along with the nature there is also a lot of human traffic. There are many tourists there and the variety of people visiting the High Line is also very diverse.

A bee

Another bee

Some sort of insect

Stalter confirms in his article and report that there is a very large variety of plant life and species at the High Line. He discovered a total of 161 species there, with 82 native and 79 introduced. Stalter goes on to describe how the “species richness at the High Line is greater than species richness at four nearby New York City sites.” Stalter also concludes that one factor for the high diversity of species at the High Line is human disturbances. This supports Marris’ idea of the rambunctious garden. Marris talks about how all nature is affected by humans and how well nature can adapt to human interference. The High Line is a great example of this. Disturbances by humans brought a lot of the plant life to the High Line, which in turn may have attracted the many pollinators that are there currently. The High Line is not a “pristine” or untouched portion of nature. On the contrary, the High Line was originally an abandoned railroad track and over time it grew into the urban ecological system it now is. Nature is clearly thriving in the area while still interacting and adapting to the constant human traffic that visits the High Line each day. The High Line is truly a rambunctious garden in the city.

A fly

Me at the High Line (third from the right)

“Within the confines of New York City lies an overlooked oasis of green…the abandoned elevated high line.”  Richard Stalter opens his piece on the High line with these words and to me that’s what it was.  I’ve never heard of the high line before this class, so I thought it would be somewhat deserted.  However, once I got there it was bustling with life.  I couldn’t believe how many people were there.  It was more crowded than the streets of Manhattan yet there were places where one could lounge and rest.  To top it off, sprightly plants were on both sides of the high line for a majority its length.  The abundant number of plants takes one to a place where they forget he is in the city to the point where seeing billboards and parking lots from the elevated platform a strange sight.

If there was a place to accurately describe Marris’s view of a rambunctious garden.  The high line embodies the idea of humans and wildlife living in unison.  People are sitting, listening to music, reading, there are food vendors, and little kids playing.  There was even a bride, groom, and their bridesmaids and groomsmen taking a stroll through the high line.   The plants are also evenly distributed and in some areas it feels as if they completely surround the people at the high line.

With the merging of man and wildlife, there are still separations so neither is completely overwhelmed by the other.  There are signs to remind people not to invade the area specific to the plants and concrete pathways for people to stay on.  There is also an unspoken separation of pathways.  While there is no sign or marker indicating which way to walk, the people organize themselves and keep to their right, allowing for a smooth walk with no obstructions.

While I visited the high line, I felt that while my timing had its pros, there were some cons.  I couldn’t find any animals other than a single bird that made taking a picture of it incredibly difficult and a cabbage butterfly.  There were other bugs, but they were too small to be caught by camera.  I was disappointed by the lack of animals I saw because Statler’s statistics made me hopeful of seeing numerous animals I rarely see in the city.

proof if me there, next to the emergency call box

A rambunctious garden, as described by Emma Marris, is not a place isolated by walls or fences, it coexists with humanity. Rambunctious gardening is proactive and optimistic; it’s not a romantic notion but a part of our everyday lives. A rambunctious garden can be found anywhere, one doesn’t have to escape his/her daily life to witness it, its all around us and develops with the humankind. A rambunctious garden is evolution in action, a practical form of conservation, which can flourish anywhere. The High Line, an abandoned railway line that runs along the West Side of Manhattan, fits perfectly with the notion of a rambunctious garden. It represents an ecosystem that coexists with the city life and continues to diversify.

The High Line possesses every characteristic, which makes it a suitable candidate for a rambunctious garden. It’s in confined to an area within a busy city, it continues to cultivate despite human disturbances and trampling, and possess an unlikely location. One may suspect that an abandoned commercial railway line, deprived of proper sunlight and nutrient rich soil, may never be suitable to sustain such large biodiversity per ha, but that’s what makes it rambunctious. Primary succession and pioneer species took over the abandoned place and cultivated it to withstand the human hindrances.

The railway line currently stretches 20 city blocks between 13^th and 34^th streets and parallels 10^th avenue. It is no longer just an abandoned strip of land, but has become an urban oasis and a public walkway, which is constantly visited by locals and tourists. As investigated by Stalter in his study, the pioneer species at the site were primarily mosses and grasses. The growing and dying of pioneer species added organic matter, which allowed for vascular plants to grow and thrive and also contributed to the slightly basic pH of the soil.

