Wildflower gardens to flourish at 33 schools across Florida
Students plant a Seedlings for Schools garden at Celebration Elementary School.The Florida Wildflower Foundation has awarded 2018 Seedlings for Schools grants to 33 schools in 18 counties across the state. Each grant includes wildflower plants, expert guidance from the Foundation, and curriculum resources, including the Foundation’s Wild About Wildflowers! Activity Guide. Teachers will receive plants in the fall and will be eligible to receive more plants in spring 2019 if their fall gardens are successful.
This year’s recipients include public and private elementary, middle and high schools; magnet and charter schools; and special educational centers that assist schools. The wildflowers will be planted as part of existing teaching gardens, in courtyards, at school entrances and outside classrooms. Some of the new wildflower gardens will help attract pollinators to nearby school vegetable gardens, while others will be dedicated butterfly gardens where students can observe insect interactions and learn about Florida’s native wildflowers.
In order to qualify, each school submitted a picture showing a site on school property suitable for wildflowers. Many teachers listed local garden clubs and Florida Native Plant Society and Master Gardeners chapters as part of their teams, which will assist with caring for the gardens.
In their grant applications, teachers overwhelmingly expressed the need to educate children outside with hands-on nature curriculum. A number added that the gardens would build students’ sense of responsibility and teach them to work together harmoniously. One teacher from Boca Raton stated, “This is an opportunity for students to enjoy fresh air and get to know their classmates and teachers in an intimate setting.”
Teachers plan to use the gardens in life sciences, math and language arts lessons as they study life cycles, food chains, ecosystems, plant adaptation and diversity.
2018 Seedlings for Schools Grant Winners
| School | City | County |
|---|---|---|
| Christa McAullife Middle | Boynton Beach | Brevard |
| Silver Ridge Elementary | Davie | Broward |
| Sheridan Hills Elementary | Hollywood | Broward |
| Altha Public School | Altha | Calhoun |
| Murdock Middle | Port Charlotte | Charlotte |
| James Anderson Elementary | Cross City | Dixie |
| Springs Coast Env Ed Center | Weekiwachee | Hernando |
| Woodrow Wilson Middle School | Tampa | Hillsborough |
| Foster Elementary | Tampa | Hillsborough |
| Learning Gate Community School | Lutz | Hillsborough |
| Greco Middle | Tampa | Hillsborough |
| Lomax Elementary | Tampa | Hillsborough |
| Vero Beach Elementary | Indian River | Indian River |
| Visible Men Academy | Bradenton | Manatee |
| Harbour View Elementary | Summerfield | Marion |
| Clay Springs Elementary | Apopka | Orange |
| Creation Kids Village | Celebration | Osceola |
| Atlantic Community High School | Delray Beach | Palm Beach |
| Palm Beach School for Autism | Lake Worth | Palm Beach |
| Hidden Oaks K-8 STEAM | Lake Worth | Palm Beach |
| Forest Hill Elementary | West Palm Beach | Palm Beach |
| KEC/Canal Point Elementary | Canal Point | Palm Beach |
| Palm Beach Central High School | Wellington | Palm Beach |
| Clifford O Taylor/Kirklane Elementary | Palm Springs | Palm Beach |
| Coral Sunset Elementary | Boca Raton | Palm Beach |
| Ben Gamia Charter School | Boynton Beach | Palm Beach |
| Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School | Sanford | Seminole |
| The Lyman School | Winter Park | Seminole |
| Pine Jog Elementary | West Palm Beach | St Lucie |
| St Lucie Christian School | Ft Pierce | St Lucie |
| Sea Park Elementary | Satellite Beach | Brevard |
| Gove Elementary | Belle Glade | Palm Beach |
| Lindsey Hopkins | Miami | Dade |
Learn more
The Seedlings for Schools program is supported by proceeds from the State Wildflower tag. Get yours today – it’s just a phone call away!