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Scenes from the Norris Square Gardens (all photos by M. McClellan)

The Norris Square Gardens are one of the more magical spots I’ve experienced within the city of Philadelphia. Founded in 1986 by a group of neighborhood residents as a way to erase blight and fight crime, the gardens now stretch across six different locations throughout this North Philly neighborhood. Part community garden, part tropical oasis, the urban environment drop away when you cross over into the gardens.

The gardens are run by the Norris Square Neighborhood Project, which is an organization based in an old rowhome across the street from Norris Square. They focus on improving the community environment and bringing cultural education to the children and families in the area. Recently, in partnership with the Food Trust, they brought a new Thursday afternoon farmers’ market to the park. Small though it might be, it has made a significant improvement in the area’s food access.

The gardens are open to the public, although since they’re almost entirely run by volunteers, the hours aren’t entirely dependable. However, mark your calendars for Sunday, September 12. That day, all the Norris Square Gardens will be open from 4-7 p.m. for their annual Festival de Flores. There is a suggested donation of $10, but if you can’t pay, you are still welcome to visit the gardens.

To see more pictures of the garden, check out the slideshow from our tour last week. It’s embedded after the jump.