For Immediate Release
September 10, 2013
Contact Information

Bernadette Morris
Sonshine Communications
T: (305) 948-8063
E: BMORRIS@SONSHINE.COM

(BPRW) City of Miami Gardens Creates World-Class Botanical Garden Promoting Economic and Environmental Sustainability

(BLACK PR WIRE) – City of Miami Gardens, FL -- Home to exotic and income-producing plants from around the world, the City of Miami Gardens is positioning young students to play a key role in creating economic and environmental sustainability. Planting the seeds for success for Miami Gardens youth, the new state-of-the art Scott Lake Elementary School Botanical Garden will officially open Friday, September 27th, 2013 with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at 1160 NW 175th Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33169. City of Miami Gardens leaders, community dignitaries and a host of distinguished South Florida business and political leaders will be on hand for the event.

“The opening of the Scott Lake Botanical Garden is a dream come true,” says Councilman David Williams, Jr. “We’ve spent more than 15 years working diligently to build a strong collaboration between Government, private business and education advocates in order to bring this Botanical Garden to fruition. Thanks to the support and teamwork from Scott Lake Elementary School Principal Lakesha M. Wilson-Rochelle and her leadership we are able to offer this incredible opportunity to our students."

City of Miami Gardens Councilman David Williams, Jr. leads the Science Initiative Team at Scott Lake Elementary, which has championed the more than $50,000 project to design, build and implement the Botanical Garden, home to more than 50 varieties of plants and trees on approximately 1.5 acres. The Botanical Garden will now allow young students to create sustainable economic opportunities in the fields of science, biology and botany. (To take a tour of the Botanical Garden visit the Miami Gardens YouTube Channel).

“One of the things that we know is important to student achievement is that kids are hands-on learners and one of the key aspects of this Botanical Garden is hands-on learning,” explains Councilman Williams. “One of the main plants we have in this garden is Lemon Grass. We take common Lemon Grass and show kids how it's used to make tea and other fragrances. We also dry it out and package it as Potpourri.”

Scott Lake Elementary School Botanical Garden is now a focal point for students and science educators throughout Miami Gardens. With hand-made raised planting-beds methodically designed and positioned to create a functional garden oasis, the Botanical Garden is located in the heart of the Scott Lake campus where all students have access to conduct science experiments as well as benefit from the visual beauty of the creation. The Botanical Garden is home to such exotic specialty plants like Bamboo, the Powder-Puff plant, the Butterfly-attracting and producing Florida native Lantana Plant as well as the exclusive fragrance-producing Ylang Ylang Tree, whose leaves are used to make the world-famous Chanel No. 5 perfume.

“One of the reasons we included the Ylang Ylang Tree is that kids will now have an opportunity to come out and do science experiments on making perfumes,” says Councilman Williams. “Students are not only learning the basics of science and botany but they will also see the connection between turning their passions into sustainable revenue.”

The Scott Lake Elementary Botanical Garden Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony will serve as a preview for Miami Gardens Science Initiative Team’s regional Science Fair to be held Monday, December 9, 2013 at St. Thomas University. Elementary students from the region will compete in the prestigious event submitting individual science projects. Winners will be chosen and announced during an awards ceremony held Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex in Miami Gardens. Winners are awarded cash prizes in recognition for their creativity, ingenuity and cutting-edge science creations.

For more information on the Science Initiative Team, to schedule tours of the Scott Lake Elementary Botanical Garden and request interview opportunities with Councilman David Williams, Jr., contact Julia Yarbough, Events & Media at jyarbough@miamigardens-fl.gov or contact Hilary Marshal at (305) 622-8062.