53°F
weather icon Clear
Las Vegas, NV
Life

Young gardener wins contest with patriotic theme

July 3, 2007 - 9:00 pm
 

Hannah McBrayer, 9, designed a garden meant for Virginia and ended up planting one in Las Vegas. She is one of 25 winners of JMG/America’s anniversary Red, White and Blue contest sponsored by Weekly Reader.

For the contest, youths in the Junior Master Gardener program were asked to design a garden in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia. In designing the garden, students used plants native to the Virginia area that contained red, white and blue foliage, fruit or flowers.

Hannah, a former member of Klover Kids, the level one Junior Master Gardeners program through Nevada Cooperative Extension, entered the contest on her own after hearing about it through Karyn Johnson, the program coordinator. For Hannah’s winning entry, the program received a check for $250, a $200 set of Junior Master Gardener curricula, and materials, tools and toys.

“She took it upon herself to do the project,” said Johnson. “She did a really good job.”

Hannah’s mother, DeAnna, said she was “very surprised” when she heard Hannah had won.

Hannah, who set her own deadline for the project, almost missed entering it altogether.

“She procrastinated and had to earn the money to mail the entry,” DeAnna said.

Hannah washed the windows at her home inside and out to earn the $13 for postage so her design entry would make the deadline.

“I wanted to do a flag,” said Hannah. “I wanted to do it with roses that were red, white and blue, but the roses wouldn’t bloom at the same time.”

So Hannah and her mother looked in flower magazines and found some plants to use and picked “the tallest to shortest.”

Hannah said she is excited to win and enjoys the Junior Master Gardener program.

“I like the lessons and the planting,” said Hannah, who also helps out in her family’s garden at home.

On April 27, the Klover Kids had a planting day celebration for Hannah’s garden, which is near her home in a community garden off Spring Mountain Road between Decatur and Valley View boulevards.

Before the garden was planted, Hannah had to pick plants for her design that would be suitable for the Las Vegas climate. According to Johnson, the plants selected included thunderclouds, dwarf bottlebrush, red autumn sage and lobelia plant.

Although the garden was not part of the program, Johnson decided to let the Klover Kids, who have a garden at the Center for Urban Horticulture and Water Conservation at 4860 W. Horse Road, enjoy another planting day.

Hannah, who recently completed the two-year program, will be part of a new group in the fall at the Extension Lifelong Learning Center at 8050 S. Maryland Parkway. Johnson said the new facility when finished will have several features including a larger classroom, greenhouse, rose gardens and planting areas for other horticulture projects.

In the rewards-based program, youngsters learn about the environment, pests and diseases, water conservation, the Extension’s Department of Horticulture, science and math, and have opportunities to earn pins, certificates and the title of Junior Master Gardener.

“I think the JMG is a really great way for kids to learn about science and math,” said Johnson. “It is a really fun program for kids.”

Johnson added that the Junior Master Gardener program is open to children in third through fifth grades, and ages 7 to 12. The fee is $15 per semester per child. For more information on the program, call 257-5523.

If you know of a worthy candidate for this column, mail information to Youth Spotlight, Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070, or send faxes to 383-4676.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
MORE STORIES
THE LATEST
Pine trees typically develop taproots for stability and to secure enough water. (Getty Images)
What’s ailing my mature pine trees?
By Bob Morris Gardening

When native pine trees are grown on their own they will develop taproots or sinker roots for stability and to secure enough water.

Because muscle mass begins to decline in most people during their 30s, geriatricians say the be ...
3 key questions if you want to grow old gracefully
By Albert Stumm | The Associated Press

To prevent falls, geriatricians say people should start asking themselves questions about their balance as early as 50 years old.

Belly breathing promotes a sense of calm relaxation. That’s why it’s typically pa ...
Is breathing from your belly beneficial?
By Richard Crockett Mayo Clinic News Network

When it comes to the correct way to breathe, it doesn’t matter whether you breathe through your nose or your mouth. Where you breathe from matters.

A doctor checks the blood pressure of A 94-year-old woman in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Catalonia r ...
What you can do to lower your dementia risk
By Lauran Neergaard The Associated Press

A new study found a higher lifetime risk than previously thought: After age 55, people have up to a 4 in 10 chance of eventually developing dementia.

Robbie Williams poses for photographers upon arrival at the European premiere for the film 'Bet ...
Robbie Williams favors ‘raw honesty’ in new biopic
By C.L. Gaber Special / RJ

“Better Man” tells the pop star’s tale through the persona of a monkey. “People found it odd at first, but that’s OK. I’m odd,” he says.

 
FDA bans red dye No. 3 from foods
By Jonel Aleccia The Associated Press

U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.