Our Story

City Blossoms is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that cultivates the well-being of our communities through creative programming in kid-driven gardens. Since 2008, City Blossoms has designed, developed, collaborated on, and provided programming or trainings for over 100 projects throughout Washington, DC and nationwide. City Blossoms programming is centered in neighborhoods where children and youth ages 2-19 do not otherwise have access to safe, community-led green space, typically in majority Black, Latino, and immigrant communities in DC.

Founded by native Washingtonians, Lola Bloom and Rebecca Lemos-Otero, City Blossoms originated to address the lack of access to nature experienced by many children in Washington, DC. With community input, Lola and Rebecca built green spaces that were free and safe places for children to explore the outdoors, express themselves, and cultivate their community. Today, these interactive gardens are learning and play areas that demonstrate concepts like pollination, water catchment, composting, community-created art, plant cycles, edible organic gardening, environmental justice, and entrepreneurship. Each year thousands of participants, from toddlers through teens, engage as cultivators using their creativity, intellect, and energy to shape their communities through fantastic and functional gardens.