Drooping daffodils, timid tulips and hibernating hyacinths are disappointing Conneaut Valley Elementary School students this spring.

Late-season cold has chilled the anticipation of students waiting for blooms from bulbs they planted last fall. Thousands of bulbs provided by a 2006 National Gardening Association grant so far haven’t put on much of a show.

Student prospects were further blighted when 300 new trees from a Frito-Lay Corp. and national Arbor Day Society grant arrived too early. Instead of planting a tree each for Arbor Day or Earth Day, students watched teachers and staff hurry them into the cold ground instead.

“There’s always next year,” art teacher Suzanne Harvey said, sighing.

Children haven’t given up on the season entirely. They’re making “stained glass” flowers to brighten the school and when weather permits will plant flowers to bloom all summer.

“They’ll be pretty,” sixth-grader Mara Mahoney said, cutting construction paper blooms.

Harvey hopes that nature’s art will inspire students to plant and enjoy their own flowers.

“It’s my passion,” she said. “I’m hoping to encourage kids to get out and enjoy something more beautiful than some of the things going on around them.”

When the weather finally breaks, students will get outdoors to work on nature journals and collect leaves, petals and other natural art that they can use for still lifes.

“It’s better to get kids outside than have them sitting inside and thinking about being outdoors,” Harvey said.

Harvey’s student art club also has a green tinge. Club members will help maintain and improve plantings this spring.

“I’d like it to evolve into an environmental arts club,” Harvey said.

Sixth-grader Sean Hickey helps set up art class and art club projects each morning. He and other students also work on art projects with teachers’ permission at lunch and during the school day.

“I like helping people,” Hickey said. “And I like making art things.”

Outdoor art at Conneaut Valley may not be as colorful as students and staff had hoped this spring. But they’re not under way this school year are complete.

Students will also make “wish stones” to edge trees in front of the school.

“People will be able to walk along the trail and read the thoughts, poems and hopes for our environment,” Harvey said.

School grounds will one day be an acres-large work of art.

VALERIE MYERS can be reached at 337-8312 or by e-mail.

Last changed: April 20. 2007 12:21AM

source : www.goerie.com