• Welcome to Pop's Gardening Corner! 

     
     Pop  Pop
     
         Since the gardens' inception in 2012, I have worked with the Frederick Douglass Elementary School community to establish its lab garden, which is in the interior court yard.  It has  been a wonderful experience that has involved students, parents, teachers, staff, the administration, and even members of the greater Leesburg community.  You now have a very special learning space in which to grow.

       I am the father of Mary Kirk Cunningham, one of the kindergarten teachers.  Prior to retiring, I was the Landscape Advisor and Director of Grounds at Christopher Newport University.  Mary Kirk "volunteered" me to help with the garden, an assignment I willingly accepted because of my family's love of children, teaching and gardening.  It has been amongst the most rewarding experiences I have enjoyed.  So, when I was asked to author a blog for the school, it was a natural.  It is my intention to call to the readers' attention what nature and all of us gardeners are doing in the garden as the seasons change.  Occasionally, I may make suggestions on how to work the garden into the curriculum or offer some gardening tips.  I will always be happy to answer questions that you send in.  You can email Mrs. Cunningham at mary.cunningham@lcps.org with your "Ask Pop" questions and I will get right back to you with answers.  The fact is that you and I can develop the blog as we go along to meet the needs of FDES and the readers through your questions, as I will post the answers for you.  So, let's get started.