Designed by Carrie Maher and Mark Greenwald in 1984 and perched atop a salmon-brick Columbia condo tower’s parking garage, this oasis in the sky features varied flowers, fruit trees, shrubs, and lotus ponds inhabited by schools of fish. The 1/6th-acre paradise, with three feet of dirt underfoot and multiple birds’ nests tucked overhead, is among the city’s oldest rooftop gardens. The Lotus Garden wows all who climb the short flight of stairs with its colorful and fragrant abundance, surprisingly wedged between apartment buildings.
Guides are available to talk about the garden’s creation and history from 9am to 1pm on Sunday. The garden will remain open, but without guided interpretation, until 4pm that day.

One flight of stairs must be climbed to access the garden. The garden paths are mulched and may be uneven.