Some places in Gramercy Park were difficult to plant successfully. The southwest side, across from the National Arts Club, and an area around the fountain combined limited sunlight with poor drainage.
A May 2024 letter announced a new approach proposed by Kathleen Scupp: moss gardens developed with help from Moss Acres, Park Caretaker Amando Flores, arborists and landscape professionals. Soil analysis and consultation helped shape the choice.
The planting combined several kinds of moss with ferns and other native plants. Rocks, wood and bluestone gave structure to the garden and helped create the quiet woodland character described in the letter.
The original photographs show the scale of the change, from low cushions of moss to larger planted areas along the fence and around the fountain.
Sections of an elm removed the previous year for safety reasons were incorporated into the new garden. The wood became part of the landscape, preserving a tangible connection with the tree.
The Trustees carried out this project inside Gramercy Park.
