Garden Meeting - Please spread the word!

All those who are interested in the development of the Memory Garden are invited to attend a meeting on Monday, August 31 at 6pm.

Summer time ...

While the students have been enjoying their summer the garden has been slowly growing. I haven't tended it as well as it should have been, but there is progress. It is clear that other parents have been secretly loving the garden. Mulch has been organized, a wheel barrow and a hose magically appeared - these signs of other caretakers has been very reassuring.


Bee in the color garden



The first grade color wheel has a good beginning. Many of the seeds the students sowed have matured into beautiful plants. They were particularly successful with marigolds and green zinnia.
There are three huge plants that I think are probably weeds but I am waiting to see what happens. Throughout this garden Morning Glories have entwined themselves without regard to our rainbow color scheme - pink in the red- but they are quite wonderful too. This garden attracts many pollinators. Today the bees were out in force - in particular they love the yellow and red marigolds.


The fourth grade Columbian Exchange Garden has grown despite poor soil and little attention. The picture on the left shows (from front to back) the plants that reshaped European culture, the Three Sisters Garden, a native American Garden and the African-American Garden.


We have tomatoes and corn ripening in the first two beds. I the latter bed there are three things I have never grown before: sesame, okra and indigo.

First harvest.

When we constructed the first raised beds some kids and I planted garlic.
Here is our first harvest.

The amazing Killdeer

Since I started getting involved in the garden I have noticed the distinctive sounds and sights of the Killdeer. The high, piercing kill-deer call frequently echoes off the walls of the school and periodically I see the brown and white bird scurrying across the parking lot or grass. Now the Killdeer has become much more prominent in the world of the Memory Garden. The Killdeer has made a nest in the center of the garden under one of the Service Berry Trees. True to form it's not much of a nest, just a shallow depression in the mulch, but it had two eggs in it.

When we first spotted the bird on the nest I was with a rambunctious group of 5th grades and a few quiet 3rd graders. As I pointed out the bird they all became instantly quiet and even awestruck by the sight of the Momma bird slightly puffed up to make herself look bigger - but who did not budge as 5 or 6 large animals gazed at her.
On Saturday we had a work day and she was much more agitated. Even though there were few workers she stayed away from the nest and called angrily from the top of the classrooms. We tried to be careful but for most of the time (4 hours) the eggs laid uncovered on the ground. I had noticed three eggs now and was worried about them being exposed for such a long period of time. I returned later in the afternoon to collect my tools - to find only two eggs and no sign of the other - I am perplexed.

To find out more about Killdeer check out Cornell University's Bird Lab http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/id

Some things I found out -
1. Killdeer lay their eggs over time- but the embryo doesn't start developing until the parent sits on the eggs and begins to incubate them. This made me more hopeful about the eggs being unattended.
2. Killdeer babies come of the egg fully developed and ready to roll - they have to the nest is on the ground!!!

Work Days

May 23, 9-12
May 30, 9-12


Bring tools and laughter

Some photos from the Garden - early May

The 2nd Grade Butterfly Garden - newly laid path.











15 Bean Soup Mix- Ms. Wicker's Kindergarten Class.











Strawberries = 4K

Oh, I wish I had my camera.

Today, as I was waiting on the 5th and 6th grade students, I started working on the Color Garden. At once I was swamped with offers of help. As we worked, a golden brown butterfly came up to visit the Lantana. It was wonderful to see the kids marveling over the length of the proboscis and how the butterfly rolled it up. They discussed the nectar and talked about the proboscis being hollow like a straw -- what a great time! I so wished I had my camera to capture this magical moment.

We purchased two garden wagons this week and boy did they get a work out today. They made hauling dirt, mulch and trash much easier and they are perfectly sized for kids. They tip which makes dumping things a breeze.

Once the 5th and 6th graders arrived things got crazy. They have been testing all week (the PASS test) and were so relieved to be done for the week. I set the 5th grade to weeding a very solid clay spot and they went at it like gangbusters. This will be the shadier side bed flanking the center circle. Powell Hickman planted Lantana in the sunny side bed. Powell and Lynne Merchant were both great at channeling the rambunctious energy into positive progress!! The 6th grade planted a pizza garden. We were able to entrance some of the students with the scent of basil - they planted 3 different kinds. They also planted some oregano and marigolds. I left Lynne planting some other herbs and tomatoes to complete the pizza ingredients.

Now we just need some nice steady rain over the weekend to water everything in!