SWS Oasis was hosting a Back To School Drive and a BBQ Bash today! I came here with my good friend…read moreto donate our school supplies for the community kids. It was raining cats and dogs on and off but finally, the sun came out for the rest of the afternoon. This was such an adorable community garden in the heart of The Bronx where people are growing fresh herbs and vegetables. There was a chicken just wandering around the garden from her coop. I touched one of the eggs that she lay and it was still warm. I never have eaten really fresh eggs before maybe one day hehe I feel like a kid again swinging from that giant swing. Note: Rub fresh basil on your skin to keep the mosquitoes away! SWS Oasis were barbecuing delicious hamburgers, sausages, hotdogs, and etc on the grill. If you're around the area, pop your head in and check it out!

Love this little oasis in the heart of the Bronx. I've been there numerous times and always enjoyed…read moremyself. The two lovely people in charge of this garden Ramon and Rosie are always welcoming. There was an open bbq a couple weeks back to begin the new season. There is a little area for children with a couple of slides and chairs. Bikes and scooters also. There is also a tree swing which is a nice touch. This garden is open to the public but also available to rent for private events.

Went during their tulip festival! There is a bit of a line…read moreto enter as they limit the number of visitors allowed inside the garden. I really appreciated that as it didn't become too crowded and you could fully take your time and look at every single flower. It was free which is rare in NYC. Their website says it is fully funded by grants and donations and operated by volunteers! They have other events and opportunities to volunteer in their website as well! It's a really beautiful garden and a nice break from the city. Snap a few pretty photos of the flowers and then put your phone away. Take the time to really be present and relax!!!

It's a small garden on the Upper West Side with some the most beautiful flowers. Located on 89th…read morebetween Amsterdam and Columbus and open daily from dawn to dusk. The West Side Community Garden is committed to providing a beautiful, peaceful, green space in which everybody can relax. It's funded by grants and run by volunteers. I was lucky enough to be up here for the Tulip Festival. The garden is lovely and so colorful. There were over 13000 tulips! It was absolutely gorgeous. Weekends are crowded but the festival is on until Mid-May. Check out their website for upcoming events. In the spring and summer they have concerts, opera, a Shakespeare festival, and other events.

This garden provides for a nice little walk along the western coast of the island. I was en route…read moreto buy groceries, and I was pleased to find this place by chance. There gardens are currently going through renovation. But even still, this did not take away the peace and beauty of the place. One walking path runs on an incline, connecting Riverside Drive and 12th Avenue. Another path runs parallel to 12th Ave and the Hudson River Greenway. The photos speak for themselves. If you're looking for a nice walk in NYC, this is definitely one of many places to check out.

A trip uptown usually involves running down 137th to a gargantuan apartment building, making my way…read moreupstairs and entering a comfortable home where I'll watch Jeopardy and eat AMAZING Puerto Rican cooking. Heavenly pasteles, chicken, ribs, tostones, the most flavorful rice and beans you'll ever taste. Crisp salads with creamy avocado, eggplant parmigian... I think for a little while, man, this lady (my boyfriend's grandmother) knows how to cook! My face tingles with warmth after every bite. And then I remember. ALL OF THESE VEGETABLES COME FROM THE COMMUNITY GARDEN. This review MAY seem a little biased, but let's just look at the facts. Jenny Benitez is a sprightly, vivacious and mischievous woman who along with volunteers and her husband, has done a HUGE amount of work on the Northern side of Riverside Park. You can watch a video all about her and her efforts here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHGQxkdhf5Q Anyway. She has devoted SO much time to this park and garden. Her huge, huge heart has been poured into it...it's amazing how much of a difference one person can make, let alone all the volunteers! The garden is the image of perfection. It's nestled in the park, right next to the train tracks. Any vegetable you could imagine probably rests here, lying on the soil or beneath the ground, ready to be plucked up and utilized either in the home or for a summer cookout! There's a peach tree, grape vines, flowers everywhere. It's a sight to see, really. And tucked away enough that it feels almost like a secret. Being a part of the community garden (having a plot) is not as easy as you might think. Because there is still so much work to be done for Riverside Park, and there is a constant need for upkeep, you may have a plot of your own ONLY if you volunteer for a year. It's a system that helps keep the park beautiful, and gives you an opportunity to forget, for a little while, the limiting factors of living in a skyscraper on a grid. Please, please, please...if you are in the area you absolutely MUST visit this spot! It's incredibly special and fantastically inspiring.

I wish I had a green thumb..I love nature, gardens and parks. But when I buy a plant after a couple…read moreof months.. gone, baby, gone. I seek out Community Gardens whenever I can. Brooklyn has numerous gardens stretched throughout the entire borough. However, whenever I'm in Spanish Harlem, I'm close to this garden. Maggie's Magic Garden describes itself as "Wild paradise in El Barrio. Community spirit with community food are all around inclusivity. We live to reclaim and upcycle and connect with our surroundings." That is a truthful description; as it is an "oasis in an urban area". One can truly connect to nature and all the beautiful things it has to offer. I did not know all the wonderful events this beautiful garden hosts.. I plan to check out Crafting in the Garden in the future. This truly special garden worth checking out. Maggie's Magic Garden is located on 1574 Lexington Avenue Check out her Instagram page

Maggie's Magic Garden is absolutely beautiful. It's a National Wildlife Federation certified…read moreWildlife Habitat. It's so comfortable and cozy. It's a great place to rest at the top of the hill on Lexington Avenue! I added this NYC Park to Yelp and I will post the hours. I also messed up the name. It's Maggie's MAGIC Garden. I requested Yelp correct my error and post the hours. The hours say closed Friday but it was open when I was there today! I hope you enjoy visiting this quiet peaceful spot as much as I did today!

My second time volunteering to help out the Harlem Grown community. It has become a beautiful…read moreoasis. A serene area for the community with thriving vegetable and plant gardens.

The gang here is a group of amazing people from the neighborhood as well as folks who took an…read moreinterest in working here. I found a wonderful community of folks while living a block away. The neighborhood supports the garden. The coolest part is that Harlem Grown is open to all who come to visit and volunteer. Harlem Grown's produce are harvested and shared with the community via their community fridge and pantry. Local groups also share in this space. The inspiration are the children of Harlem!