The Daffodil Project is giving out thousands of free flower bulbs in honor of 9/11 victims next month

New York is about to get a burst of yellow. Next month marks the return of the Daffodil Project, the city’s largest volunteer initiative and a living memorial to the victims of 9/11. Launched in 2001, the project has transformed into a citywide ritual of resilience, with more than half a million New Yorkers planting over 10 million bulbs in parks, schoolyards and sidewalk plots over the past two decades.

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This fall, the tradition continues with weekend events across all five boroughs, starting right after Labor Day. Volunteers who register will head home with free daffodil bulbs and locally sourced pollinator seeds—think asters, monkeyflower and goldenrod—provided in partnership with the NYC Parks Plant Ecology Center. The idea is simple: Come spring, those plantings will erupt into a blaze of color that doubles as both civic beautification and a poignant reminder of collective memory.

The gatherings have grown into more than just bulb pickups. Each site doubles as a community event, with neighbors mingling, advocacy groups sharing resources and plenty of opportunities to learn about local green space initiatives. New Yorkers for Parks also uses the moment to spotlight its “1% for Parks” campaign, which calls on City Hall to boost funding for public parks from less than 0.6% of the city budget to a full percent. That might sound small, but in a $115 billion budget, it would mean hundreds of millions more for clean, safe and vibrant green spaces.

Registration for bulbs has already maxed out—demand fills quickly every year—but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. New Yorkers can still sign up to volunteer at distribution sites, helping with everything from bagging bulbs to welcoming fellow participants. It’s a chance to be part of the annual “bulb brigade,” a civic action disguised as a gardening spree.

And when those bright daffodils push through the soil next March, New York will remember exactly why this tradition endures.