If a picture is worth one thousand words, then a mural is a one thousand page novel.
This mural, now painted on the Bronx Science greenhouse, is the culmination of a year-long process involving countless members of our Bronx Science school community. Some work happened behind the scenes: preparing the design, communicating with the school administration, outlining a budget, and buying supplies. Other work is reflected directly in the final product: the cleaning, sanding, priming, sketching, and painting that transformed dull brown brick into a rainbow of colors.
When I first introduced the idea last spring, I didn’t fully realize the extent of the project, nor did I anticipate how emotional I would feel once we finally finished. What started as a dream has become a tangible reality, brought to life by the hands of many. The mural captures the spirit of the Bronx Science garden and ensures that the garden remains vibrant and colorful, even in the dead winter months.
Each element in the design has symbolism connecting to the garden’s history. The cat and chicken were real animals who made the garden their home in past years, and previous Gardening Club presidents added plants that were meaningful to them. The basket depicted in the bottom right corner holds bok choy, apples, and potatoes—popular plants that did or currently do grow in the garden.
A train embellished with the Bronx Science atom and the year ‘2025’ runs along the top of the mural. As the background colors shift from left to right, so do the seasons, with illustrations of late winter sprouts, spring blossoms, summer harvest, and autumn leaves. Goldenrods, painted on the rightmost side, celebrate the native plants of New York City. Some of the butterflies also represent native species: monarchs and red admirals.
As you explore this photo gallery, I hope you appreciate the significance behind our mural, as well as all of the hard work that led to its completion. I am honored to have led this project alongside my fellow Gardening Club co-president Sanjida Mou ’25. We are also indebted to Mr. McGrath, Mr. Morrell, and Principal Hoyle for approving, funding, and supporting this project.
Most importantly, this mural would not be possible without the over thirty students, both Gardening Club members and non-members, who sacrificed many free periods and weekday afternoons to work in the garden. Creating this mural required the commitment of an entire community, and it will endure as a symbol of unity for future generations of Bronx Science students.