Brooklyn Rooftop Crop: The Giant Zucchini Of Baltic Street

Between clothing that was hung out in the sunshine and the rusted air conditioning ducts and fan, a bumper crop of zucchini is growing on a small rooftop on Baltic Street, right off Smith Street.
And my, how huge they are. As I stood there, looking up and taking photos, a small crowd gathered to see what I was taking pictures of.
" Wow, do you see that?" said someone. " Those are the biggest zucchini I've ever seen."
Everyone was mighty impressed that such squash could be grown on a rooftop in Brooklyn.
" I walk by here every day" said another, " but I never bothered to look up. I had no idea those things were growing up there."

Well, I would probably have missed it myself, had it not been for reader JLWS, who told me to check them out. Thanks JLWS!







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Then And Now: A Glance Down Smith Street Towards Atlantic Avenue

A quick look back to the 1920's
and then,
right back to the present.

This is Smith Street at the intersection of Baltic Street, looking downtown towards Atlantic Avenue. Quite a difference, no?

But if you look closely, you can see that some of the buildings remain unchanged.
In the 1920's shot, you can see Michael's, a huge furniture store that was still open when I moved into the neighborhood 23 years ago. The building now houses a Rite-Aid. Unfortunately, some of the old buildings on the right hand side of the street are gone, replaced by the one-story Met Food supermarket. One of them still remains. I believe it is home to Robin Des Bois.

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