Furthermore, Stalter’s study concerning the biodiversity and flora, reaffirms its classification as a rambunctious garden. The High Line is one of the most biologically diverse and species rich system in the New York-Tristate area with over 161 species, 122 genera and 48 families.  The study also shows a density of 38.8 species per ha, which is greater than sites like Ellis Island, Liberty Island and Bayswater State Park.

The biodiversity of the highline is truly remarkable, and strengthens the support for maintaining and supporting rambunctious gardens, interestingly enough only 59% of the species at the High Line can be classified as “pristine” or “native”, but still the system continues to thrive and seems very natural. The high level of diversity has been made possible by human interactions, mostly humans are considered to be a hindrance for an ecosystem, but in case of a rambunctious garden, humans act as inadvertent pollinators.

Nevertheless, after visiting the High Line myself and examining the pollinators and the coexistence of nature and humanity I am convinced that nature doesn’t always have to be pristine and rambunctious garden can exist anywhere and support a species rich ecosystem.

Like Central Park, the High Line is a well known location of nature that is preserved. Even though I’ve been there before, I didn’t take the time to appreciate the plant and animal species. However, this time i was able to take my time and observe. I went during noon and surprisingly there weren’t many birds and pollinators around. After wandering around, I begin to stop pollinators and butterflies. It was nice to observe the High Line for its purpose. The plant life in the area seemed very well preserved. One interesting thing was that I was unable to find any trash or litter on the High Line. It seems that other people realize the importance of the High Line and refrain from littering.

Marris believes that “rambunctious gardens” are the way to preserve ecosystems. The High Line fits into her concept very well. The High Line is an area where people can interact with the nature while preserving it at the same time. An example of this can be when people refrain from throwing trash on the High Line. Every one is aware that the High Line needs effort in order to be protected. Even though humans have interacted with the nature present and may have brought non-native species, its that which makes the High Line special and an example of a “rambunctious garden.”

Stalter’s paper does not change how I view the High Line. I still believe this type of nature can be considered a “rambunctious garden.” Even though the article doesn’t provide any visual guides, it does state a lot of the species that reside there. It also gives a lot of statistics about the area that one would not know from visiting. Stalter’s article complimented my visit by making me more knowledgeable of the area and what things I could expect.

It’s hard to believe not only that we have the High Line within New York City, but also the number of people who are still unaware of it. Located along the West side, on 10^th avenue and stretching 20 blocks is a fresh oasis in a city with a reputation needing one. The High Line, originally a commercial railroad, which became abandoned, was relatively free from human intervention. This allowed vegetation to grow “unmolested by human and train traffic” (Stalter 387). I’ve been to the High Line countless times before, however, I have never stopped to notice or wonder about the helpful pollinators that help make this happen.

A few handsome gentlemen and I were able to observe a variety of pollinators. From what we saw, bumblebees seemed to be most popular, though not dominant. We also observed other species of bees (honey, long-horned, and leafcutter), as well as butterflies, and other insects whose functions we were not completely educated on. We found a majority of the pollinators we witnessed from 23^rd street up to about 27^th street. Unfortunately, many were unapologetically photo-shy or too into their work.

Most of the anthropogenic interference was atmospheric rather than direct tampering. Stalter’s study was published in 2004, before the High Line’s redevelopment took a change in course. In Stalter’s study, he reports observing high vascular plant species. The species per area are compared with contrasting locations. These include islands that receive high human traffic (Ellis Island) and more isolated ones (Hoffman Island). Some of the factors he credits the vast diversity to are in fact committed by humans, albeit unintentionally. Countless conditions have played a part in the vegetation of the High Line. As a relatively undisturbed environment which high sun exposure, the High Line may be a special case. Stalter explains that “xeric succession on the abandoned High Line may have been altered by the rate at which soil forms or accumulates…the growing and dying of the mosses, lichens and grasses added organic matter to the soil” (389).

The Friends of the High Line have made it their mission to preserve the High Line. In a city with high real-estate value, letting nature run wild was not an option. A happy compromise has been reached with The Friends allowing nature to flourish, yet keeping it in check. The vegetation of the High Line has been chosen by The Friends to recognize the wild pioneers that had colonized it.

I definitely believe that the High Line embodies Marris’ idea of a rambunctious garden. As mentioned, human interference, such as transporting seeds and new species through visitation, can help explain the diversity. Up to this point, we have mostly been learning anthropogenic changes affecting nature. In this case, nature and humans are beneficial to each other. The High Line is living on a man-made structure and being tended by man. In return, the High Line has spurred development to its surrounding areas, giving back to its neighbors.

