Fort Wayne Botanical Garden to Judge Canterbury’s Plant & Flower Show

Canterbury School's Lower School students will bring months of careful plant care to a head on Wednesday, September 9, when they return their plants to school for Canterbury’s annual Lower School Plant Show. This year's show marks a new milestone for the beloved tradition: for the first time, judges from the Fort Wayne Botanical Gardens will evaluate student entries. 

 Last spring, current Grade 1-5 students were sent home with a potted plant to care for over the summer; some students grew additional plants from seed. At the LS Plant & Flower Show, students will bring their plants back to school to be judged. The addition of Fort Wayne Botanical Gardens judges brings professional horticultural expertise to the event and gives students the chance to receive feedback from experts in the field.
 
“There is real value in giving even our youngest students a hands-on connection to growing things. When a Grade 1 student waters a seedling every day and watches it become a flower, they are learning patience, responsibility, and curiosity about the natural world. These are lessons that carry far beyond the classroom. Partnering with the Fort Wayne Botanical Gardens this year adds a wonderful new dimension: our students get to see their work through the eyes of real horticulturists, which makes the experience feel even more meaningful,” said Dr. Elly Maconochie, Associate Head of School, Director of Early Childhood & Lower School.