On March 5, the City of Marathon hosted a “garden party” for residents. Most of the participants were young learners, soaking up knowledge about flowers and herbs, soil and potting techniques. Community Park was blooming with other activities, too: chess players, exercisers on the Fitness Court and young readers exploring a pop-up table of children’s books about gardening from the Marathon branch of Monroe County Libraries.
Stephanie LeQuieu hosts the herb station for the City of Marathon. But she was also enthusiastically educating everyone about the 120th birthday of Peter the Rabbit, one of her favorite storybook characters, she said. Participants in the City of Marathon’s Saturday morning program learned about herbs, sunflowers and other types of plants that do well in the Keys climate. This gardener chooses a “snake plant” to take home. The City of Marathon regularly schedules programs such as this one to encourage residents to enjoy the park facilities. Jazmin Zapata shows off her creation. At the end of the seminar, participants could take a plant home. A little girl watches patiently as a volunteer adds sunflower seeds to her decorated pot. At the first station, young gardeners decorated their pots with stickers and decals.City of Marathon’s Ali Adams, right, instructs two youngsters on the fine art of planting sunflower seeds. Adams created the day’s program, in part, to highlight the park’s new community garden that is flourishing. Photos by SARA MATTHIS/City of Marathon
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