ALTADENA, Calif. — Missi Dowd-Figueroa brought life back to the fire-ravaged plot where her home once stood — one sunflower at a time.
The registered nurse and mother of three lost her cherished farm-style house in the Eaton Fire, one of two deadly wildfires that devastated the Los Angeles area last January, displacing tens of thousands and obliterating entire neighborhoods.
A year later, many survivors continue to navigate their grief and the challenges of rebuilding. The Altadena I know and love is gone, Dowd-Figueroa expressed, reflecting on her community's profound loss. Nevertheless, she found a glimmer of hope amidst the ruins.
Dowd-Figueroa, who had lived in her home for a decade, turned her healing journey into an act of reverence for what was lost by planting a garden where her memories used to flourish. The process of nurturing tiny seeds translated into a healing ritual; flowers soon emerged, transforming her barren lot into a beacon of resilience.
For months, the empty lot served as a painful reminder of what was taken from her, compounded by the loss of family heirlooms, including her father's ashes. I spent several days digging through the ashes just looking for his little urn, and I never found it, she recalls, grappling with the compounded grief of loss.
In the wake of despair, she began to plant flower seeds, mostly sunflowers, alongside zinnias and cosmos. I figured if I was going to be there crying, I might as well do something to occupy my time and spirit. I love gardening, and it seemed like the right thing to do, she said, noting the dual purpose of her blooms — providing nutrients to the soil once tainted by the ashes.
As her garden flourished, it attracted butterflies and wildlife, bringing a sense of renewal. It felt like I was helping nature come back, even if just a little, she shared.
In late September, construction began on her new home, buoyed by approximately $100,000 in donations. With the spirit of recovery and future in sight, Dowd-Figueroa found solace in knowing that a new chapter was beginning: It feels like now there’s a place that exists. We can do this.
Her journey reminds us that even in the darkest times, resilience can bloom, reawakening hope for new beginnings.
