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Flower power transforms a school garden

by Jacqueline

August 20, 2008


I made two terrific floral discoveries and wanted to share them with you.

First, this Chinese proverb: "A garden, where one may enter in and forget the whole world, cannot be made in a week, nor a month, nor a year; it must be planned for, waited for and loved into being." 

I found this little nugget of insight on the web site for The Learning Garden at Venice High School in Venice, California: thelearninggarden.org.

Trumpet Vine

The Learning Garden, founded in 2001, is one of the country’s largest and most successful school gardens.

Previously, the 60,000-foot plot of land was filled with trash and weeds, and was a magnet for vandalism. But, thanks to the efforts of students, teachers, community organizations, benefactors and volunteers, today the garden is a magical place.

It boasts a California native plant and cacti garden, a large medicinal plant section, and a pond with a water garden and waterfall. Students grow organic food and take classes like tai chi and natural food cooking. Those who spend time there enjoy the visual beauty, relaxing atmosphere as well as the chance to connect with and learn about nature and the environment.

Julie Mann and David Crow founded the garden. The Garden Master is David King. Diane Pollock teaches the Horticulture Program at Venice High School. Students from Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine played a major role in developing the Chinese medicinal herb garden.

The Agape Spiritual Center helps out with work days and special projects at the garden. The UCLA Horticulture Department teaches its extension program at the Learning Garden. Students from Emperor’s College of Traditional Chinese Medicine contributed the herbal database.

Curious? Visit the garden's web site and take a virtual tour.

Flower Fact of the Day: Black-Eyed Susan is a plant that can take summer's sizzling temperatures. Betsy Jukofsky shares other flowers that can beat the heat at: islandpacket.com/lowcountrylife/story/579477.html.  
 


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Comments


Shirley
Shirley | Reply
August 23, 2008

The Learning Garden is a magnificent example of how nature can help many people in many ways. What a production !
Loved the Chinese quote because it seems my garden is a very slow process


Sharon Copeland
Sharon Copeland | Reply
August 25, 2008

Gardens for a school are a great idea.  Children can have fun, while learning how things grow & seeing the results of nurturing plants.

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