Bronx Courtyard Gardens
Come inside into a Bronx Courtyard secret garden.
To get full view of the website, scroll all the way down on each page.
Hello NYC the Bronx!
We are Elizabeth and David, once residence of a courtyard of Shalom Aleichem Houses .
The trees and shrubs that we have planted many years ago are going strong as planned.
Donations over the years from tenants and us has provided for beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers.
It took over 8 years.
Many years ago, I promised that I would turn a sparse courtyard to a botanical oasis for future generations.
This courtyard in the Bronx was found again through really hard work and a LOT of perseverance especially since we had so much opposition for wanting to better our community.
There are so many neighborhoods and areas in the Bronx that go through the same issues.
Some will win and some will lose but we continue to try.
We do not live here anymore but we do keep updated with the garden progress by visiting the courtyard 2x a year and by word of mouth from tenants.
One day a resident walked passed me and said "You don't live here anymore, what are you doing here?" The tone was not a welcoming one and it appeared that this person was angry & annoyed.
As much as we love the garden, we also live our life and welcome it's many opportunities.
For those residing in these buildings, we need your help. We are asking that you still continue to watch over the green life here. PLEASE let the building management know when you see someone vandalize or destroy the garden. Just because we don't live here does not mean we don't care. We obviously care even more that we are not around this area.
No donations for 2012 will be requested. However, volunteering your help with watering, feeding, pruning and mowing will be welcomed. Contact us for a list of garden tasks to complete every month.
Now for the change in our mission:
We are requesting that you share this website with many of your Bronx friends and family so that they may also use it for ideas in their own neighborhoods and in their own buildings.
I'm convinced after all this work and now starting new projects in other Bronx areas, that the Bronx borough is truly one big courtyard where we are surrounded by it's protective walls, buildings and an open sky.
CURRENT for 2012: NEW PROJECTS; The Greening of Mosholu Parkway and hopefully to develop a Friends of Mosholu Parkway.
This website Bronx Courtyard will have a new focus on providing more green renovations of projects that we come to know.
The information it will provide and pictures will show:
a place of beauty filled with evergreens for consistency...
trees for stability...
roses for strength and endurance...
and blooming flowers for dreams that do come come true.
It's a new year...
It's 2012.
All Pictures Are Real.
Entrance of gardens Angel statue View from window
Courtyard in the fall. Rear buildings/Yoshino Entrance/Iris
To get full view of the website, scroll all the way down on each page.
Hello NYC the Bronx!
We are Elizabeth and David, once residence of a courtyard of Shalom Aleichem Houses .
The trees and shrubs that we have planted many years ago are going strong as planned.
Donations over the years from tenants and us has provided for beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers.
It took over 8 years.
Many years ago, I promised that I would turn a sparse courtyard to a botanical oasis for future generations.
This courtyard in the Bronx was found again through really hard work and a LOT of perseverance especially since we had so much opposition for wanting to better our community.
There are so many neighborhoods and areas in the Bronx that go through the same issues.
Some will win and some will lose but we continue to try.
We do not live here anymore but we do keep updated with the garden progress by visiting the courtyard 2x a year and by word of mouth from tenants.
One day a resident walked passed me and said "You don't live here anymore, what are you doing here?" The tone was not a welcoming one and it appeared that this person was angry & annoyed.
As much as we love the garden, we also live our life and welcome it's many opportunities.
For those residing in these buildings, we need your help. We are asking that you still continue to watch over the green life here. PLEASE let the building management know when you see someone vandalize or destroy the garden. Just because we don't live here does not mean we don't care. We obviously care even more that we are not around this area.
No donations for 2012 will be requested. However, volunteering your help with watering, feeding, pruning and mowing will be welcomed. Contact us for a list of garden tasks to complete every month.
Now for the change in our mission:
We are requesting that you share this website with many of your Bronx friends and family so that they may also use it for ideas in their own neighborhoods and in their own buildings.
I'm convinced after all this work and now starting new projects in other Bronx areas, that the Bronx borough is truly one big courtyard where we are surrounded by it's protective walls, buildings and an open sky.
CURRENT for 2012: NEW PROJECTS; The Greening of Mosholu Parkway and hopefully to develop a Friends of Mosholu Parkway.
This website Bronx Courtyard will have a new focus on providing more green renovations of projects that we come to know.
The information it will provide and pictures will show:
a place of beauty filled with evergreens for consistency...
trees for stability...
roses for strength and endurance...
and blooming flowers for dreams that do come come true.
It's a new year...
It's 2012.
All Pictures Are Real.
Entrance of gardens Angel statue View from window
Courtyard in the fall. Rear buildings/Yoshino Entrance/Iris
Welcome into the courtyards.
Above pictures during spring/summer. Below pictures during fall/winter. (2008)
Courtyard has several addresses:
1) 3451 Giles Place
2) 3605 Sedgwick
3) 68 West 238th St
4) Cannon Place
Welcome into this courtyard apartment development.
Originally named "The Sholem Aleichem Houses", it has seen dramatic courtyard changes throughout it's years.
Several years of hard work, determination, persistence, volunteer hours, team work (in an independent way) private donations and on-site management have helped turned what use to be a voided courtyard around into several gardens.
