Queens’ Gardening Fair Grows in Astoria

Astoria bloomed last night with Queens’ Gardening Fair, rooting NYC’s spring at a 30th Avenue lot. Grower Mia Chen showed pots as 300 shopped, a $10 ticket fest of dirt. It’s borough green—pure Queens vibe, soil hot. A kid nabbed a fern; a pro bagged a rose. ‘Queens grows—this is it,’ Chen says, watering trays. The stalls turned nursery.

The fair’s fresh—March 26’s start, it tripled since RSVPs, packing rows by noon. Chen’s a LIC tiller; last night’s crowd hit max—leaves rustled. A latecomer nabbed a spot; cash buzzed—NYC grit glowed. Runs one day—green ruled. #QueensGarden trended; Brooklyn wants a seed.

Some griped—’Too muddy,’ sniped a newbie, dodging clumps. Wind flicked—tents held; growth held. A rival’s pitching a Flushing plot, splitting pots. Still, 400 stayed—plants reigned. Astoria’s never bloomed so bold.

Chen’s teasing a monthly run, maybe a swap if spring bites. ‘NYC’s land—this feeds it,’ she says, packing tools. The fair’s a Queens win—grit meets green. It’s a garden rush; catch the next. Bring a trowel—roots call.