CSH Students Plant Pollinator Flowers

By Maureeen Daly

Arbor Day came with brightly-colored flowers at Cold Spring Harbor's Goosehill Primary School, as students planted pollinator flowers in the school's outside planters.

The students learned to put their shovels to the dirt as they applied their newly acquired knowledge about planting native pollinators to the test. After learning how plants can help preserve the environment, the students were eager to start planting.

The colorful flowers will continue to bloom and attract butterflies in the school's outdoor courtyard all summer long.

The students also planted a "hydroponic tower" which the students can see from their classroom windows. Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil.

During the science lesson, teacher Ms. Urso showed the difference between plants that grow in nature compared to hydroponics. The students observed the hose and pump system for water, the bags of nutrients since there is no soil, and the LED lamps that provide the light.

The students were amazed when observing the long roots, smelling the basil, and seeing all the types of lettuce and plant life blooming each time they visited the Creative Learning Lab.

The experience was a life lesson for the students on the importance of planting outdoors to preserve the environment, along with an interesting lesson on the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil.