At a Glance
- Revived a fire-damaged lot with a sunflower garden.
- Lost her 1898 farmhouse in the Eaton Fire, now rebuilding.
- $100,000 in donations helped fund the new home.
- Why it matters: Highlights individual resilience and community aid after wildfire.
Missi Dowd-Figueroa, a registered nurse and mother of three, turned a 2,000-sq-ft empty lot into a blooming garden after the 2019 Eaton Fire destroyed her 1898 home. Her sunflower project not only provided a therapeutic outlet but also symbolized hope as she works toward rebuilding. The story underscores how personal determination and community generosity can restore a town devastated by wildfire.
Healing Through Seeds
After the fire, Dowd-Figueroa spent months driving to the empty lot, grieving the loss of family photos and her father’s ashes. She decided to plant seeds-primarily sunflowers, with zinnias and cosmos-to keep herself busy and heal the soil. Sunflowers can absorb heavy metals, offering a potential detox while the garden grew to about 500 flowers.
- Sunflowers
- Zinnias
- Cosmos
The garden attracted butterflies and insects, giving Dowd-Figueroa a sense of nature returning. She described tending the space as a form of therapy, turning sorrow into something beautiful.
Rebuilding a Home
Construction of her new home began in late September, with an estimated completion by mid-June. Donations totaling roughly $100,000 from a fundraising site enabled the project, allowing the garden to fade as the house’s outline emerged. The emerging structure lifted Dowd-Figueroa’s spirits, moving her from daily depression toward hope.
She reflected that seeing a tangible building after the loss of her previous home felt like a promise that life could continue. The new house will stand where her old farmhouse once did, marking a new chapter for Altadena.
Key Takeaways
- Sunflowers and other seeds helped heal a fire-damaged lot.
- Community donations of $100,000 made rebuilding possible.
- The new home is expected to finish by mid-June, restoring hope to Altadena.
Dowd-Figueroa’s journey from ashes to a sunflower-filled lot and soon-to-be home illustrates the resilience of Altadena’s residents and the power of community support in wildfire recovery.
