SENSE-sational Science

Teachers converge on one of the work stations at the TU
SENSE-sational Science program.

Pre-school and elementary teachers are given indoor instruction.

The Linnaeus Garden is pleased to be a partner in the SENSE-sational Science program sponsored by Tulsa University. The goal of the program is to provide teachers with the tools to incorporate science into the classrooms in the pre-school through 5th grades.

A large group of pre-school and elementary teachers spent a full day at the Linnaeus Garden in June. We set up teaching stations on topics such as soils, the water cycle, composting, edible parts of plants and beneficial insects. Each station provided the teachers a wealth of ideas on ways they could use our garden to incorporate science in their classrooms. We incorporated an aspect of the Oklahoma PASS standards for elementary science into each workstation.

The day was very rewarding, and we look forward to participating again next year.

5th Anniversary Celebration, 2011

Many visitors turned out to help us celebrate our 5th anniversary.

The Linnaeus Garden turned five this year, and everyone involved was ready to celebrate. Our nearly 2-acre garden was created in 2006 through private donations to educate the public about plants, flowers, vegetables and herbs that grow in this climate. "Organizers had no idea if they really could pull off an entirely volunteer-run community garden that depended soley on donatations," said Barry Fugatt, director of horticulture at the Tulsa Garden Center and Linnaeus Teaching Garden.

But local and national support from the industry quickly jumped on board. "Our donor base is over 1,000," Fugatt said. "And we've almost 250 volunteers that go through 12 weeks of training and give hours of their time each year to the garden."

Over 500 people came out to help us celebrate our unique garden on Saturday. "It's beautiful," said one young visitor. And that sentiment is what the Linnaeus Garden is all about.

Seminar: Successful Gardening, Nature’s Way

Jeff Lowenfels, garden writer, speaker, humorist, and past president of American Garden Writers and founder of the nationally successful program "Plant a Row for the Hungry", and Lorelei Hill, an exciting speaker from Los Angeles with over 30 years of garden industry experience, lectured on "Controlling Insects with Insects". Our speakers explained how urban gardeners can help create and maintain healthy garden conditions that allow beneficial insects (lady bugs, praying mantis, mason bees, etc.) to flourish. They also explained where beneficial insects (or egg cases) can be inexpensively purchased and where and when to release them into the garden. Introducing beneficial insects into your garden is so much more exciting and environmentally friendly than using poisonous chemicals. It’s how we do it at the Linnaeus Teaching Garden. And it works.

Seminar: Working Toward Veggie Perfection

Nobody grows veggies better than Burpee, the world’s largest distributor of veggie seeds and plants, and on a beautiful Saturday morning in March two Burpee horticulturists joined our own Barry Fugatt in teaching a practical, information loaded, how-to program on growing the finest varieties of tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, melons, salad crops and scores of other delicious produce. Variety, selection, fertility, organic pest control, ideal planting dates and even a few cooking tips were shared. Seminar participants were given six of Burpee's hottest new tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Participants left this program with a much better understanding of what it takes to grow healthy, premium veggies in the Tulsa area.

Seminar: Paths, Patios, Walls & Driveways

Tim Shoemaker, owner of Oklahoma Hardscape Supply, gave an educational seminar on Paths, Patios, Walls & Driveways. Participants learned about proper paver installation methodology for do-it-yourselfers, design and product selection, soil compaction, edge restraints, joint treatments, sealers, and maintenance of existing paver patios. They also found out which questions to ask if using a professional. Mr. Shoemaker also covered retaining wall basics, design history, considerations, planning, product selection, job lay-out, safety and installation guidelines.

Outdoor Fireplaces & Kitchens seminar

An Outdoor Fireplace/Kitchen adds tremendous beauty, value and usefulness to a residential landscape and the attendees at this seminar learned what is involved in designing and creating one of these gorgeous outdoor projects. Seminar topics included: Overall Design Concepts; Fireplace/Kitchen Placement; Wood-box Design; Hearth Design; Materials (surface finishes/foundation); Man-made Brick, Stone and Natural Stone; Fireplace Kits; Chimney Design/Installation; and Outdoor Kitchen Appliances. Thanks again to our sponsors: Pavestone Store of Tulsa; Tulsa Brick Works; Impressions in Stone; Hasty Bake; European Copper; and Hoffman Fixtures.

Little Green Thumbs, April through September

Little Green Thumbs plant vegetables in May.

With sessions every third Saturday April through September, Little Green Thumbs (ages 4 to 11 years) offered fun gardening projects for kids.

Taught by Linnaeus Gardeners and Tulsa Garden Center volunteers, the sessions started out with the children planting vegetables in our newly acquired Children's Garden. Each subsequent session the children planted additional plants in the garden.

Programs offered this year included Butterflies, Birds and Toads, Pollinators and Bee Houses, Vegetables and Herbs, Art in the Garden, and will close out the season with a Harvest Party in September.

The children learned about the food chain, recycling, composting, and insects and other garden creatures.. They made their own butterflies to take home and enjoyed a range of other exciting activities.

A proud Little Green Thumb participant shows off her butterfly.

Daisy Scouts in the Garden

Daisy Scouts release Lady Bugs in the garden.

Members of the Children’s Committee hosted Daisy Girl Scouts in May. Fifteen minute rotations took the girls through various activity stations. At the Seed Station they sang, talked about plant parts and seeds, and planted a pumpkin. At the Herb Garden they learned how Indians got medicine from plants. They got their own medicine bags to fill and ate a cookie with Stevia, a herb used for sweetening. At the Compost Station they learned about composting and vermiculture or worm composting. The Pond Station taught them about evaporation and precipitation. When they visited the Lady Bug Station, they learned about the stages of a Lady Bug’s life. Then they released hundreds of lady bugs in the garden.