The students in Vicky Koller’s fourth grade class at Temple Beth Am Day School recently learned valuable lessons about plants, science and healthy eating at a visit to the 1,000-square-foot vegetable garden at Deering Bay Yacht & Country Club.

Another group of Beth Am fourth graders helped start the garden in 2010, and students at the school continue to visit regularly, contributing at plantings and harvests.

During the field trips they get hands-on experience in seed propagation, butterfly gardening and vegetable planting. Science lessons on insects, pollination, ecology and conservation all take place outdoors. And nature walks introduce the young learners to some of the indigenous wildlife at Deering Bay.

The students also interact with organic farmer and Deering Bay Chef Tim Rowan, Golf Course Groundskeeper Rob Wethy, and volunteers led by Club Member Ethan Shapiro to learn about gardening in South Florida and the Slow Food movement.

During the most recent visit, special guest WSVN-TV Chief Meteorologist Phil Ferro joined the children and their teacher to share his knowledge of the unique weather in South Florida.

At Deering Bay, the program is under the direction of Club Manager Karen Harmon. Among the crops are three types of cabbage, garlic chives, sorrel, cosmos, radicchio, golden beets, lettuce, basil, bok choy, and the newly popular vegetable tatsoi, also called spinach mustard.

To follow the garden’s progress visit the "A Garden on the Bay" blog at http://blog.dbycc.com.

FASHION IN THE GARDEN

The latest spring trends can be previewed alongside the flora and fauna at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden at 11 a.m. on Jan. 24 at the second annual “Splendor in the Garden” fashion show and luncheon.

Ken Downing, Neiman Marcus’ senior vice president and fashion director, will present “The Best of Spring 2013,” an exclusive runway show of the season’s newest styles. The partnership gathering is co-chaired by Swanee DiMare and Frances Sevilla-Sacasa and the 2013 Fairchild Philanthropy Honorees also will be recognized at the event. The honorees are Maria Alonso, Anne Baddour, Bunny Bastian, Paula Brockway, Terry Buoniconti, Martha Clinton and Jan Risi Field.

Tickets are $250 for preferred seating, $300 for runway seating, and include the champagne reception, seated luncheon, fashion show and awards presentation. Complimentary garden tours are available during the reception.

All proceeds benefit Fairchild’s conservation, science, education, and research programs. To purchase tickets, contact Susannah Shubin at sshubin@fairchildgarden.org or call 305-667-1651, ext. 3375. You can also visit www.fairchildgarden.org to find out about the garden’s many classes and other events.

ART WINNERS

Congratulations to all the winners of the eighth “Quest for Peace” competition held at Miami Dade College/Kendall. Three art students were awarded first place awards of $350 and twelve were given $100 honorable mentions awards.

Presenting the honors at the ceremony were John Adkins, chair of the Arts and Philosophy Department; Ronald Leiberman, president of the Rotary Club of Miami Dadeland Pinecrest; and Ilajean Horwitz, whose ceramics fund the exhibition.

Awards were given in front of the painting "Quest for Peace," by Robert Horwitz in whose memory the event is held.