Friday's parting shot

The pedestrian safety island garden on the northwest corner of First Avenue and Seventh Street is looking splendid. 

Thanks to the volunteers from Tile Bar and elsewhere for maintaining this space... (and please don't pick the sunflowers).

Please don't pick the flowers

The pedestrian safety island garden on the northwest corner of First Avenue and Seventh Street, just outside Tile Bar, has been lovingly maintained by volunteers for years (20!) — and it shows. 

Their care and consistency have kept the spot vibrant and green, season after season. (We've given it a shout-out every so often.)

Unfortunately, a sunflower was recently snipped from the plot on Monday ... a disheartening act for those who work hard to keep this corner blooming. (The young man was caught in the act, and he was very apologetic, we're told.)

Urban gardening is challenging enough without losing flowers to passersby (as we've seen on Second Street).

Supporters of this plot shared a message with EVG: If you're walking by, admire the garden — but please, let the blooms be...

After sunflower sabotage, 2nd Street residents vow to grow one again

Photos by Stacie Joy 

As noted here, someone recently helped him or herself to the lovely flower head of a sunflower plant on Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B (mid-block on the north side). 

Resilient residents are trying again.

There's also a poem on the scene...

We watched you grow.

June arrived and the sky broke open, spilling out yellow rays. 

To our surprise, the soil did too, and out popped a curl of green. 

As a seedling, we pondered, "What will you be?" 

You stood alone and sprouted bravely.

At the bright yellow petals, our mouths hung agape. 

Into the bright sun you defiantly turned, 

giving us strength through the sweltering days. 

Your golden crown has fallen and your light will be 

missed, but in our memories your brilliance persists. 

With all our love, 

2nd Street Residents

The killjoy of 2nd Street

As seen on Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B (mid-block on the north side) ... 

This sunflower brought joy to the whole neighborhood. 

A selfish person decided they wanted to steal that joy.

Saturday's opening shot

At the 7th and A entrance to Tompkins Square Park. 

And cutting and pasting this Saturday forecast from The Weather Channel: "A shower or two possible this morning with partly cloudy skies for the afternoon. High 83F. Winds light and variable."

Saturday's opening shot

A morning view today from Cooper Square...

Monday's parting Instagram post

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A post shared by Brad Heckman (@hecksign)

Artwork created by Brad Heckman based on this EVG photo from First Avenue and Ninth Street...

Saturday's parting shot

As seen on Fourth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

Sunflowers beam

Annual appreciation to the community gardeners (and Tile Bar regulars) who keep this pedestrian safety island garden looking so good here on First Avenue at Seventh Street...

Sunday's opening shot

Keeping with the sunflower theme this weekend... First Avenue at Seventh Street...

Saturday's opening shot

The sunflowers of Cooper Square...

A sunflower in the sun

Currently at the most photographed spot in the neighborhood ... a lone sunflower on 10th Street at Stuyvesant...

The sunflowers on the Bowery

We've been watching these sunflower plants grow this summer on the Bowery between Bond and Great Jones... not sure who has been tending to them, but thank you...