Learning
Gardens
Update
Another
busy spring in the Learning
Gardens! At the end of
April, a work party was held to install a beautiful, professionally-made sign
on the edge of the Bird &
Butterfly Garden.
The sign includes a map of the Learning
Gardens, plus a brief
history of the project. If you haven’t seen it yet, go and take a look!
Another
work party was held on May 12th, which was the annual Master
Gardener Workday. We had four Master Gardeners and a nice mix of school staff,
parents, and students on hand to weed and prune the garden, add a new layer of
mulch, and add wood chips to the paths. The After School Garden Club also met
in May. Unfortunately, we were rained out twice, but much was accomplished the
times we did meet.
You
may have heard that I am retiring this year. Yes, indeed, after thirty-one
years of teaching, I am hanging up my “teacher hat.” However, the gardener hat
is still on, as I have
been awarded a small stipend from the School Ground Greening Coalition part of
Portland Trails. Thus, I will continue to help maintain the Learning Gardens,
help run Ecology Day and After School Garden Club, and volunteer to help
teachers get their classes outside. I also have access to a $1200 mini-grant to
support our greening efforts in the coming school year. So, you haven’t seen
the last of me!
Finally, I am requesting your help in
keeping an eye on the Learning
Gardens over the summer.
I have noticed that kids have been “burning rubber” with their bikes on the Rain Garden
boardwalk. Hopefully, it can be cleaned off. If you see the gardens being
mistreated, please speak up, contact the school office, or – if the office if
closed and you feel it is warranted - call the police. It is up to all of us to
keep the gardens beautiful and safe.
Many
thanks for all your support,
Anne
Cyr
Master
Gardener
Coordinator
of the Learning Gardens Project
