The north-east corner of Houston and Bowery is extremely leafy and I’ve never asked why. I’ve walked by this spot countless times without giving it a second thought. The other day I was hurrying to the Broadway/Lafayette subway station. I walked past an open gate, stopped, and went back to do a double take.

I’d never noticed it open before. Was my timing lucky, or had I just never really looked before? A sign in colorful chalk proclaimed, “All welcome to come in”. Who was I to refuse?

I stepped into the gate and my jaw dropped. A lush, green, beautiful garden secreted away in the middle of Manhattan! It was like stepping into a totally different world.

First NYC Community Garden
The Liz Christy Garden

The East Village neighborhood in NYC is known for having numerous small community gardens. Green oasis’ in the concrete jungle.

The city hustle peaks in through the fence. Other wise, the dense leaves and flowers make it easy to forget you’re even in a city at all. It’s magical…something about it feel down right good for the soul.

There’s even a goldfish pond!

But this fish pond wasn’t even my most delightful find…

Fruit trees! There was a shocking amount of fruit growing in this garden, on the edge of one of the busiest streets in all of Manhattan. Who’d ever guess?

Peaches and pears! Don’t worry, I didn’t eat any. But it was tempting!

 

A quick look on the garden’s website shows I did luck out with timing:

 

SATURDAY Noon-4 PM(All Year)
SUNDAY Noon-4 PM(May-Sept)
TUESDAY & Thursday 6 PM -Dusk(May-Sept)

If you’re ever around Bowery and Houston during those times. Do yourself a favor and visit. My wander through instantly decreased my stress level. No New Yorker should say no to that!