Nature Science

In the spring, we study tulips. These flowers are Darwin tulips, which come in many colors but are distinguished by being exceptionally large, sturdy, and long-lasting, and parrot tulips, named for their feathery edges.

Pictured here are some of the world's oldest cultivated flowers. Pansies, also known as violets, do wonderfully in the cool weather of Massachusetts. These flowers are edible, but we just use them for flower pressing and arrangements. The kids love how there's a pattern that looks like a little face on each flower.

Peonies are the national flower of China. These peonies were donated to the school from a local Chinese family, who brought them directly from China. The children take part in watering them and use them for pressing flowers and flower arrangements.

Each year, we study the monarch butterfly, whose caterpillars need to eat our native milkweed plant's leaves to develop safely. As milkweed is removed from human areas, monarch butterflies struggle to find suitable habitat. Our school is a certified monarch waystation, providing needed food and shelter.

Our vegetable garden. Each year the children plant a variety of legumes, leafy vegetables, garlic and onion varieties, tomatoes, peppers, root vegetables, and sunflowers to have seeds for art projects and birdfeeding.

This Native American peace garden was designed to commemorate the many indigenous people of our world. The hand-carved peace pole in the center has quotes from Dr. Montessori and native people. It is a place of tranquility.

Children planting peas and beans in trellised rows. The children help water them as they grow all season, then take part in harvesting the pods for school snacks.

Hellebores and an assortment of flowering bulbs: snowbells, crocuses, and muscari, also known as grape hyacinth. She’s picking the grape hyacinth to put in a vase as part of the group’s flower arrangement lesson.

Sitting amongst the Mediterranean herbs, he’s just clipped a piece of lemon balm. This herb bed contains over twenty different species. As other vegetables are harvested, these herbs will accompany them in recipes.