Bulb Award Brings Spring Color to Vermont School

Author: Sarah Pounders

Spring-blooming bulbs are intriguing plants to grow. You tuck them into the ground as the cool weather hits and then wonder all winter what they're doing down there. Just when you think you can’t wait another day and winter will never end, you see green leaves beginning to emerge from the ground. The excitement builds as they grow larger every day, followed by the grand finale of beautiful blooms smiling at you.

Fourth grade students at Braintree Elementary School in Braintree, Vermont got to experience this excitement first hand when the school received a 2004 Kids Growing with Dutch Bulbs Award. This award, a program of the Mailorder Gardening Association and its partners, provided packages of 200 flowering bulbs to 500 schools.

When school began, teacher Larry Burns involved students in the garden planning process, researching the bulbs using Internet and library resources, and evaluating the school grounds for perfect planting areas.

After careful consideration, students decided to plant most of the bulbs in a neglected perennial bed surrounding the school’s mailbox. Since this area is the first view people have when they arrive, the students identified it as a key focal point where bulbs would provide the maximum landscape benefit. They also carefully selected a few other niches on the grounds in need of a spot of color.

Vermont winters are long, and Mr. Burns thought it might seem longer for students awaiting blossoms from their newly planted bulbs, so he set a few aside to grow in the classroom. He placed the bulbs in the refrigerator for the necessary cold treatment and brought them out when students returned from winter break.

Each student potted up a bulb, and exercised their writing skills by keeping a daily journal documenting all observations about its growth and development.

When blossoms appeared, students placed the pots in the front lobby to share their early spring with other classes, teachers, and visitors at the school. They were proud of their accomplishment, and this only grew as the bulbs outside began bursting into bloom.

School Principal Nancy Frennette says, "The bulb program was a great success for our school, and the kids really enjoyed the experience." She notes that even though only one grade level was directly involved, all the students became participants through observation. She is grateful for the Kids Growing with Dutch Bulbs Award since the school did not have funds for this project. She hopes to find support to expand their gardens in the future. Until then, the bulbs will grow and bloom year after year providing lasting beauty in the schoolyard.

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