Approximately 25 3rd grade
students helped to plant flowers in a triangular shaped raised garden outside
their classroom window on 8 April 1998. The plants were selected to attract
and provide food for butterflies and hummingbirds throughout the garden
season. Dill and parsley were added as host plants for the caterpillars.
Each student adopted a plant and dug it into the garden. A birdbath, bird
feeder, butterfly windsock, and hummingbird feeder were placed in the garden.
Heavy mulch, wood stepping stones, and a rustic bench were used to make
the garden more attractive and approachable to the children. Miss
Bailey, the 3rd grade teacher, integrated butterflies and hummingbirds
into their curriculum. Miss Bailey had 2 students go out in the garden
and keep a daily diary of what they observed throughout the rest of the
school year. The class made plant labels and learned about each plant’s
requirements.
Wildlife Habitat Garden
Twenty 4th grade students
(Mrs. Patteson’s class) helped to plant perennials and annuals around the
front and side of their classroom trailer. Along with planting, the
students helped to install a birdbath, a butterfly house, a toad house
and a bluebird house. The students planted mammoth sunflower seeds,
rudbeckia and marigolds on the side of the trailer, which has attracted
attention from all who visit the school.
Bog and Carnivorous Gardens
During the summer school session
of July 1998, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade science classes studied carnivorous
plants. A rectangular raised garden outside the science class was
constructed. To learn more about carnivorous plants, 2 teachers (Mrs. Schmutte
and Mr. Gilbert), Susan Moundalexis and I visited Meadowview Biological
Research Station in Caroline County. Phil Sheridan gave us a detailed tour
of the facility and then we all participated in building a bog garden.
We purchased plants for the school and installed the carnivorous container.
The 3rd and 4th grade class planted several varieties of pitcher plants,
Venus flytraps, and sundews. The other pond was installed and became
a bog area. The 5th grade class planted variegated cattails, Siberian iris,
water iris, corkscrew rush and sedge into the bog garden. Heavy mulch
was added to the garden as well as 3 large rocks. Further planting
around the garden is planned for fall.
Native Plant Garden
Ms. Keeton's third grade class planted
native plants on June 1999. Ms. Keeton plans to tie the SOL requirements
for history with the native garden plants in her classroom curriculum.
Plants found in this garden are: bee balms, purple coneflowers, perennial
petunia, rudbeckia, joe-pye-weed, sunflowers, and cotton.
Wizard of Oz Garden
PES surrounds an enclosed courtyard
area that is T shaped. At one end of the T, a 'Wizard of Oz' garden
is in constructions. Roger Horman created a tin man, Melissa Schmutte
made a witch out of a large clay pot, a scarecrow is standing around, and
Dorothy, a lion and Toto are in the process of being built. A yellow
brick road was created over the existing concrete sidewalk. A set
of windows to the left of the entrance to the garden will be painted with
a scene from the 'Wizard of Oz'. Plants will be added this Fall by
the students and the project complete by the end of November.