Maya Turner, a second grader at Slippery Rock Elementary School, plants her marigold Thursday in front of the school. Slippery Rock In Bloom partnered with the school for the flower project.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Elementary students recently learned how to take care of plants while helping to beautify the community.

Each class, kindergarten through fifth grade, at Slippery Rock Elementary School planted marigolds last week in front of the school.

Slippery Rock In Bloom partnered with the school for the first time in what they called “The Marigold Mile.”

The seeds and assistance were donated by the Benary Seed Co. and Always Summer Herbs greenhouse, volunteer Liz Braho said.

The students raised the flowers from seeds in the classroom in April and May, and then they were taken to the greenhouse for the final two weeks to get ready to go in the ground.

Each student was then able to have one plant to take home and one to plant near the school’s sign on North Main Street.

The sign previously had some shrubs underneath it, but never flowers, said Regina Greenwald co-chair of In Bloom.

Since the group now has dug up and expanded the garden, the group will continue to do planting there in the future, Greenwald said.

The students enjoyed the project, which taught them about what plants need to live, second-grade teacher Amy Book said.

The seeds were planted in soil in plastic containers, which were on the windowsill in the classroom. Students would water the plants on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

“They’re pretty good about being responsible and remembering which days to water them,” Book said.

America In Bloom is a national program that promotes beautification of towns and cities and gives out awards and ratings based on the assessments of judges who visit the communities.

Slippery Rock has participated since 2010, but due to scheduling conflicts and concerns about increased traffic during the Route 8 detour, the judges visit planned for this June was canceled, Greenwald said.

However, Slippery Rock In Bloom still plans to do all the plantings and work that it would otherwise do and will invite the judges back next year, she said.

The group also is planning a community picnic in August, she said.