I visited the High Line for the first time on Thursday, September 20^th and I was quite amazed by what I saw. I started off at 23^rd street and then walked up a few blocks, and then down to 20^th street. I saw many different plants and pollinators, including different bees, small flies, and butterflies. The High Line is so different from the surrounding areas, with all the buildings, and stores and traffic and whenever I looked around and saw the buildings and then at the plants again, it felt like two different worlds. This, I thought, was a large part of the beauty of the High Line. It’s pretty amazing to see how a railroad could be transformed into a place filled with different plants and species and it really fits in with Marris’s concept of a rambunctious garden.

Marris believes that we shouldn’t try to restore ecosystems of the Earth into pristine wilderness that was supposed to have existed before humans disturbed it, but rather to have humans accept that they are in charge of nature and to mange it and make it so that we are creating environments where nature and humans can coexist and interact. The High Line is just that. It is not just a closed off space of nature, but rather a place where nature is being conserved and restored and people can go there and connect with nature. People restored and manage the place, but they aren’t just putting any plants and making their own ecosystem. Many of the species there are native species. Those species, along with many others might not be there if not for the management of humans. Having native species grow back while humans manage the area to fit into the urban environment is a good example of rambunctious gardening.

Stalter’s paper doesn’t change my view of the High Line, but it does make me appreciate it more. In his study, Stalter found that “species richness at the High Line is greater than species richness at four nearby New York City sites.” The High Line has 38.8 species/hectare while at Hoffman Island, it was 21.8 sp/ha, 37.9 sp/ha at Bayswater State Park, 19.8 sp/ha at Liberty Island, and 22.8 sp/ha at Ellis Island. I wouldn’t have thought that the High Line would have so much species richness since it’s in an urban environment and was created not so long ago. One of the possible reasons Stalter gives for the high level of plant species is “human disturbance including trash deposition, trampling, oil compaction and fire.” The disturbances in cause the habitats to keep on changing, but the species there are still able to adapt to it. Just as Marris said, nature is resistant and adaptable. I think the High Line is a great project and should be an example for future conservation projects, especially in cities.

In the book Rambunctious Garden, Emma Marris criticizes that many conservationists approached conservation in a misleading way. Marris believes that there are no such things as pristine nature. There are evidences of human influences everywhere in the world. I think that the High Line fits into the concept of Marris’ rambunctious garden because it is heavily shaped by human, and yet still have its unique natural characteristics. According to Stalter, human visitors to the High Line accidentally bought seeds and different soils to the site, it creates various habitats for different species to live in. Other human influences such as “trampling and cutting vegetation, and the smothering of plants by debris such as tires, bottles and additional trash (Stalter 387)” also play an important role of soil composition and species diversities in the High Line.

The High Line used to be an elevated commercial railroad from 1934 to 1980. It sketches from 13th and 34th street between 10th and 11th Avenue. However, the 1950s Interstate Highway System decreased the rail freight on the High Line. The High Line rails were abandoned in 1980. Friends of the High Line, which is a non-profit organization, proposed to transform the rail lines into a pedestrian walkway. During the primary succession lichens, bryophytes, forbs, grasses and some other vegetation started to appear. Then with the growing and dying of the mosses, lichens and grasses, the soil composition become richer, which allows more species to better flourish themselves (Stalter, 387-388).

 
During my first visit to the High Line I was impressed by its species richness. I visited the High Line on last Tuesday; it was windy and rainy. I saw all different colors of flowers, fruits, and trees. As what Stalter reported in his paper, “the vascular flora at the High Line consisted of 161 species in 122 genera in 48 families (Stalter 388).” It is amazing that this human-made strip of nature is right in the city. I also saw a lot of pollinators like honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies and etc. It was a worthwhile trip to the High Line; I can see all different types of flora without travelling outside of the city.

I believe that the High Line supports Marris’ concept of rambunctious garden, because it is not pristine, but still have its unique beauty. According to Stalter, compare to Haffman/Swinburne Island, Bayswater State Park, Liberty and Ellis Island, the High Line has the greatest number of species. Also, “The High Line may have one of the highest levels of species richness of any temperate zone urban environment in the region (Stalter, 389).” Although many conservationists believe in pristine nature, and that nature should be kept away from human interference; the High Line proves that human and nature can be coexist, and create this strip of nature with the most species diversities.

