On Wednesday, March 30th, the Horticultural Centre at Huntingdon’s HAECC presented an indoor tropical garden designed especially for children to the Centre des Ressources Familiales.
The brainchild of the centre’s horticulture students, the creation of the garden was a way to emphasize the importance of indoor plants to the youngsters who frequent the CRF. Using colourful rubber boots, mason jars and spray-painted cans, the HAECC students put together a charming display of plants for the local centre.
“There are a surprising amount of benefits to keeping indoor plants,” says horticultural program coordinator Denise Chavez. In addition to purifying the air, plants also increase oxygen levels (especially for babies and young children) while absorbing toxic gases like formaldehyde (which is often found in common household items including pressed wood furniture). According to Chavez, a great example of an effective air purifier is Chlorophytum comosum, more commonly known as the “spider plant”. This is a great choice to encourage plant enthusiasm in children, especially since the perennials make plantlets that are easy to repot—it is also a super option for those who have a brown thumb, as it tends to be quite resilient.
By donating the plants to the CRF, the HAECC’s horticulture students have created an opportunity for local children to learn not only about the importance of plant care, but about the significance of plants to our environment.
About HAECC
The HAECC’s horticulture program provides specialized training in preparation for work in garden centres, golf courses, landscaping companies or public works. The ten-month program addresses many concerns including those surrounding environmental issues, food production and the preservation of nature.
