The American beautyberry is an open-habitat, native shrub of the Southern United States that is often grown as an ornamental in gardens and yards. American beautyberries produce large clusters of purple berries, which birds and deer eat.
In Small Gardens
Educational and Schoolyard Gardening: including pond aquatic ecosystems, Texas Native Inspired Gardens, Hugelkultur Garden Beds, Berms and Swales, Rain Gardens, Chickens, Goats, Ducks, and Sheep, Greenhouse Horticulture , Monarch Waystations, NWF Schoolyard Habitats, NWF Green Flag Schools, Environmentally themed Murals, Native Plants, Adapted Plants and Food Gardens
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Friday, March 8, 2024
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Plant of the Week: Texas Mountain Laurel
(Sophora secundiflora)
Texas Mountain Laurel is a native tree/shrub that grows clusters of
beautiful lavender-colored flowers. These plants are prevalent throughout thre Texas hill country
and are popular for their bright and beautiful colors. They are drought-tolerant plants and do best in rocky limestone soil.
Weekly Update: What’s Happening This Week?
This week in the Green Academy, we're working to create new shelters for the goats and sheep in the Golden Triangle. These brand-new structures will create a better environment for the animals on campus and allow us to better care for them in the harsh weather conditions. In other news, students have been working to plant and care for hundreds of native seeds in the greenhouse. We are working to ensure the healthy growth of these seeds, and are excited to see them sprout!
Sixth-grade classes have been working to strip turf to create their new vegetable gardens in recent days. These vegetable gardens will teach students how to properly care for gardens of their own, and will hopefully produce fresh, healthy, and delicious foods! - Dean Pelaez
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Green Academy Weekly Update: What’s New This Week?
In recent days, the Green Academy has installed vent fans and blowers in our greenhouse to improve ventilation and temperature control. Shelving in the greenhouse (with repurposed materials) took a while, but is now installed as well. And lookie here! There be light in the tan shed. All the years of groping blindly in the dark are finally behind us!
We’re also breaking new ground to expand our gardens in a half-acre field we recently acquired.
The wildflower seeds are now sown in our habitat area, so its a waiting game. Rain, please, do your thing.
We're also in the process of creating a covered workshop for woodwork and construction.
Of course, this is all very exciting news; and we will continue to help the environment of our school.
Friday, January 26, 2024
Our greenhouse is getting total makeover!
We've replaced the roof, added venting fans, and we're working on overhead storage racks and heat.
This has been a long time coming, with, as you know, very little funding.
The new grounds have rekindled an excitement for Green Academy, and with new shirts and a working greenhouse, we have big plans for the future!