Lauren Pallas

LEGACY PROJECT

Project Description

For our cooperating center project Mr. Hunt and I chose to redesign and construct two flower beds in front of the school greenhouse. I used class time with my freshman and Specialty Ag classes to work on the flower beds. We planted specific varieties of plants that are given on Landscape Design and Floriculture CDE contests so that students in the future can use these to practice plant identification. The students learned about the importance integrated pest management through both  chemical and non-chemical applications. They had the opportunity to manually pick weeds and spread mulch and observed the use of chemical controls. They were able to identify the groundcovers, ornamental grasses, shrubs, and bulbs used in the landscape and were able to explain the role that each plant had in the landscape. Lastly, they learned the importance of meeting nutritional requirements of plants. The class helped with applying fertilizers to the plants and installed a soaker hose underneath the flower beds to provide irrigation. This project was great in that it enabled the students to design a layout of the flower bed and learn the requirements for managing the landscape. It provided the students with knowledge and skills in the horticultural career field.

	The flower beds before the project began.
Students working on the flower beds. We began by digging up the existing pebbles used as mulch and dug large holes to install the plants. We also dug a trench underneath the sidewalk to install the soaker hose in both of the flower beds. After installing the plants, we covered the flower beds with potting soil and cedar mulch.
	This is the finished product. The students enjoyed looking at the finished flower beds. It was great that they could also contribute their own legacy to the school by creating a place where students could study plant identification.