Sunflower Project NYC

Welcome

''Remember each life one flower at a time''

The Sunflower Project NYC, started by a dedicated group of Ground Zero volunteers, is planting sunflowers to create living memorials throughout New York City, honoring those lost on September 11th and offering thanks to the people everywhere who contributed time, resources and heart to the recovery efforts at the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

The Sunflower Project's goal is to plant over 3,000 sunflowers now through early August to bloom by September 11, 2002. The sunflowers will represent each person lost on September 11th and will also honor their families and the thousands of volunteers and contributors to the recovery efforts.

As there will be no ?“official?” 9/11 memorials physically in place by the anniversary of the tragedy, The Sunflower Project wanted to create living memorials - not just at Ground Zero, but everywhere.

Bianca Bob, founder of The Project, said she was inspired to plant sunflowers because ?“They remind me of people. Sunflowers grow as tall or taller than people, come in all shapes and colors, and each has an individual beauty and personality.?”

Her love of sunflowers also has a personal side. ?“In Amsterdam in 1992, I planted my first sunflower in memory of a friend who died?…There was comfort in the physical act of planting and remembering my friend through this new life.?” Bianca, also known as just ''Bob,'' volunteered at Ground Zero from September 2001 through May 2002 and promised herself that at the end of the recovery effort, she?’d plant sunflowers there.

Volunteers run The Sunflower Project and do all the plantings. It is open to everyone and welcomes all who would like to participate and plant sunflower memorials. The hope is that people everywhere will participate by planting their own sunflower patches. The SFPNYC
web site, www.sunflowersnyc.com, includes planting information, sites and tips for growing sunflowers. When these memorials start blooming, an online memorial map and photo gallery will document The Project.

Planting sites have included firehouses, police stations, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, houses of worship, abandoned tree planters and yards, balconies and roof gardens, stoops and front porches, MTA and Metro North rail and bus stations, among other places. Partners have included many merchants and businesses citywide that have shared planters outside their establishments and become ''watering buddies'' for the new flowers.