It is the purpose of the Dias y Flores Garden to provide a green, beautiful, restful, safe and congenial space for gardeners to garden and for the community to enjoy.
The garden will be open to the community as often as possible and will also serve as a public space for community meetings and other community functions.
In Addition ….
We are also committed to maintaining and growing our associations with neighbourhood organizations, from local schools to health clinics and encourage their use of the garden.
We also offer many series of free classes through the summer from tai chi and yoga to horticulture, drawing, ecology and herbal sciences.
a very brief history…
Dias y Flores, like most of the gardens on the Lower East Side, exists because of the dauntless efforts of a handful of people. When faced with ruin, they saw an opportunity for restoration and acted on it.
On this site was once a fully occupied building; abandoned by its owners in the early 1970’s, it slowly fell prey to disrepair and drug trade. The City seized the building and cemented up the doors and windows before eventually tearing it down in 1976 and leaving a rubble-strewn lot–and an open invitation to garbage dumping of all kinds.
In 1978, the 13th Street Block Association envisioned in its place a community lot, with a garden and a playground, and began the labor-intensive work of clearing out the brick, rubble, and trash–from broken hypodermic needles to refrigerators and car parts–all by hand.
Dias y Flores from its earliest days was graced with several experienced gardeners and horticulturalists as members. Along with the help of Greenthumb, most of the trees and shrubs were planted by 1981. These include: Kousa Dogwood, Ornamental Cherry, Callary Pear, Yew, Apple, vibernum, Fragrant Sumac, Spirea, Juniper, and many rose bushes.
By becoming a positive place in a broadly diverse community, the garden has served as a nurturing environment and a meeting place for residents. Today membership stands at more than 40 families in addition to affiliations with a local elementary school and a neighborhood clinic.
In 1998, with the support of Trust for Public Land, a patio was built allowing for larger community events and a summer workshop series. Horticulture, yoga, Tai Chi, drawing, herbology, and many other art, science, and craft classes are offered. Other annual events include a Spring Sidewalk Swap and Plant Sale, Poetry Jam, end-of-season Live Music Dance Party, Haunted Halloween, a Winter Solstice sing-along and bonfire, and many other informal gatherings and events. We also have in place a neighborhood composting program.
A Citizens Committee grant in 2002 helped us create our pond with fish and its solar-powered fountain. Our new rain-water collection system installed with help from the Council on the Environment of NYC was donated by Organic Gardening Magazine and Aveeno. We are currently working on acquiring the funds to build a much-needed new fence and have an ever-growing extensive wish list.
The name Dias y Flores (Days and Flowers) is taken from a hauntingly beautiful song about hope and growing by Silvio Rodriguez. Artist Bob Lasher has created the bottle and brick pathway.
To become a member
To become a member of the garden, one must attend one monthly meeting, at which one pays the annual membership fee, signs the contract and signs up for a minimum of ten open hours. Members will then receive a key to the garden gate and the tool shed. Members can sign up for a box, which will be awarded according to one’s seniority on the list and availability of plots.
