Arnold Arboretum

We visited the Arnold Arboretum and Donna Tremonte, an applications programer, showed us how the arboretum uses GIS to map over 15,000 plants! Donna explained to us what GIS is, how you use GIS, how to use the arboretum's interactive map and how she got involved with plants and GIS. When she finished, we went to the visitors center and then walked around the arboretum. Is was REALLY cold out but we hunted and found the arboretum's tree of the month - a Dawn Redwood. We had lots of fun and learned a lot. THANKS DONNA!

Credit to everyone for the awesome pictures!

Click here to view Arnold Arboretum Photos

Sophia's and Gabriel's

Helping out at Sophia's house and seeing Gabriel's garden for the first time.

BIG E!

 Plant A Smile had a lot of fun at the Big E! We did lots of fun things, like stay in the dorm, see galaxy girl, go on elephant rides, and a lot more. We ran out of Alka Seltzer at the end because we had so many visitors! Did you know... The Big E, also known as The Eastern States Exposition had over  1 million visitors this year. It is the sixth largest fair in the whole nation! Hopefully we get the opportunity  to go back next year!

Exited to leave!

Sophia and Katharine pouring oil into bottles.

Explaining to people about Lamps of Lava.

Getting lot's of visitors!

Sophia and Katherine seeing what it's like to milk a cow.

Having fun.

Nice job Sophia!

PIG RACING!

Getting very busy.

Enjoying food in the dining hall.

Marching in parade!

Preparing For Big E

Getting ready to present "lamps of lava" at the Big E!

Vegetable Garden Start

Plant A Smile planted at two vegetable gardens.  Below - putting in tomatoes,  cucumbers, eggplants and lettuce.  Sophia and Zoe prepped the garden beforehand and had it ready to go for the rest of the club.

Plant A Smile Visits the Statehouse

We had a wonderful time at the Statehouse.  Everyone was engaged and got a lot out of the tour.  We learned about how our government works, architecture and some history.  After the tour we met with Newton representative Kay Khan for a Q&A and a tour of the House of Representatives Chamber.  Each of us got to sit at a representatives desk, which included buttons for voting on bills.  Rep. Khan spoke about extending school days for children and Daisy hit her "no" button about 10 times!  A fun day!  Thanks to Janet for organizing the visit.

Starting 45 tomato plants from seed.  Soil testing the gardens in front of the Franklin School.

Visual Presentations

Greenhouse Field Trip

Wednesday's trip to the Newton Cemetery greenhouses.  Thanks to greenhouse managers Pam and Julian.  Also thanks to Mary Ann and Tim for arranging the tour.

Fertilizer through the irrigation system. 

Pam explaining the heating, fans and vents.  All the tables have  hot water tubes running beneath the plants to keep the soil warm.  

Pam showing how they monitor insects.

Checking out the Primrose. 

Pansies for the spring.

Geranium cuttings.

Julian showing how they plant seed in thousands of pots.

Inspecting insects through a macroscope.  I think Sophia is looking at a predatory mite.