The Daffodil Project has reached its one-millionth bulb, and Downtown Atlanta made the announcement together with the international organization. The project's aim is a living memorial to the Holocaust, created through daffodil plantings. This milestone is dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust, and the organization also supports children living through humanitarian crises today.
The work dates to 2010. In the years since, the organization has partnered with more than 650 sites around the world. Atlanta's first Downtown planting came in 2013, and the city has since become the project's largest participant. The city now counts 350,000 daffodils, more than a quarter of the 1.1 million the project tallies worldwide.
A ribbon across the city
In Atlanta, the plantings take the form of a "ribbon of consciousness." It starts at the Center for Civil and Human Rights, winds through Downtown and links up with the King Center. Along the way it connects the city's historic landmarks, educational institutions and public spaces, and it is meant to symbolize unity, resilience and shared humanity. Woodruff Park is one of the places where visitors and residents can see daffodil plantings for themselves.
Two partners made the milestone possible, according to a press release. Georgia Works planted the bulbs, and Gibbs Landscape Company provided them.
AJ Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), said the project ties Atlanta's landmarks together and offers a visual and symbolic reminder of the lessons of the past and the values held today. "The daffodils not only enhance the beauty of our city but also honor those we've lost, challenge us to reflect on our history, and inspire a future of resilience and unity," Robinson said. He added that Atlanta's long history of social justice and its diverse population make the city well suited to be a home for the project.
Andrea Videlefsky, president and founder of The Daffodil Project, called the one-millionth planting "both a celebration and a solemn reminder" in the press release. Speaking as an Atlanta resident, she said she is especially proud of the role the city has played in championing the initiative. She also credited Downtown Atlanta's dedication with making a meaningful impact, and said the daffodils remind everyone of a shared responsibility to stand against hatred and injustice.
Reported by Rough Draft Atlanta.