One of the most visited nature sites in New York City is the High Line.   The attraction spans from 14^th Street to 34^th Street along 10^th Avenue.  It was my second visit to the Highline and the first time that I actually saw the plants and paid attention to pollinators.  People of all different races, genders, and styles visit the High Line to appreciate the natural elements, plants, and spectacular views of Chelsea.   

Upon climbing the stairs of the 23^rd Street entrance of the High Line I was surrounded by a diverse people.  There were young men and women holding hands, young children begging for ice cream, old ladies telling them to be quiet.  Business people looking for a break in the day, a saxophone player accompanied by a vocalist, jamming out; these were the people of the High Line.  What united them?  Was it nature?  Was it the sounds of the birds?  What was it?

Personally, I think people go to the High Line to relax.  It is very peaceful up there.  Especially considering that 20 feet below you sits the heart of Chelsea (on 23^rd Street).  Nature, on the West Side of Manhattan, seems out of place up there, but highly appreciated.   What types of plants were there?  I am no botanist, so my best summary is: a rainbow of all the colors you could see, but one color on one plant; some had thorns; some were dying; some were thriving; some had birds all over them; some had insects and bees pollinating like wildfire; it was different.

Pollination.  Many overlook the process.  It truly is an art form, and those who are good at it are relentless.  The bees will stop at nothing, not even 40 mph winds.  The birds only seemed to be around one plant, the fruitful looking purple one.  The small orange insects that I have never seen are nested along a brown leafed plant.  The day was windy, overcast, and overcrowded with New Yorkers, but these animals were in their own domain.  Shielded by a fine green line, they were in their own habitat, created by humans, untouched by humans since.  You get the feeling that some plants are more loved than others: some appear more vivacious.  That could be a result of something that Slater points out.

He says due to shallow soil profile, soil depth ranges from 1 centimeter to 70 centimeters (over 2 feet).  Perhaps this is a reason why some plants appear brown on the last day of summer and others are thriving with beautiful colors.  Slater brings up an interesting point saying that the High Line has the highest species per area with respect to 4 other major coastal sites including Ellis Island and Liberty Island.  It is easy to see why this may be the case.  The High Line is only 20 blocks long, and just over 20 feet wide.  The total number of species on the High Line is 163, which is third following Ellis Island and Bayswater Park.

Is the High Line a Rambunctious Garden?  It would appear so.  The High Line is a natural space strategically created by Kelco.  It is built to serve nature and humans.  There are practical and artful uses for this great space.  Ultimately, this is now nature, that is created, should be enjoyed by the masses.

Although I went to the highline a year ago for IDC to see the Chelsea Galleries, upon my second visit, it was a completely different experience. This time I turned my attention away from the architecture and artistic displays, and refocused it on the inconspicuous pollinators along the boardwalk. I started the journey on 23^rd street and 10^th avenue and immediately I saw a bee on what I believe to be a Rosaceae plant. The bee was attracted to the inner most part where the pollen is located. As I walked towards 19^th street I noticed that the bees were predominately settling on the parts of the plant with a lighter color. The bees were rarely nesting on the green plant leaves. Less common were the wasps, I managed to come across a wasp on the Rosaceae plant, but unlike the bee, its stripes are more defined and it was located on the green leaf rather than white bulb.

Other than bees and wasps, I also came across flies. The flies were harder to find because they moved around often and tended to blend with the green leaves. Most of the flies were on the tip of the leaf and towards the side closest to the boardwalk. Within a block’s distance of the fly was a ladybug. In comparison to the bees, wasps and flies, the ladybugs are less apparent. In fact, the insect was almost hidden within the leaf. Given the insect’s unusual green color, it was a bit ironic that the ladybug was hidden in a reddish colored leaf. The last of the pollinator species I came across were birds. The birds tended to nest either on the fence or on poles. I believe this is the case because the species of plants nearest to the fence is the Poaceae flora, which resembles tree branches, which birds use to create nests. In fact in the picture below it seems that the group of birds are working together to create their own habitat.

