More Than Just Flowers
Miami, Florida
? October 2006
On Thursday, October 26, 2006, a new world of discovery opened up among the
exotic species of botanical life at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, to
50
seniors from NANAY (National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and The
Youth) and 200 students from North Miami and Ammon Middle Schools.
Internationally renowned, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden played host to
an awe-inspiring intergenerational exchange of information about the wide
variety of culinary and medicinal uses of plants.
The NANAY seniors, many of whom were from countries and cultural traditions
other than those of the students, stunned their younger counterparts with
stories from their mother countries that emphasized the culturally
vital role that plants played (and continue to play) in their daily lives.
In return, the students delighted the seniors by staging impromptu
performances as everyone waited for their lunch. Not to be
outdone, the seniors responded with
traditional songs.
An incredibly informative and fun time was had by both the NANAY
seniors, the middle school students and the staff of Fairchild Tropical
Garden. The event was phase one of an on-going Fairchild Tropical Garden
environmental education program, ?The Fairchild Challenge?.
Phase two will be held in April 2007.
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