Transitory Gardens, Uprooted Lives

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Jimmy's garden on Manhattan's Lower East Side, filled with discarded items and a pond sourced from a hydrant, was recently bulldozed, leading to his disappearance. In contrast, Anna's garden, enclosed by a chain-link fence, features a collection of dolls and stuffed animals, reflecting her reclusive nature and rumored past as a concentration camp survivor. Traditionally, gardens symbolize wealth and leisure, but this remarkable work showcases gardens created by homeless or impoverished New Yorkers. These spaces, designed for pleasure, socializing, or solitude, differ from conventional gardens by embracing a more active and transient use of land. Transitory gardens exemplify resourcefulness, utilizing discarded materials, conserving water, and incorporating symbols of freedom. They challenge our understanding of gardens and their significance to their creators. The commentary by Diana Balmori and photographs by Margaret Morton, combined with the garden-makers' narratives, highlight these gardens in unexpected locations, often on neglected lots. By emphasizing the creations of those in need, the work offers profound insights into the meaning of landscape and the role of gardens in the lives of individuals facing adversity.