A few days ago, Niki and I were in New York for the presentation of an award to a special friend. While there, we made time to revisit The High Line. It looks different every time we are there but this time, the ornamental grasses and perennial deadheads were the features with some late blooming perennials and berried woody plants as the sideshows.

Rudbeckia missouriensis, Calamagrostis arundinacea ‘Brachytricha’

Sesleria autumnalis, Panicum virgatum, Andropogon gerardii

One of my favorite fall blooming grasses is Calamagrostis arundinacea ‘Brachytricha’. It grows quite well in full sun but also in partial shade. On the High Line, it was one of the stars. Other grasses were Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem), Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass), and Sesleria autumnalis (Autumn Moor Grass).

Echinacea deadheads and blooms, Silphium, Calamagrostis arundinacea ‘Bracytricha’

Belamcanda chinensis seedheads

Monarda fistulosa ‘Claire Grace’ deadheads

Eryngium yuccifolium deadheads

Astilbe chinensis ‘Visions in Pink’ deadheads

Vernonia noveboracensis deadheads;

Notable deadheads were those of Echinacea, Belamcanda, Monarda fistulosa ‘Claire Grace’, Eryngium yuccifolium, Astilbe chinensis ‘Visions in Pink’, and Vernonia noveboracensis.

Amorpha canescens (Leadplant)

Parthenium integrifolium (Wild Quinine)

Lobelia siphilitica

Some late blooming perennials were Amorpha canescens (it actually starts blooming in mid-summer but keeps blooming into fall), Parthenium integrifolium, and Lobelia siphilitica which is one of the few true blues.

Rosa rubrifolia hips

Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’ berries

Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei fruit and foliage

The woody plants I most enjoyed were Rosa rubrifolia with its bright orange hips, Ilex verticillata sporting its bright berries, and the huge fruits of Magnolia macrophylla var.ashei.

There was so much to see that I’ve left out a lot but the pictures you see give you a taste of what awaits you if you ever visit in September or October.