The High Line seems to be the embodiment of Emma Marris’s idea of a “rambunctious garden” because it is an ecosystem that interacts, grows, and coexists alongside human development. For over 12 years, the park has been able to survive the destructive human hand and is currently flourishing in the backyard of New York City.
The High Line’s resilient nature and improbable location already distinguishes it as a rambunctious garden. The park is cultivated on top of an old railroad line that runs along the West side of Manhattan. Along the elevated strip of land, nature is cramped and constricted by the boundaries of human development. Plants are confined to patches of soil that are bordered by fences and walkways. In addition, skyscrapers limit sunlight in some areas, while noise and air pollution add extra burdens to the ecosystem. Yet, plants and their pollinators have managed to bypass such substantial hindrances and continue to grow within the constraints of their new environment. As a result, the High Line matches the description of Marris’s “rambunctious garden” because it is cultivated in our own “backyard” and has withstood the harsh conditions of an urban environment.
Richard Salter’s study on the flora of the High Line mostly reaffirms my viewpoint that there is no better example of a rambunctious garden than the one embodied in the High Line. In addition, the study also allowed me to understand that rambunctious gardens are feasible and should be encouraged. For example, Salter observed that the High Line’s species richness was greater than four nearby New York City sites. Meaning, even on that narrow stretch of compact soil, the ecosystem was thriving more than some city parks. However, my only reservation is the fact that primary succession is limited. This should inevitably lend itself to more plant diversity. In addition, since a walkway runs through the middle of the High Line, humans inadvertently transport seeds and new species to the environment. Hence, the high species richness of the High Line could have less to do with the actual environment and more to do with external factors that promote its growth and diversity. Yet, regardless of what factors contributed to its development, the High Line still stands as a good example of what a rambunctious garden should entail.
Overall, our visit to the High Line helped to place Emma Marris’s idea of a “rambunctious garden” into visual perspective. I can now envision the possibilities of integrating a highly developed urban environment with nature that once seemed fragile. In addition, the pollinators of the High Line helped me pay close attention to interdependent characteristic of ecosystems. Regardless of Salter’s explanation for the high species diversity of the High Line, I believe that “rambunctious gardens” are plausible and should be supported in cities like NYC.
