Gentry students create fairy gardens

Gardens displayed, judged at high school library

GENTRY — The library at Gentry High School has a number of unusual gardens on display. They’re called fairy gardens, and they were a project of the plant science class taught by Wendy Jackson, an agriculture teacher at the high school.

Students in the plant science class were given three plants, one fairy garden accessory, and the soil to use to create the gardens, according to Jackson. They then had to research fairy gardens and come up with a theme or plan for their own. Students provided their own containers, any additional plants they might want, and anything else they needed to create their scene. Some chose to purchase items and others made their own from things found outside in nature.

“We gathered pine cones, bark, gravel, sand, dried moss, twigs, twine, etc.,” she said.

And the miniature gardens feature such things as a stream, complete with running water; farm scenes; a Sponge Bob scene and more. The students were extremely creative and original.

“Fairy or miniature gardens are very popular right now,” Jackson explained. “I thought it would be a fun way for the students to learn how to put plants in groupings that are pleasing to the eye, identify plants used, gain skills to properly plant, and use their creativity and imagination with it.”

The students will be able to take their fairy gardens home or sell them.

The gardens were judged in a number of categories, as well as by students and staff, while on display, with the following winners named:

Best Use of Theme — Trailer Trash — Madison Stanfill;

Best use of Plant Placement — Fairy/Gnome Forest — Falyn Cordeiro;

Best Handmade House or Structure — Unique —

Savannah ReanDeau;

Best Handmade Accessory — Relaxing by the Shore — Avani Edwards;

Most Cohesive Fairy Garden — Barnyard — Charlie Reams;

Most Attention paid to detail — Blue Brick Road — Kinley Hays;

Student Choice Award — Nature Boys — Scott Congrove, Kein Cryer;

Faculty/Staff Choice Award — Barnyard — Charlie Reams.

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Students in Gentry High School’s plant science class were given three plants, one fairy garden accessory, and the soil to use to create their gardens. They then had to research fairy gardens and come up with a theme or plan for their own. Students provided their own containers, any additional plants they might want, and anything else they needed to create their scene. Some chose to purchase items and others made their own from things found outside in nature.

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL The fairy gardens were judged in a number of categories