Grassroots Effort Abloom at Largo HighPhoto/text By Renee Burrell
The landscaping around Largo High School is getting a new look, thanks to student volunteers and donations from the community LARGO - Largo High School (LHS) students, including members of the wrestling and football teams and the drivers education classes are working with their principal Marjorie H.E. Sundstrum and Pinellas County Volunteer and Master Gardener, Marie F. Hoke Singer, on a landscaping project at the school campus on Missouri Avenue. Principal Sundstrum came on board at LHS in October. Singer is a former graduate. "Second graduating class in the 'new senior High School on Missouri' as it used to be called. We just celebrated our 50th class reunion at the Belleview Biltmore. My children graduated from Largo. My daughter was a member of the last International Band of Gold and made the trip to Kerkrade, Holland, where they were number one all the way." The gardening group is presently working on the front of the campus and are inviting everyone to join in the transformation. Said Singer, "Principal Sundstrum and I agree. We would like to see LHS be the first all "green" school in the Pinellas system. When I came on board in late May she had her volunteers working on the big bed. It's about as big as an Olympic pool. She had plants, fertilizer and one hose and a team of teens who looked as if they did this planting thing all of the time…" Singer is impressed with the kids' work ethic. "The students are great to work with. I had forgotten how much enthusiasm teens could bring forth when they are learning something new that they can use in their lives. There is big hope for the next generation!" Volunteers and donations are needed! "Even if you can work just one hour a month, it will be appreciated. If you have reached the age of now having a lawn service and you don't use those tools anymore, we would appreciate them. We would appreciate any kind of donation ---flowers, shrubs, mulch, hoses, sprinkler heads, tree service---whatever." One local nursery has already pitched in. According to Singer, "Wilcox Nursery on Indian Rocks Road has designed the front parking lot large median at a huge discount. Many of the local stores have donated flowers, fertilizer and truck loads of mulch, which disappear in one day on the beds we have finished. It takes 2-inches of mulch to hold the dampness and suppress the weeds." "This won't be a manicured type of garden like Disney or Bush Gardens. It will be a cheerful and hearty school, it will reflect the staff and students and give us all fond memories of our time here." Singer suggests looking in your own back yard for shrubs and flowers. "Due to the rains this year many of us have an over abundance of good stock that is over crowding our gardens…" Donations for the garden can be dropped off in the staff parking lot.
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