On a recent sunny day, something wonderful happened at the corner of Oak Harbor’s Midway Boulevard and Whidbey Avenue. In the midst of traffic whizzing by students in Oak Harbor High School’s work-based learning program and members of the Oak Harbor Garden Club were busy performing magic at the corner of Oak Harbor Elementary School property.

With rakes and shovels in their gloved hands, they tilled dirt, pulled weeds, raked brush and trimmed back bushes. What was once shabby was transformed into a lush permaculture garden area.

At the work site, Geno Dogans was busy raking out leaves and weeds from lavender bushes.

“I think we’re doing great — making it really beautiful,” he said.

Michael Johnson found it fun to be able to hang out with his friends and work on the project.

“Gardening is just fun because you’re able to plant something, water and take care of it, and make it grow,” he said.

The day wasn’t just about fun for the students — members of the Oak Harbor Garden Club were out having gardening fun in the sun as well.

“It’s great fun working with the kids and seeing them learn. They already knew quite a bit,” Garden Club member Dorothy Johnston said.

The group created a corner plot that would not only be lovely to look at, but would also be a tasty treat, too. As the plants take root, people passing the corner will be able to snack on fresh strawberries, ground cherries or pinch off some fresh herbs.

The corner’s rejuvenation is just one of the many garden projects these Wildcats will perform this year.

Oak Harbor High School’s work-based learning program has a greenhouse in which students study and work with plants on an ongoing basis.

Greenhouse manager, student Dustin Houston, is proud of the group’s ability to successfully grow a variety of herbs.

The students will have a plant sale later this spring. For sale will be all those herbs they’ve been growing, as well as other sprouts of their efforts — all to benefit the greenhouse project.

Persons interested in learning more about the high school’s greenhouse project are invited to call the school and get a private tour to see the growing and learning for themselves.

“We like working with the community and with great people like the garden club,” Houston said.

The students’ hard work at the corner wasn’t going unnoticed. A nearby car stopped at the intersection, rolled down its window and the gentleman inside gave the group a big thumbs up and attempted to holler “good job” over the traffic noise.

This just made the students smile, and rake a little faster.

“We like getting to help the garden club and the school,” student Alexis Benske said of the project’s location at Oak Harbor Elementary.

“It’s just fun digging in the dirt,” student Katie Buckles said.

But the students’ work at the corner is long from over. They will continue to maintain the site and watch as the literal fruits of their labor grow.

“The Oak Harbor Wildcats can do a good job at something when they put their mind to it,” Johnson said.