Resident botanical guru Mary Curran led second grade through an informative garden planning workshop today. Students identified vegetables that grow happily in the inconsistent and sometimes colder early spring weather. Each student then used a plant guide to design a garden using a 4′ X 3′ grid. Each student learned that different plants require different amounts of square footage to grow best, eg. 1 watermelon per sq.ft. as opposed to 16 carrots per sq.ft. Students discussed the merits of growing flowers in your vegetable garden and many learned for the first time that doing so brings a multitude of “pollinators,” such bees, ladybugs and butterflies. Each student also planted their own cucumber seeds today in perfect little newspaper planters created by the talented Mrs. Curran!