Charm City Garden Tour

Last Saturday, August 13, Community Greening Resource Network (CGRS) and Baltimore City Master Gardeners co-sponsored their second annual Charm City community garden tours: one for charter bus riders and another for cyclists.

This year's tours were centered in the northwest area. Bike riders followed a circular route around the outside of Druid Park while those on the bus (which I rode) took a longer wider route which included Reservoir Hill, Mount Washington, Park Heights, Pimlico and Sandtown-Winchester.

I have included images from each garden as well as ones of very special heroic leaders who are leading the fight against urban blight, abandoned houses and lots, drug needle parks and neighborhood dumping grounds with their efforts to beautify their city spaces, provide fresh produce for residents living in food deserts and offer folks of all ages opportunities to green their communities.

This was more than a tour of prized rose beds or polished Robert Mapplethorpe eggplants. This was a chance to see city residents coming together to take back their blocks from abandonement, abuse, crime and neglect and to create clean, green, safe spaces for everyone.

People like those photographed - Odessa, Willie and Justine - are inspiring remarkable individuals! It's great to know CGRS and Master Gardeners are cooperating with and supporting them and others throughout the city.

For information about the sponsors activities, events, programs, contact

community.greening@parksandpeople.org and BaltimoreCityMG@gmail.com