Lexington herb Garden

On a rooftop in Brooklyn with the Manhattan skyline in the back on a bright day with a beautiful blue sky. There is an arrangement of red wooden furniture and metal planters with long legs surround the perimeter of the roof.

Situated atop a Brooklyn apartment building, this rooftop garden is a lively mix of herbs and edible flowers, perfect for an owner who loves to entertain more than they love to cook.

But this rooftop isn’t just a private retreat—it’s a shared space for the building’s residents. This client, new to New York from the West Coast, found the ideal way to break the ice and build community. What better way to meet your neighbors than through a shared herb garden that everyone can enjoy and help care for together?

This garden is filled with treasures like pineapple mint, Tuscan blue rosemary, lemon balm mandarina, broad leaf sage, English lavendar, strawberry blonde marigold, Etain viola, purple emperor nasturtium, Corsican mint, and Gasana everbearing strawberries—all perfect for crafting rooftop cocktails at sunset with new friends.

Long planters along the edge of a rooftop terrace are filled with bright green herbs. The Brooklyn skyline and parked cars are visible on the other side of the building's parapet wall.
A close up view of a small strawberry plant with small berries on it and bright green and pink leaves.
Dark gray metal planters filled with herbs are visible behind a small settee and chair set up on a Brooklyn rooftop. Buildings and the bright blue sky are visible in the background.
Long planters along the edge of a rooftop terrace are filled with bright green herbs. The Brooklyn skyline and parked cars are visible on the other side of the building's parapet wall.
Dark gray metal planters filled with herbs are visible behind a small settee and chair set up on a Brooklyn rooftop. Buildings and the bright blue sky are visible in the background.
A long gray wooden dining table and chairs is in the foreground with a gardening hat resting on the table. Metal planters surround the perimeter of this outdoor rooftop area with the Manhattan skyline in the background.
A close up of pineapple mint herbs in the sun, sitting in a raised dark gray metal planter on a rooftop.
A long gray wooden dining table and chairs is in the foreground with a gardening hat resting on the table. Metal planters surround the perimeter of this outdoor rooftop area with the Manhattan skyline in the background.
A gardening hat sits upside down on top of a rooftop in Brooklyn after having blown away in the wind.

recipe feature 

Rosemary & Mint Lemonade Cocktail

Bright, aromatic, and refreshingly crisp, this cocktail captures the essence of a sunny rooftop oasis. Freshly muddled mint leaves and rosemary sprigs infuse every sip with garden-fresh vibrance and make this the perfect drink for lazy afternoons or lively gatherings under the open sky.

Serves: 1

Refreshing cocktail with lemon slice, mint leaves, rosemary, and a pink flower garnish in a glass on a table.

Ingredients

Mint leaves

Rosemary sprigs

1 memon

1 tsp lemon zest sugar with cardamom (sugar, lemon zest, cardamom)

1 ounce vodka

Club soda

instructions

1. Place some ice in a rocks glass.

2. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves, rosemary sprig, and lemon zest sugar with cardamom until the herbs are aromatic and the sugar is mostly dissolved.

3. Add 1 ounce lemon juice and 1 ounce of vodka and top with ice. Shake well.

4. Strain into the prepared glass and top with soda water.

5. Garnish with a lemon slice, mint leaves, rosemary, and edible flowers if desired.