News Archive

Fall 2016

Check out our stunning new little library, donated to the Teaching Gardens by Durick Library and dedicated to Father Mike Cronogue. English Professor Maura D’Amore’s garden themed painting will boost our spirits through winter.

Summer 2016

Read a conversation between garden co-founders Valerie Bang-Jensen and Mark Lubkowitz here

Spring 2016

The Word Garden is featured in the American Public Gardens Association journal, Public Gardens. Click here to see Professor Bang-Jensen’s article

Summer 2015

Teaching Gardens co-founders, Professors Mark Lubkowitz and Valerie Bang-Jensen, will be presenting at the American Horticultural Society’s annual National Symposium for Children and Youth Gardening in Austin Texas.

Their session, “Reading a Garden” will invite participants to find ways to connect literacy and plant biology.

Thea Alvin, stone artist (www.myearthwork.com) is constructing a stone bench with a scope through which to view the arch and plinth.

Photo by Michael Clookey

Stone artist Thea Alvin builds an arch in the Teaching Gardens. Visit this work in progress as members of the SMC community join in.

All are invited to Thea's talk "The Art of Stone" on 9/8 from 5-6pm in Cheray 111.

Summer 2014

By Teaching Gardens co-founders Valerie Bang-Jensen and Mark Lubkowitz

A curriculum for teaching science through literature, the book examines the literary elements and biological “back story” in 17 outstanding picture books for children. Just published by the National Gardening Association and available through the NGA or at Amazon.com

Just in time for some pumpkin fun! Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden.

Come check out new stones in the Word Garden!

SMC education and biology students will run a workshop for third graders from Malletts Bay School on September 24th.

Read about Blueberries for Sal in the latest column!

The Teaching Gardens will host a tour for the Burlington Garden Club on Wednesday, August 22nd.

Check out the new column! It's about Grandpa Green.

Read Professor Bang-Jensen's article about connections between reading and gardening.

May's column is up! Read about Jack's Garden.

Read April's "Books in Bloom" column on The Gardener.

Check out the latest Books in Bloom column, featuring The Wind’s Garden.

New Column!
Read the new monthly column "Books in Bloom" by Professors Lubkowitz and Bang-Jensen:
Click Here

Write Here,
Write now! 
The latest addition to the Teaching Gardens is a slate chalkboard, made of an antique slateboard from a Vermont schoolhouse mounted to a boulder by stone artist Chris Cleary.  Check it out!

Courtney Smith, '12, designs newly installed interpretive garden signs with a summer research grant.

Children’s Literature, Plant Biology, and international students learning English in their class “Lessons from the Garden” met this week to give each other tours of the gardens.

Feature:
Read about The International Garden in the National Gardening Association's newsletter

Word Garden Featured!
"Rockin' possibilities emerged at first summer research lunch gathering June 16 in Word Garden"
Read more

Mike Metallo, president of the National Gardening Association, gets a tour of the Teaching Gardens in June.

Senior Class Gift
We would like to thank the SMC class of ’11 for their Senior Class Gift of a sundial to the Teaching Gardens. Watch this space for updates on a summer installation.

New Plants
Check out the new plants that have been added to the Native Plants, Books in Bloom, and International Gardens

Word Garden Turns 1
The Word Garden is a year-old but thoughts are always original; visit and read or create messages and poetry.

Chipmunk Update
They are back, hungry, and really fun to chase!