Bessie Weller School Garden

04/23/2026

Our page is merging with Weller Elementary School on May 1st. Before that though, we wanted to let you know bout our upcoming workday. Please read and share the flyer for more details!

04/10/2026

Just like Mrs. Sharpless’ class worms, our page is getting a new home. This page will stay live until May 1st. Please follow Bessie Weller Elementary School for more updates from the garden, Weller Woods, and the Bluebird Trail. We hope to see you there!

03/19/2026

Have you ever had an “awkward phase” of a haircut? Our kale in the aeroponic tower is in one right now!😄 Flip through the pictures to see the current look.

After planting in November, we’ve already had three harvests— kale can regrow after cutting-and right now it’s in that in-between stage.

Fun fact: harvesting the outer leaves helps the plant keep producing more! 🌱

Have you ever grown (or eaten!) kale before? Tell us your favorite way to enjoy it!

03/12/2026

02/24/2026

We had another exciting week in first grade last week! A project we began back in September has finally come full circle.
After reading Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey in the fall, we decided to do some food preservation of our own. Students rotated through hands-on stations to count, harvest, and peel tomatoes. After that, the tomatoes were canned (by an adult) and the waiting began.
With the garden tomatoes long gone, it seemed like a good time for a taste test. We connected growing our own food and food preservation to learning about natural resources, conservation and responsibly using and restoring what we have.
The tomatoes weren't everyone's favorite, but many greatly enjoyed their canned tomatoes sprinkled with salt. Trying something new can be intimidating, even unpleasant for some, but students showed excellent manners and open-mindedness. We are proud of their growth from garden to table.🌱

02/21/2026

The monarch migration north has begun! In a few months, we hope to see these beautiful travelers visiting our school in search of food and shelter.
You can help support their incredible journey by planting native milkweeds and other pollinator-friendly flowers. Even a small garden can provide an important rest stop along the way! 🌼

We're seeing more northbound monarch movement in Mexico 🔎

Through the Project Monarch Science mobile app, we're observing recent detections from some of the tagged monarchs down at the overwintering sites. In this graphic, two monarchs (CHI005 and CHI007), tagged at the overwintering sanctuaries by World Wildlife Fund – Mexico, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, Cape May Point Arts & Science Center, and Cellular Tracking Technologies, are moving northeast as of this morning.

Each blue dot represents an instance where the butterflies were detected, with the butterfly icons representing their last detection locations. We're looking forward to seeing more movement in the coming days!

The free Project Monarch Science mobile app is available to download via your device's app store. Use it to follow along with the spring migration in real time.

02/17/2026

Last week, our first grade students had the opportunity to learn about bluebirds and other local cavity-nesting birds with special guest Mr. Wood from the Augusta Bird Club.

Before students begin monitoring boxes on our bluebird trail, Mr. Wood shared key identifying features that willl help them determine who may be nesting inside.

Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, House Wrens, and Carolina Chickadees all use bluebird boxes- but each species builds a distinctly different nest and has unique flight patterns and songs.

By observing nest materials, listening for bird calls, and watching flight behavior, students will track who is growing along our trail this season.

All species are welcome here. Our work is not to choose who belongs- it is to observe, learn, and share the space respectfully with whoever calls it home.

02/16/2026

We feel grateful that we got to work with Virginia Vernal Pools, LLC in Weller Woods. This vernal pool installation creates dynamic opportunities for hands-on learning, ecological observation, and long-term environmental stewardship.

01/12/2026

Memory Lane Monday - Popcorn Edition!
Like many things, gardening is a journey.
Back in late June 2025, two high school interns planted popcorn in the Bessie Weller Garden.
In October, Bessie Weller students harvested the corn for drying. In November, they processed the corn kernels from the cobs. Finally, in December-on the day before winter break-students enjoyed the final product during a special pre-break lunch.
From seed to snack, this project showed students the full life cycle of a plant and the rewards of patience and teamwork.

12/12/2025

🍂 Flashback Friday in the Garden! 🍂
As the season winds down, we’re taking a moment to look back at some of the fun and learning from earlier this year. Check out our second graders mulching the garlic they planted back in early November! 🧄✨
After reviewing folktales and learning about some garlic legends, each student planted a clove, gave it some water and encouraging words, and tucked it in under a cozy layer of straw mulch for the winter. ❄️💛
Come spring, we can’t wait to watch these little cloves grow strong and healthy for a summer harvest! 🌱☀️
Keep an eye out for more garden “throwbacks” from the year—we’ve got plenty of memories to share! 📸

09/26/2025

📸Taking photos during a hands on activity can be a challenge, but we were quite pleased with our slightly over 17 lb melon harvest today! The heavy rain made the melons extra juicy, some of which you can see on the camera lens. We are looking forward to the next harvest, but we had a sweet start today.🍈

💡 Did you know? Melons are made up of about 90% water, making them a refreshing way to stay hydrated while also providing vitamins A and C.