Growing young gardeners

The Navarre Garden Club is one of the oldest non-profit organizations in Navarre. Since 1975, members have worked to educate the public on the joys and benefits of horticulture, as well as helping to keep Navarre beautiful and blooming.

One of the ways in which these ladies keep the tradition of gardening alive is working with fourth grade students at West Navarre Intermediate School. Bill Brockinton's Explorer class for gifted students has hosted the Junior Garden Club since 2006.

Garden Club members Libby Messinger and Joann Connor come to WNI once a month to work with the students. Connor developed the curriculum which runs from September through May and covers a wide variety of topics.

For example, in March the ladies teach the kids about birds. They have collected several birds' nests to use as visual aids, and they talk about the materials birds need to build an effective nest.

"Last year they stuffed pinecones with soft materials and things that birds could use to make nests," said Messinger.

For more on this story, see the Sept. 22 issue of the Navarre Press or subsribe online.