1. Kim: The first character we meet, a young Korean girl who plants a packet of sunflower seeds.
2. Virgil: An elderly African-American man who notices Kim's sunflowers and takes it upon himself to care for them.
3. Marigold: An old woman who brings a basket of tomatoes to plant, concerned about the lack of vegetables in her neighborhood.
4. Slim: A young boy who attempts to plant corn but struggles with the task.
5. Anne: A middle-aged woman who plants flowers in memory of her deceased husband.
6. Gonzales: A man who plants a variety of herbs and vegetables, hoping to share them with the community.
7. Elena: A young girl who starts a small pumpkin patch.
8. Sam: A young boy who comes to the garden to play with the pumpkins.
9. Saul: A young boy who discovers a patch of wild flowers and enjoys them.
10. Oliver: A young boy who enjoys sitting in the garden and observing the plants.
11. Lee: A man who brings a bag of potato seeds to plant, wanting to connect with his Korean heritage.
It's important to note that some characters, like Virgil and Marigold, reappear throughout the story, while others appear only briefly.