The BFF’s (Intermediate and High School Youth Gardening Students) met at the Glenn F. Bates Garden Center from October to May. They participated in a Small Standard Youth Flower Show, “Techies in the Garden.” Student entries included transplanted plants and plants grown from seeds provided through our program. Students had cared for their plant entries for 60 days before the show. ​

The show also included “Whimsicals” (creations made from fruit or vegetables), nature journals, notebooks, and floral designs. Sandra Lynch led the floral design. District XII and District XI judges (FFSJ) judged the shows. ​

In the elementary schools’ “Techies in the Garden” flower shows a student from each school won the John Schandelmayer Award of $25 for the best plants grown from plants provided by our club. The Elsie Allison Award winner received a book for the most outstanding notebook. A National Garden Club (NGC) Youth Award for “Best in Show” plant earned a student a week with transportation to Wekiva Youth Camp. Thirty-three additional Youth Gardeners received “camperships” to attend Wekiva Youth Camp awarded by the Fort Lauderdale Garden Club. ​

Students also had the opportunity to enter the NGC Youth Poetry and Sculpture Contests. We had winners in all areas of those contests. ​

In addition, five high school students qualified to attend the SEEK (Saving the Earth’s Environment through Knowledge) Conference at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. Thanks to our Awards Committee, District XI, Moringa, Cordia, and Parkinsonia Garden Circles for funding those scholarships. ​

Special thanks to all the Fort Lauderdale Garden Club members who helped with the Youth Gardening Program this year.  We have a great program coming up this year and look forward to educating our students in the many features of Youth Gardening.