Entranceway of Building A on Giles Place. Azaleas & Daffodils front of Building M,N & O
Looking into the center courtyard from Building A Landscape located front of courtyard entrance.
when the courtyard was younger Pictures taken before 2009.
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, nor sun without rain...
But He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
Above pictures during spring/summer. Below pictures during fall/winter. (2008)
Courtyard has several addresses:
1) 3451 Giles Place
2) 3605 Sedgwick
3) 68 West 238th St
4) Cannon Place
Welcome into this courtyard apartment development.
Originally named "The Sholem Aleichem Houses", it has seen dramatic courtyard changes throughout it's years.
Several years of hard work, determination, persistence, volunteer hours, team work (in an independent way) private donations and on-site management have helped turned what use to be a voided courtyard around into several gardens.
Entranceway of Building A on Giles Place. Azaleas & Daffodils front of Building M,N & O
Looking into the center courtyard from Building A Landscape located front of courtyard entrance.
when the courtyard was younger Pictures taken before 2009.
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, nor sun without rain...
But He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
Lilac Bush
Building E&F. Spring Bulbs Baby Azalea
Bronx Courtyard website is for residing tenants who want to view & learn about the gardens in more detail and stay connected. It is also for tenants living in courtyard apartment buildings like these who are looking for ideas to improve their own neighborhood and their own quality of life.
Wishful Thinking
To establish a non-for-profit organization that focuses on renovating and maintaining botanicals for rent stabilized Bronx apartments with small, medium or large courtyards. Create incentives and have yearly garden competitions. I would name it the Bronx Courtyards Botanical Organization.
(Maybe someday...)
One Day At A Time...
Petunias Marigolds for the summer.
*******************************************************************
Our STORY Updated for 2012
It's over 10 years since Elizabeth and David began the garden transformation project. The result is what you see today.
We no longer keep our apartment in building A, and we no longer continue working and volunteering in the courtyard but we do come 2x a year to oversee it's progress.
It has not been easy. Opinions of how gardens should be maintained vary greatly.
However regardless of the petty differences, it's the well being of the gardens that is the goal. Thank Goodness:)
We have worked on the soils enough to get one or two tenants motivated to do their own flower garden even if it's right outside their window.
Life has been busy taking care of family, working full- full-time & maintaining 2 homes. With all that, we do miss the gardens and think of them daily.
I look forward to seeing the spring trees blooming every April.
**************************************************************
In reference to your apartment inquiries and issues, as much as I would like to help you solve them---I can't.
For disturbances inside/outside the courtyard, any criminal activity, loud car alarms please contact the 50th Police Station at 718-543-5700
Middle courtyard years ago! Lilac bush & White Crabapple front of building D.
Building E&F. Spring Bulbs Baby Azalea
Bronx Courtyard website is for residing tenants who want to view & learn about the gardens in more detail and stay connected. It is also for tenants living in courtyard apartment buildings like these who are looking for ideas to improve their own neighborhood and their own quality of life.
Wishful Thinking
To establish a non-for-profit organization that focuses on renovating and maintaining botanicals for rent stabilized Bronx apartments with small, medium or large courtyards. Create incentives and have yearly garden competitions. I would name it the Bronx Courtyards Botanical Organization.
(Maybe someday...)
One Day At A Time...
Petunias Marigolds for the summer.
*******************************************************************
Our STORY Updated for 2012
It's over 10 years since Elizabeth and David began the garden transformation project. The result is what you see today.
We no longer keep our apartment in building A, and we no longer continue working and volunteering in the courtyard but we do come 2x a year to oversee it's progress.
It has not been easy. Opinions of how gardens should be maintained vary greatly.
However regardless of the petty differences, it's the well being of the gardens that is the goal. Thank Goodness:)
We have worked on the soils enough to get one or two tenants motivated to do their own flower garden even if it's right outside their window.
Life has been busy taking care of family, working full- full-time & maintaining 2 homes. With all that, we do miss the gardens and think of them daily.
I look forward to seeing the spring trees blooming every April.
**************************************************************
In reference to your apartment inquiries and issues, as much as I would like to help you solve them---I can't.
For disturbances inside/outside the courtyard, any criminal activity, loud car alarms please contact the 50th Police Station at 718-543-5700
Middle courtyard years ago! Lilac bush & White Crabapple front of building D.
Buildings C, D, E, & F
Center courtyard. Flowering Japanese Kwansan Trees buildings G,H,I J
The garden is filled with flowering trees for spring, evergreen bushes, and flowers. There are touches of whimsy throughout it's paths. Many families living here for a great length of time. Ever wonder about those who lived in our own apartments generations ago?
Building C/White Dogwood View from under Crab-apple at building D.
Center courtyard. Flowering Japanese Kwansan Trees buildings G,H,I J
The garden is filled with flowering trees for spring, evergreen bushes, and flowers. There are touches of whimsy throughout it's paths. Many families living here for a great length of time. Ever wonder about those who lived in our own apartments generations ago?
Building C/White Dogwood View from under Crab-apple at building D.
Flowers for every day in summer.