How Do You Start a Garden?

The first thing you need is inspiration.  Kids at Parklawn have found inspiration in history; geometry; love of plants, birds and insects; storybooks; community and our bellies!  Next you need to do research about what plants grow well in your area.  Decide on the plants you want and then buy some seed packets at the store.  Read carefully to find out how deep to plant the seeds and how far apart to plant.  Fourth graders started their seedlings inside.  They have been growing for about three weeks.  The classroom has everything little plants need - a huge window that lets in afternoon sunshine; a grow light for rainy days; a sink for watering; seventeen curious, responsible children; one excited teacher; a cute black gerbil and a lively goldfish.  Our seedlings have a cozy home right where they are, but we look forward to planting them in the Panther Patch as soon as they get big enough to survive on their own.

coriander

carrots

dill

hollyhock

lavender

radishes and fennel

snapdragons

chives, columbine, asters

the over all set-up

Colonial Kitchen Garden

The fourth graders from Mrs. Diaz's class found inspiration for their garden while on a field trip to Gunston Hall, the home of George Mason.  Gunston Hall, like most Virginia colonial era plantations, had a kitchen garden close to the main house.  Primarily, medicinal herbs and vegetables were grown in such gardens.  Gardens of this style  followed strict symmetry.  The symmetrical designs were echoed in the house itself and the overall layout of the grounds.  Here are three designs for the fourth grade garden.  See if you can find the symmetry.  Which elements do you think work well?  If you designed a symmetrical garden, what would it look like?  What shapes might you include?  How would you use the colors of the flowers and leaves to create symmetry?

Welcome Back!

We are embarking on another season of the Panther Patch.  Each garden has a theme this year.  We have two three sisters gardens, a veggie garden, a Peter Rabbit garden, a pollinator garden, and a colonial kitchen garden.  Teachers, students, parents and custodians are all sharing the joy of working in the garden this year.  Our snow make-up days stretch to the end of June, so we'll have plenty of time to play in the dirt!  Enjoy our photos.  Y'all come back now!

Autumn Settles in at the Panther Patch

 There are still plenty of plants kicking around the Panther Patch, but things have definitely slowed down.  Take a look at the pole sock/mail box.  It will add color to the garden all winter long.  Students in Mrs. Rhodes' and Mrs. Diaz's classes have been leaving notes and poems in the pockets. 

Oh Deer!

The deer are still eating our veggies and flowers.
Over the weekend, I followed the advice of an
online resource and left soap shavings around the
perimeter of the garden.  The strong scent of soap,
especially Irish Spring, supposedly masks the
yummy smell of fresh juicy plants, so deer won't
be drawn to our garden in the first place...and
won't be tempted to eat our little critters!  Hope
this works!

Garden Bounty! Who Needs the Grocery Store?

It's harvest time at the Panther Patch!

Fresh sunflowers and marigolds

Fresh corn, basil, peppers, eggplant and cucumbers

Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes!!!

Growing your own veggies and flowers gives you the
opportunity to see all the life stages of the food we eat
and the blooms that brighten up our living spaces.  Over
time, we have developed a close relationship to our
charges from seed to plant to flower to fruit/veggie.
Take a look at the transformations!

An eggplant bloom turns into a fleshy eggplant!

A cucumber blossom comes of age!

How are the flowers similar to the fruits/veggies?  How

are they different?  It's fun to get to know our food at 

every moment of its development!