More than 400 4-H youth gathered on the south end of Northrop Mall Tuesday to plant gold marigolds, white cascade petunias and crimson pigmy barberry in the shape of the sesquicentennial logo.
The event was organized in an effort to combine 4-H’s annual Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Out Loud conference with the University’s 150th birthday celebration and Gen. Colin Powell’s appearance at the Gateway alumni center.
“The University is always looking for opportunities to provide people with community service projects,” said Philip McDonald of University Services.
Kristen Berning, a human resource development graduate student and a 4-H coordinator, said youth from all parts of the Midwest attended this week’s Minneapolis workshops to learn new skills and how to be better leaders for tomorrow.
“One of the major parts of the 4-H program is community service work,” she said. “We wanted to work with the University of Minnesota to help make the U of M a more beautiful place.”
Based in Washington, D.C., 4-H is a worldwide organization with a goal to foster innovation and shared learning for youth workers and young leaders, according to the organization’s Web site. 4-H has about 300,000 members in Minnesota and is open to anyone ages 8 through 19.
The garden, formerly on the south side of Washington Avenue, was moved to the north side because of the Coffman Union renovation.
McDonald said the University plans to keep the new Sesquicentennial Garden going for two years.

David Anderson covers University communities and welcomes comments at [email protected].