El Gallo Community Garden

The grandmother sways her arms, pointing to a plot of lettuce. The boys try to pay attention, but all they want to do is run around and play amidst the flowers. ‘I try to teach them respect for the earth, but their minds are always in their games,’ she says. ‘Once there was nothing here but rubble and look at it now.’ The garden overflows with pride. Like so many other gardens in Hispanic Harlem, El Gallo features the perfect casita, with windowsills painted in blue-green Caribbean colors and doorways in bright yellows and pinks.

1895 Lexington Avenue, between E. 117th & E. 118th Streets

Local gardener teaching young children about planting and composting

Undulating circles and colors

Neighborhood library book exchange program

Girl figurine garden decoration