MNN - Mother Nature Network

Last week, the sassy, sustainable folks over at Ideal Bite featured The Liberty Sunset Garden Center (full disclosure: I wrote the article), one of three (yes, three) garden centers in my Brooklyn neighborhood. If you're anywhere near NYC, this mammoth plant emporium is well-worth a visit no matter if you're a serious gardener, green-thumbed novice, or just someone who appreciates killer NYC views. 

 

Whether it's annuals, perennials, shrubs, bulbs, bromeliads, hydroponics, floral arrangements or tropicals you're after, Liberty Sunset most likely has 'em along with a variety of natural fertilizers and food, in-house-made wooden planters and other green garden goodies. Spend enough time wandering around the indoor section of Liberty Sunset — complete with waterfalls, towering yucca trees, koi-stocked pond and a relaxing tropical vibe — and you'll forget you're in Brooklyn. In the lovely outside garden, you'll find well-stocked hoophouses, a 10-foot compost container, and a wind/solar-powered kiosk that hosts special events.  

 

If the building and gorgeous harbor views from the garden center give you deja vu, there's a chance you've seen them before: Liberty Sunset is located on Pier 41, right next door to the filming location of MTV's Real World Brooklyn "house." 

 

Liberty Sunset owner and talented photographer Sandor Gubis was kind enough to pass along these photos to me that didn't make it into the I.B. piece. I think they're worth sharing. Take a look...