Winter blooms at Pearl River Central
Published 7:00 am Saturday, December 12, 2020
Pearl River Central High School junior Sarah Olson rakes new soil for a garden on the school's campus. Cathy Cook | Picayune Item
Weed Prevention: Amy Olson stakes down edging for a garden on the Pearl River Central High School campus to prevent unwanted grasses or weeds from encroaching on the space. Cathy Cook | Picayune Item
digging in: Sarah Olson and Mark Mitchell rake and dig to prepare the soil for a new garden on the Pearl River Central High School campus. Cathy Cook | Picayune Item
Ready to Grow: A new garden on the Pearl River Central High School campus includes a Crepe Myrtle and native azaleas. Cathy Cook | Picayune Item
Beautification: Pearl River Central High School art students painted rocks to decorate the finished garden. Cathy Cook | Picayune Item
Art teacher Catherine Bass said she is excited to see the painted rocks in the finished garden. Cathy Cook | Picayune Item
A pair of blue benches will provide seating with school spirit. Cathy Cook | Picayune Item
Pearl River Central High School students added a new layer of beauty to their campus Wednesday through the construction of a new garden.
Sarah Olson, a junior at the school, fundraised $845 to purchase supplies for the garden and found volunteers to help her put it together. Blooming winter plants, along with native azaleas and a Crepe Myrtle sat ready to be planted, while students put down topsoil.
Olson and Mark Mitchell, a National Honor Society student, raked the soil to prepare it for planting. Olson’s mom, Amy, staked down edging around the garden to keep out weeds and grass. Along with honor students, ROTC students have also helped out with the project, said Olson.
Art students in Catherine Bass’ art classes painted rocks with penguins, faces and colorful patterns to decorate the garden.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Bass. “I don’t know why it’s so fun to paint the rocks, but it is.”
The completed garden will include a pair of blue benches, a Pearl River Central flag and a bird feeder.
Olson said she’s learned a lot from visiting plant nurseries to put the project together.
“I had no idea that azaleas were even native to Mississippi,” she said.
Amy Olson said she’s proud to see her daughter take a leadership role on a service project.
“For her to take the initiative, I’m just proud of her for it.”
