From strawberries to cacti, all kinds of plants grow in the sunlight of the FHS courtyard and greenhouse. The caretakers of this flourishing flora are the students of the Garden Club.
The club was founded in the spring of 2024, and they have been growing plants in the courtyard ever since.
“This is the third year of the club,” Timothy Lemanski, science teacher and club supervisor said. “It was founded by a small group of students and has grown significantly from then. The club had been active in the past, but it had been a few years since it was run.”
Lemanski spent early 2024 cleaning out the greenhouse, and asked around to see if students were interested in a club.
“I had Mr. Lemanski for biology, and I needed a club to join,” junior Gabrielle Chapman said. “I thought it would be a fun opportunity, and I’ve always liked gardening.”
In the last three years, the Garden Club has made a lot of progress.
“Before, the greenhouse used to be a mess, and out [in the courtyard,] nothing was maintained,” senior Jessica George said. “It’s nice to look at it and go ‘Oh, that’s growing a melon, that’s our pumpkins, and that’s our lettuce,’ and know I’m part of the people that grew that.”
They do spend their time planting and watering plants, but the most important part of the Garden Club is the connection between members.
“I joined because I had friends in Garden Club, and I like plants and nature,” freshman Kai Chapman said. “I like being outside, and there are a lot of nice people here.”
The Garden Club meets on Fridays during the fall and spring seasons in room 500. Students don’t need to fill out a sign up sheet or have any background knowledge, they can just swing by and join the club. There is a groupme for additional information on meeting dates and cancellations.
“Nothing we’ve done would be possible without the students in Garden Club,” Lemanski said. “They deserve all the credit, I’m just there to help.”
