Like the rest of the world, downtown Albany has been stricken with a certain slow-down in the age of COVID, but there are glimmers of resurrection, and whispers of a resurgence. On a recent lunch break, I was traveling down Columbia Street when the beautiful storefront windows of River Garden Studio beckoned with endless bushels of greenery – a verdant paradise in the middle of concrete and cobblestones.
Fiddle-leaf figs, monstera philodendron, dieffenbachia, bird’s nest ferns, and all sorts of whimsical pottery to hold them were on display. Cacti and succulents peeked from their pots, offering options for those who can’t keep a fake Christmas tree alive. Large specimens of dracaena and Norfolk Island pines provided strong vertical focal points, while waterfalls of pothos spilled over wooden barrels and crates.
The handsome space (formerly a gallery) makes the most of its sky-high vista windows, and the plants happily soak up all the light. It will be a treat to explore as fall and winter approach – a lovely little oasis in the unlikeliest environs of downtown Albany.
There is something magical about the place, a hint of something more beautiful around every corner. This enchantment is the sort of thing that only a brick and mortar enterprise can provide, a throwback to a time when things were simpler and easier, a time when such delights could be seen and held and experienced in person.
