Botany with friends: Fall semester

By Troy Aikins

High school just got dirtier.

Trent Cranwell thought zero-period botany would be an easy A. Instead, he's handed a trowel, a garden plot full of weeds, and four teammates he's never met-each with strong opinions about compost and crop rotations.

Now, as one-fifth of the Green Guardians, Trent is neck-deep in soil science, teamwork, and unexpected friendship. Kaylaris, a sharp-eyed photographer with no patience for nonsense, keeps everyone honest. Amalia brings organization, artistry, and snack-ready insight. Kurtis, calm and grounded, turns motocross grit into gardening muscle. And then there's Lester-the chaos engine with big dreams and an even bigger pumpkin named Titan.

With quirky teachers, daily mug jokes, and a whole lot of mulch, the team learns that building a garden is harder than it looks-and far more rewarding. From stinkbugs to trivia battles, edible roots to emotional growth, this semester is about more than plants.

It's about finding your crew, planting your pride, and growing something that matters.