Garden Guide: New York City (Garden Guides)

If you know where to look, remarkable gardens welcome visitors in almost every nook and cranny of New York City. They're perched on rooftops, concealed behind sleek Midtown façades, tucked inside venerable museums, and waiting behind gates you may have passed by a hundred times. Some are even hidden in plain sight, such as the romantic Shakespeare Garden, the windy bluffs of the Heather Garden, or the bold, contemporary Gantry Plaza State Park. This lively guide to 100 gardens (open to the public and mostly free) in all five boroughs offers scores of unexpected discoveries, from not one but two authentic Chinese Scholar's gardens to a beguiling children's maze, a huge airplane topiary, and the largest community garden in America. More than just a guide to flora, Garden Guide: New York City describes the intriguing stories and colorful personalities behind these green spaces. From the city's horticultural crown jewels to its quirky community gardens, the book tells when each garden is at its best and gives practical information including directions, hours, public transportation, and amenities.