Community Connection

Fall 2007
VWC Supported Smart Gardening Fair

The VWC provided a $150 donation for the kids’ activities booth at the Smart Gardening Fair that the Master Gardeners put on in Scotts Valley. Master Gardener, Caprice, said there were probably 60-70 kids, participating.  They had much to do!

Marigold seed packets were provided to participants to take home - to grow them, learn plant anatomy and then start the cycle over again by sharing seeds with friends.

In a tasting/sensory activity children created culinary and medicinal herb bouquets and experienced sample leaf tasting in foods.

Children learned about transplanting through separation/ division and got to take the plants home.  There were four mint varieties to transplant from runners.

The Gardeners had set up microscopes with Monarch butterfly specimens.  The four microscopes showed the difference between male and female monarchs; they showed butterflies with body parts and wing scales missing so as to illustrate why we should never grab butterflies.

Finally, the 70 or 80 children participating made leaf rubbings with California native leaves, resulting in cards to take home.

The VWC received a lovely thank-you note on a card with leaf rubbings for its donation; the children’s joy and interest was certainly “thank you” enough!

©2007 Valley Women's Club