In Full Bloom by the Light of the Moon

Moon Flowers

Tonight, I will water the garden at night in hopes of catching a glimpse of some wide open Moon Flowers.  Stay tuned for a photo.  :)

Help! The Plants are Thirsty, but We Cannot Turn the Water on

I went to the garden today (Sat.) to water, but could not, because the watering key is missing.  If you accidentally took the key, please water the garden today/tomorrow and put the key back.

If no one has the key, it must have been stolen, and we need a new one.

I don't think the plants will survive this weekend's 100 degrees plus heat without water. 

Must...Have...Water...

The plants are making a bold effort to stand up against this Virginia heat.  Look at the gorgeous sunflowers.  Moonflowers, hang in there (they continue to climb the trellis, but look very droopy in the heat)!  Special thanks to the summer waterers and to our custodian, Nicolas, who watered the garden today.

Feathered Friends

The Panther Patch now has three bird feeders!  When you come to water the garden, consider bringing some bird seed to replenish the feeders.

Garden Survives Storm!

The garden beat Friday's storm like a true champion!  Since Parklawn was closed today due to lack of power, the PAC children were unable to water the plants.  I went to check in on my leafy green friends.  I was relieved when each and every flower and veggie reported for role call.  I relocated a bean pole to hold up a collapsed tomato cage.  A discarded stake became a crutch to support a tall, carnation-like marigold.  One of the bird feeder poles has been re-made into a prop for one glorious sunflower.  Special thanks to the gardeners who managed to water over the weekend.  I know you must have had your hands full with many storm-aftermath chores.  There are many ripe strawberries, beans, and squash in the garden...so come harvest.  There is also a ton of basil.  Come and get it!!!

The Squash is Out of Control!

Here's a tasty solution - a stuffed squash blossom recipe that is easy to make.  Thanks, Epicurious.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Squash-Blossoms-Stuffed-with-Ricotta-354966

  

Earlier this Spring...

The preschool class was the first to plant its garden, starting with beans.  Little by little, the plants grew, multiplied, and spread.  By now, the beans are ascending the poles tendril by tendril, the lettuce is expanding its territory, the radishes have been nibbled away, and the spinach has gone wild.  This is how it all started...

Nature's Confetti, or FLOWERS!!!!

con·fet·ti

   [kuhn-fet-ee for 1; It. kawn-fet-tee for 2] Show IPA

plural noun, singular con·fet·to  [It. -fet-taw]  Show IPA for 2.

1.

( used with a singular verb ) small bits of paper, usuallycolored, thrown or dropped from a height to enhance thegaiety of a festive event, as a parade, wedding, or NewYear's Eve party.

As cheers and colorful confetti erupted in classrooms throughout the building yesterday to celebrate the last day of school, brilliant flowers made their opening debut in the Panther Patch to herald the beginning of SUMMER!  Take a look!

This is a squash blossom.

This is a Velvet Queen Sunflower.

Zinnia No. 1.  Its petals still need to unfurl.

Zinnia No. 2.  It's so vibrant.

Zinnia No. 3.  It's delicate and pink.

                            Second grade planted an assortment of marigolds.

The flower on top of this plant will soon

become a deliciously sweet ear of corn.

Amazing Progress

The Garden is Alive with Plants, Creatures and Learning!

The school year winds down as the garden gears up!  Fifth graders hosted "Earth and Beyond."  The adventure started in the far reaches of outer space.  Mrs. Jacob's class shared research about planets.  The student created Powerpoint slide shows illuminated the faces of curious children as they trekked across the solar system all the way from Mercury to Pluto.  The young astronomers gave out brochures to their eager guests.  The next stop was Earth!  Mrs. Diaz's students shared garden-related research.  Fifth graders explored and shared the following topics via student generated display boards, brochures, and artifacts:  moon flowers, strawberries, sunflowers, cilantro, Virginia birds, and healthy garden treats.  As you can see from the photos, the event was a hit for both guests and hosts!  After the garden event, guests took a self guided tour of the Parklawn grounds to explore our trees.  Parklawn is home to a variety of woody, leafy friends, including the American holly tree, the magnolia tree, the Yoshino cherry tree, the flowering dogwood, and more!  Stay tuned for more news from the Panther Patch!

Garden Gathering!

Season 2 - Panther Patch!

We are about to embark on season 2 of the Panther Patch. Today, we purchased a variety of flower, veggie, and herb seeds. This year, the garden will be a group effort on the part of FECEP, Multi-Age, Grade 2, and Grade 5. Stay tuned!