For the first time Campus B, of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, is participating in the annual Flower and Garden Show in Anguilla to be held on the grounds of St Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, February 28.
The school’s rock and cactus garden, on the northern end of the campus’ grounds, has already been judged. The results of the judging of this garden, other school gardens, as well as those of various persons in the community, will be announced at the above event and date.
Campus B’s garden is a work in progress with improvements planned over the next three years or so. This is according to Mrs Melsadis Fleming, Deputy Principal, who is working on the project with other teachers as well as students.
“It is the first time that Campus B has been invited to participate in the Flower and Garden Show and when we received the invitation we became very excited,” Mrs Fleming said. “We decided to make a rock and cactus garden because it involves low maintenance; and believed that we could use our creativity to the fullest extent.”
Mrs Fleming went on: “We have been working on a garden for some time now, but we finalised everything – such as the esthetical look – within the last two weeks. As I said before, the garden is made of stone and a variety of cactus. We stated with some plain ground. We begged for some stones from Shoal Bay. We were able to get some cactus from Junks Hole, Black Garden, West End, Blowing Point and Welches. We solicited the help of the Agricultural Department which used its machinery – equipment – and other technical means to help us, and also to do some fencing.”
Questioned whether the garden would be a regular project at the school, she had this to say: “Oh yes. As a matter fact, within the next year, our plan is to continue on the eastern section of the garden. We already have a plan for that. We want to put in a waterfall and raise the height. The following year, the Lord’s willing, we hope to go down with additional work [on the existing section garden]; and the next year, we intend to use the back of the school.”
Mrs Fleming added: “Our students worked really hard in helping to create our present rock and cactus garden.” She expressed thanks to the Agricultural Department for its technical assistance.