The highline is unique space that allows New Yorkers who want to escape the crowded streets of the city to enjoy a more serene stroll above the traffic. The highline does fit into Marris’ rambunctious garden. In her novel “Rambunctious Garden” she states “this garden isn’t restricted to parks and protected areas. Conservation can happen in parks, on farms, in the strips of land attached to rest stops…” (Marris 2). From this excerpt it is clear that the highline represents a rambunctious garden because it is not a secluded area of nature. Marris’ definition is inclusive of all and any type of nature that is set aside no matter the size. Given the small area of the highline, it can very well be a rambunctious garden because a major goal of the highline according to Stalter is to create a space for people and nature to interact. Based on the Stalter piece, the highline was an abandoned area that once served as a highway for freight trains, but with the organization “Friends of the High line” it became a “rambunctious garden” or a place where people and nature can coexist. I must admit that initially I did not think that the highline was in any way a “rambunctious garden,” because it seemed that the same plants were distributed throughout the entire highline. However, after reading Stalter’s work, I learned about the many species that thrive in the highline including the Poaceane, Rosaceane, Asteraceae etc. The highline may only have an area of 4.2 hectare, however it is the home to 163 total species and the embodiment of Marris’ rambunctious garden.

A green ladybug on a reddish colored leaf.

At the highline 23rd and 10th avenue. I am second from the left.

Birds creating what seems to be a nest.

What used to be an elevated commercial railroad built to transport goods for more than thirty years, High Line is now a popular site for New Yorkers and tourists alike. The railroad was abandoned after the emergence of the Interstate Highway System, which made transportation of goods much easier and efficient. Some parts of the railroad were destructed and the demolition of the High Line was preferred by the real estate owners of the property beneath it. It guaranteed an increase in its property value (388, Stalter). The Railbanking program and Friends of the High Line together worked to preserve and not only to preserve but to transform the railroad to a public walkaway that exists today.

Around 14th Street. Railroad tracks still visible through the plants.

The park runs from Gansevoort Street to West 34th Streeth between 10th and 11th Avenues. Starting with the first section in 2009 followed by the second section three years later, it is now building its last section of the park which will continue until West 34th Streets.

Walking on the High Line, I was completely surrounded by different green plants and flowers of all colors yet when I fixed my gaze to a distance not too far off I saw the city filled with crowded tall buildings and streets. This rather fits Marris’ idea of a rambunctious garden. The point of the park is not to restore the already damaged nature to its “pristine wilderness” but to create more and more nature on the planet just as it is . Instead of the park existing apart from humanity, it exists with it. Plant succession on the High Line resulted in a wide variety of plant species and consequently pollinators (388, Stalter). Many could be seen throughout my walk on the park.

Bees on flowers. Near 14th Street.

I personally believe that the park is amazing. It is in the middle of the bustling city and gives so much contrast and a peaceful resting place in the midst of a routine-led, hectic life. And an example that nature does not have to be untouched to be nature. Taking an abandoned railroad, more nature was created in the middle of one of the busiest and advanced cities in the world.

When you think of nature and greenery in Manhattan you automatically think of Central Park. To be honest, I had never heard of the Highline but it sure did make a lasting impression on me. An elevated area of flowers and plants is an incredible sight that quickly grasps your attention. Many people come to sit on the benches and enjoy the surroundings of the beautiful city as well as this sort of out of place patch of elevated nature. As I walked around the Highline, I was struck by its layout. There were distinct walking areas surrounded by vast amounts of nature. What I noticed was a manhole that was hidden by some plants. This shows that humans, even though they do allow the greenery to grow naturally, they do provide a proper drainage system to make sure the plants aren’t overflowed during rains.

The Highline, located on Tenth Avenue between Gansevoort Street and West 34^th, was an elevated commercial rail line built in the 1930s used to carry rail traffic above the New York streets. Currently, it’s a vast green escape for New Yorkers from the typical city blocks that include nothing but skyscrapers and taxis. The Highline is filled with lichens, mosses, plants, flowers, pollinators as we as birds that pay the area a visit. Walking through the Highline was a great experience. The small strip of nature brought a sense of peacefulness, which is really difficult to find in the big apple. The diverse plants brought numerous bees and other insects to pollinate the greenery.

The Highline definitely fits into Marris’s concept of the rambunctious garden. Marris believes that humans shouldn’t impede nature but rather attempt to restore it to a specific baseline. The Highline was abandoned during the 1980s leading to lichens, forbs, grasses and woody vegetarian to grow uncontrollably and most importantly, naturally over the area. Further, humans have transported many foreign species to the area, making it a developed and diverse scenery. According to Stalter’s study, over 161 species as well as 122 genera in 48 families can be found at the Highline. These facts justify why the Highline can e described as a rambunctious garden. The Highline was allowed to develop on its own without human intervention as well as being populated by foreign species. Marris would appreciate the Highline for its vast diversity of species as well as its beauty in a city that doesn’t have much green outside of Central Park.