As Shakespeare noted “summer’s lease has all too short a date.” But I also love autumn in New York when it’s still warm during the day. I used to lounge outside in the Westbeth courtyard, around our center garden, but since Westbeth is now a loud construction site, it’s no longer relaxing to hang out there.
That’s why I spent more time this past summer enjoying our local community gardens and little parks. And I plan to visit them during October. We residents of the West Village are lucky to have intimate green spaces lovingly tended by urban gardeners, paid and volunteers. All these venues feature spectacular horticulture with floral displays that change seasonally, from spring tulips to fall mums, and each space has its own character.
The gorgeous Jefferson Market Garden, 10 Greenwich Avenue, gets many visits from tourists because of its location in the center of Greenwich Village. It can even be hard to find a seat here but it’s always worth a stroll through. The fish pond, a unique feature, is stocked with koi and the fish dart under the water lilies. The Jefferson Market Garden is designed and maintained by Gardens of Distinction. Volunteers oversee the seasonal plantings and work when the garden is closed.
Alison Armstrong, Westbeth resident, painter/writer, works two afternoons a week at the Jefferson Market Garden as a paid greeter. She sits at the entranceway with her partner and answers questions about the kinds of plants and explains the history of the garden, which just celebrated its 50th year, replacing the Women’s House of Detention that was torn down in 1974. Armstrong, who earned her Ph.D. in Comparative Lit at NYU, has written about Calvert Vaux and Frederick Clark Withers, the English architects of the Jefferson Market Library building, so she’s a good source of information about New York architecture as well as gardens.
She’s had many years of gardening experience in Ohio, England, and upstate New York, but now most of her work involves policing the gardens: making sure that the visitors are not eating, not smoking, not sleeping on the benches, not walking on the lawn. And the greeters keep an eye on the drug dealers who hover around outside on Greenwich Avenue. “It’s a garden not a park,” emphasized Armstrong.
As part of her role as a greeter, Armstrong points out the bullfrog in the koi pond and gives treats to the regular dog visitors, (on leashes), and she hands out butterfly and insect stickers to the children. “Lots of kids come with their nannies or parents from daily walks or from the nearby ballet class.”
“This job is exactly what I needed and wanted after 50 years of college teaching. It is a great change to be working outdoors.” But she admits she felt really raw on the spring days when she worked in the rain and dampness. She needed a glass of red wine when she got home.
The retired professor enjoys talking to the many tourists who come in the summer from places like Spain, France, South America, the Ukraine. And there are local regulars, including a well-known older actor who comes almost every day, and an elderly bird watcher who moves around the garden with the sun. “The garden attracts a variety of interesting birds, like downy woodpeckers and mocking birds,” she said.
Aside from questions about the origin and care of the garden, two of the most popular questions are: Where are the bathrooms? (inside the library). Can you enter the library from the garden? (no). This summer Armstrong saw a planned surprise marriage proposal on the grass and from time to time she admitted scantily clad models with their photographers from fashion magazines. (Photo shoots and weddings must be arranged in advance.) The garden was open three nights a week during July and in August hosts concerts. It’s the only time people are allowed on the lawn.
This was Armstrong’s first year working as a greeter at Jefferson Market Garden, a gig she landed through an acquaintance at the Greenwich House senior center. And she looks forward to returning next April, when she will be prepared for cold wet days of spring when the garden will be bursting with thousands of tulips and daffodils and overhung by pink clouds of magnolia blossoms.
Jefferson Market Garden Open April 1- October 31, 10- 6. Closed on Mondays
The garden I visit the most is St. Luke in the Fields, Hudson and Barrow Streets, (also maintained by Gardens of Distinction). Part of the church campus, the vibe is quiet and contemplative. I find an empty bench under a tree and relax and read while surrounded by plants and flowers and chirping birds. I like to stop here on my way back home from the Hudson Park Library. The brick walls of the garden add a sense of privacy and warmth and the varied floras attract butterflies and migrating birds.
Open daily. Mon- Sat. 10- dusk. Sunday 12- dusk.
The tiny Jane Street Garden, 36 Jane St, is entirely run by volunteers. I take a break here when running errands. This year they added a little library where I found some good books.
Open mid-April- mid-October. Fri. Sat. Sun. 9-6.
The lively Abingdon Square Park is our local town square. Part of the NYC Dept of Parks and Recreation, it is impeccably maintained by the Abingdon Square Conservancy. One of New York City’s oldest parks, (established in 1836), it is also one of its smallest. This busy spot, with benches circling the WW1 Doughboy Statue, attracts locals, tourists, e-bike delivery guys taking a rest, jazz musicians offering an impromptu concert, and a few homeless people. Bordered by Eighth Avenue, Hudson Street, and West 12th Street, this central location in the far West Village pulls in people like a magnet.
The Abingdon Square Conservancy sponsors events year round, from the Tulip Concert in the spring to the Pumpkin Patch in the fall. At Halloween, neighbors drop off their carved jack-o-lanterns on the lawn and the staff lights them up for a spooky effect. Crowds pack the park for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony with hot chocolate and cookies and the arrival of Santa. The park’s decorative light fixtures, recalling Victorian New York, add to its charm.
The greenmarket is open every Saturday around the perimeter of the park. I often run into my neighbors as we shop for apples or asparagus. Politicians stop by the market to meet and greet voters. Last spring, seniors gathered in the park to protest Trump’s cuts. Abingdon Square is a vibrant and attractive space in every season.
Open daily. 8 am- 8 pm
