garden – Alison Pearce Stevens https://apstevens.com Adventures in nature and science Thu, 15 Feb 2024 14:19:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.1 https://i0.wp.com/apstevens.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/cropped-site-icon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 garden – Alison Pearce Stevens https://apstevens.com 32 32 79253410 New outdoor classroom–now in! https://apstevens.com/new-outdoor-classroom-now-in/ Tue, 25 Aug 2015 22:50:42 +0000 http://apstevens.com/?p=559 Here it is, the culmination of something I have poured my heart and soul into for the past two years: the outdoor classroom is in! I applied for the main grant for this space two years ago. That school year, a group of curious kids helped investigate the school as part of the grant, and then we waited for district approval (these things take time). But after two years of preparation, it’s a reality. My kids’ school has a spectacular outdoor classroom. (Well, it will be spectacular, once it’s had a chance to grow.)

Tuesday1
Kentucky coffee tree, catmint, goldenrod, yarrow, coral berry, and prairie dropseed.

Today, we had more than 50 adult volunteers overseeing planting by the entire student body–more than 500 students!

Tuesday2
Dallas blues switchgrass (along fence), purple coneflower, goldenrod, catmint, blue star, New Jersey tea, blue false indigo.

Everyone, from kindergarteners to fifth graders, helped put in plants.

Tuesday3
New Jersey tea, purple coneflower, goldenrod, viburnum, silky dogwood, black-eyed Susan.

Some kids were getting dirty for what may have been the first time. And they loved it. It was fabulous!

Tuesday4
More of the same. So many plants!

Later this week, we’ll add the mulch. There are unplanted areas (off the path) where classes will be able to gather to investigate nature. Or take measurements for math. Or write poetry. Or read. It’s really a  multi-purpose classroom.

Tuesday5
Buttonbush (look it up, it’s gorgeous), coral berry, yarrow, prairie dropseed.

Okay, it doesn’t look like much–yet. But all of these plants will be huge next year. And blooming. And it will really be something. I can’t wait to see how it looks!

]]> 559 Big project underway! https://apstevens.com/big-project-underway/ Tue, 25 Aug 2015 02:52:40 +0000 http://apstevens.com/?p=551 It’s been a long, crazy few months, but I am very excited about a project I’ve been heading up: my kids’ school is getting a spectacular sustainable outdoor classroom.

The schools is one of 30 in Nebraska that is part of the Sustainable Schoolyards Partnership. The funding we got as part of the SSP is allowing us to convert what was a muddy, mucky walkway into a space planted with lots of native trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials–a low-maintenance space where kids can get outside and learn about the nature that grows here naturally.

An army of volunteers started installing it on Saturday. Tomorrow, the entire school will help finish planting. Over 500 students and parent volunteers will put in around 300 plants. It’s going to be amazing!

outdoor classroom 3
Coral berry along the school building. These shrubs are native to the region and will fill in, creating habitat for birds. The berries stay on all winter, providing great color during a drab season.

 

outdoor classroom 2
Low-grow sumac. Those shrubs will spread 6-8 feet, filling in the space near the parking lot. The leaves turn brilliant red in the fall.

 

outdoor classroom 1
We have viburnum and a couple of Kentucky coffee trees that will shade the area in the future.
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