Blocks in Bloom celebrates 100th block and 1,000th home served in Rochester

Last Thursday, August 29th, I walked down Brooks Ave. with this year’s Blocks in Bloom participants and found everyone welcoming and excited to share what they had learned last summer.

“This is one of the best neighborhoods I’ve ever been in,” said Dorrean Nelson, one of the program’s coordinators.

But what is Blocks in Bloom?

It is an award-winning effort of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County’s Master Gardener program, where homeowners and renters in low-income neighborhoods receive guidance on how to prepare, plant and maintain their front yard gardens.

Expert and novice gardeners create their gardens from donated materials, including plants, compost, mulch, and gardening tools.

Further: Brooks Landing Diner helps those in need

The Brooks Ave cohort is the 100th block served by the program in its 11-year history. Brooks Ave is also home to the 1,000th household served by the program – the home of Frannie and Joe Chen.

The Chens came to the United States from China six months ago to help their son, who now works at Google after graduating from the University of Rochester. Although it was his first time working in the garden, Joe Chen said he was excited when he heard about Blocks in Bloom because the city they are from in China, Guangzhou, is known as the “City of Flowers.”

Joe Chen had heard that people in the United States were rude and reserved, but he found the opposite, especially in his neighborhood.

Nelson said that from day one of the program, each participant cared, wanted to improve and had a strong sense of connection to the community.

Regardless of their abilities, each participant shared information, ideas, and of course, plants. The group went around the neighborhood, looked at each person’s front yard, and created a plan for their garden’s configuration. The “average” person would think about leaving after getting the blueprint for their own home, but instead, everyone stayed the whole time, helping each other create the best plans for themselves.

Because Blocks in Bloom promotes mental health, unifies, strengthens and beautifies Rochester neighborhoods, Mayor Malik Evans proclaimed August 29 as Blocks in Bloom Day.

Justice Marbury is the reporter for District 19. She loves her energetic pup, Hiro. Find her on Instagram @justicia_marbury and by email to [email protected].

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Blocks in Bloom celebrates 100th block and 1,000th home served in Rochester

ByS. Jacob

By S. Jacob

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