Through French Eyes

Just in time to help us with our Earth Day celebration, Theo's French friend, Lucas, spent part of his spring break visiting our school. His first task was to take pictures until my camera ran out of batteries. At some point he handed the camera off to Theo who captured Lucas helping Sergio predig one of 17 holes for our annual Earth Day tree planting.

Most of the class was busy weeding, pruning, and trimming. They have also been working on new landscaping in front of the school, including the renovation of a large rectangular bed.

We are making headway in our battle against invasive weeds. Our toughest foe continues to be Johnson grass.

Typically students wield hand cultivators to scrape back the mulch, loosen the soil with a spading fork, and then attack with weeders.

No special attire is required as long as it follows are school's dress code.

Nona adds a little style to the garden.

It was a productive day. Thanks for the photography, Lucas!

Merci beaucoup!

In Mrs. Fillman's Garden

Happy Earth Week!

The following images were captured today by two eighth grade students in the garden dedicated to former Small teacher, Susan Fillman.

The photographers...

Thanks for Supporting Margaret's House

Thanks to all who volunteered and shopped at our 2011 Spring Plant Sale. Not only does this support our green efforts around campus, it also achieves the 3 goals of Margaret's House: to study propagate, and distribute native plants in our area.

Margaret Bamberger worked with scores on Small Middle School students on the ranch and at our school. She had a hand (okay, foot) in constructing the greenhouse dedicated in her honor.

Originally the garden at Small was designed to be a Japanese garden inspired by the Tanaguchi Gardens at Zilker Park. Margaret was the chief inspiration and major mentor in persuading me to garden for wildlife focusing on native plants.

Margaret passed away two years ago. Many of her friends and family contributed to the construction of this tribute to Margaret. I want them to know that a couple of hundred middle school students have studied, propagated, and helped distribute native plants.

Sam and Jack's Masterpiece

Whoops! All those student volunteers and I forgot to appoint a photographer.

Luckily, project director Sam Birchall, who himself has worked with dozens of Small students, snapped a few. They were tiling the countertop of one of our work spaces. The mosaic tiles were leftovers from the building original construction.

Sam had Jack figure out the pattern.

A few cuts later and lots of elbow grease later...

...the deed was done.

Sam returned two days later and worked with Sergio to grout the countertops.

At the same time of the plant sale and tiling workshop, Linda Gibeaut led another project. She, along with Mr Brooks, Mr. Rosenberg, a Dad, and several students, mortared up the stone vegetable bed designed by Mrs. Reynold's math students last year. I'll post photos in a future blog.

This post is dedicated to the living memory of Margaret Campbell Bamberger.