Deborah Nelson’s favorite color was red, and she also loved flowers. So in honor of the much missed kindergarten teacher, who passed away this past July, a garden has been planted in her memory just outside of the kindergarten hallway at Syracuse Elementary School.

Although the area does not have much color now, an array of red-tinted flowers will bloom come spring. Over 100 tulip bulbs, donated by Clayton Garden Center of North Webster, were planted as well as green velvet boxwoods, red cornflower plants and a vanilla strawberry hydrangea shrub.

Powell’s Total Property Care donated the majority of the foliage, and Roxanne Arnott of Powell’s helped to design the area. The Plant Center Nursery from Fort Wayne donated a lilac tree.

A special spot was left open in the middle of the garden for a red bench, currently being made by Bill Coon. Bill and his wife Barb were good friends and neighbors to the Nelson family.

Pat Heiden, a friend and classroom volunteer, is donating a bird feeder, which will also be added to the area during the spring. Kindergartners in Nelson’s classroom always had a bird feeder outside of their classroom.