Florida’s wildflowers ‘go to school’ in 23 counties
Students at schools all over Florida won’t have to go far this fall to experience the state’s flora – hundreds of wildflowers are coming to them!
Forty-three schoolteachers received grants in late June as part of the Florida Wildflower Foundation’s Seedlings for Schools (SFS) program. Each teacher will receive up to 20 Florida native wildflower plants with which to establish school gardens in the fall.
The grants provide “wildflower classrooms” that get children outdoors to discover Florida’s native flora and fauna. When planted on campus, they can help students achieve Sunshine State Standards while they learn about such things as pollination and how to take measurements and record scientific observations.
Grants include plants, guidance, curriculum
Teachers who won grants receive expert guidance to make sure the gardens get as good a start as possible. They also have access to Florida Wildflower Foundation resources, including the robust Wild About Wildflowers! Activity Guide. The downloadable curriculum features dozens of lessons and activities that meet third- and fourth-grade Sunshine State standards. Lessons can be adapted to different grade levels and also can be used by nature centers, Boy and Girl Scout troops, after-school programs and more.
“We are so excited about this year’s awards,” says Florida Wildflower Foundation Executive Director Lisa Roberts. “Teachers were tremendously creative in how they plan to use the garden to educate students. We’re expecting some beautiful gardens and exciting results!”
Awards went to teachers at 29 elementary, eight middle, three high and two K-12 schools, as well as at an adult education center that helps students earn high school equivalency certificates.
“There will be a lot of schools with grow boxes, since that seems easier for them,” says SFS administrator Claudia Larsen. “All schools had assistance coming from parents, Master Gardeners, Florida Native Plant Society chapters, garden clubs, 4-H groups and other organizations.”
Five of the schools are previous SFS grant winners who wanted to continue building their wildflower gardens.
Grants are provided with funds from the State Wildflower license plate.
2019 FWF Seedlings for Schools Grant Winners
| County | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| Alachua | Littlewood Elementary | Gainesville |
| Bay | Arnold High School | Panama City Beach |
| Brevard | Southwest Middle School | Palm Bay |
| Brevard | Ocean Breeze | Indian Harbour Beach |
| Brevard | Stone Magnet Middle School | Palm Bay |
| Brevard | Pinewood Elementary | Mims |
| Broward | St. Bernadette Catholic School | Hollywood |
| Charlotte | Murdock Middle School | Port Charlotte |
| Charlotte | Vineland Elementary | Rotonda |
| Dade | Lindsey Hopkins Technical College | Southwest Ranches |
| Flagler | Buddy Taylor Middle School | Palm Coast |
| Hernando | Springs Coast Environmental Education Center | Weeki Wachee |
| Hillsborough | Sheehy Elementary | Tampa |
| Hillsborough | Seminole Heights Elementary | Tampa |
| Hillsborough | Chiles Elementary | Tampa |
| Lake | Imagine South Lake Charter | Clermont |
| Lake | Round Lake Elementary | Leesburg |
| Lake | Windy Hill Middle School | Clermont |
| Lee | Joseph H. Messina Childrens Center | Fort Myers |
| Manatee | Rowlette Middle Academy | Bradenton |
| Martin | Riverside Montessori | Stuart |
| Martin | The Early Childhood Learning Center | Stuart |
| Miami-Dade | North Hialeah Elementary | Hialeah |
| Miami-Dade | Downtown Doral Charter Elementary | Doral |
| Miami-Dade | Doctors Charter School | Miami Shores |
| Monroe | Ocean Studies Charter | Tavernier |
| Monroe | St. James the Fisherman Children’s Center | Islamorada |
| Orange | DaVinci Learning Academy | Apopka |
| Orange | Cornerstone Charter Academy | Belle Isle |
| Palm Beach | A.D. Henderson University School | Boca Raton |
| Palm Beach | Greenacres Elementary | Greenacres |
| Palm Beach | Temple Torat Emet B-Yachad Religious School | Boynton Beach |
| Pasco | Quail Hollow Elementary | Wesley Chapel |
| Pasco | Wesley Chapel Elementary | Wesley Chapel |
| Pinellas | Broach School | St. Petersburg |
| Pinellas | Paul B. Stephens ESEC | Clearwater |
| Polk | Lawton Chiles Middle School | Lakeland |
| Sarasota | Cranberry Elementary | North Port |
| Sarasota | Ashton Elementary | Sarasota |
| Sarasota | NewGate School | Sarasota |
| Seminole | Goldsboro Elementary Magnet | Sanford |
| Volusia | R.J. Longstreet Elementary | Daytona Beach |
| Volusia | Creekside Middle School | Port Orange |