In the shadow of the elevated F and G train tracks on 9th Street, the Gowanus Canal Conservancy’s Lowlands Nursery is growing plants that will flourish around the canal and surrounding neighborhood.

They are sold to the public and donated for planting in gardens and other locations throughout Gowanus.

“All of our plants are native to the area so they are beneficial to pollinators, and they are very tough and resilient,” Natasia Sidarta, community stewardship and operations director of the conservancy, said.

The organization is hosting one of the over 50 events being held Saturday around the five boroughs for the first City of Forest Day.

The event is about celebrating and raising awareness of the city’s Urban Forest.

There are over seven million trees in parks and on city streets, public and private property.

“They cool our city, they help us have cleaner air, they beautify our blocks, they filter and absorb storm water, they do all kinds of things to make our city more resilient and to make us healthier and happier,” Emily Nobel Maxwell, the city's program director for The Nature Conservancy, said.

City of Forest Day is presented by Forest for All NYC, a coalition lead by the global conservation organization, The Nature Conservancy, as well as NYC Parks and Parks and Open Space Partners NYC.

It’s a chance to practice stewardship, that is helping to protect, expand and maintain the urban forest.  

“You can help clean up tree beds, you can go on walking tours and hikes, you can plant flower bulbs in tree beds, there’s a whole array of activities and ways to get involved,” Nobel Maxwell said.

Check out for more events here.