OTTUMWA — Snowpeas, purple carrots, tomatoes, throw in some peanuts, cucumbers and a spray of fresh flowers including zinnias and pansies, and you’ve got a colorful and unique salad with a floral garnish.

Or you could be standing next to the new diversity garden at the Bridge View Center.

Lynn Schulte is a horticulturist with Wapello County Extension.

She’s helping to coordinate the new garden — a project of the Wapello County Junior Master Gardeners — young people in grades 4-12 who have an interest in gardening and horticulture.

Schulte and a few volunteers began the work this past week prepping the work area and planting a multitude of plants

And the plants are diverse — flowers and vegetables representing various cultures — Asian, Hispanic and African — all representative of various cultural backgrounds here in Wapello County.

The garden is important for several reasons, Schulte said.

• It’s an opportunity to celebrate the 2007 Wapello County 4-H Expo that opens in July at Bridge View;

• It’s a celebration of the 150th anniversary of Iowa State University;

• It’s a chance for young people to be involved, to do something productive and beautiful.

“Not everyone likes to do sports,” Schulte said.

Indeed. Young people, just like many adults, can use their creative talents to plant and harvest a beautiful garden. Schulte said that should be evident by just looking at some of the beautiful gardens and landscaping efforts throughout Wapello County.

And thanks to a Pioneer Rural Community Improvement Grant from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Schulte said the Junior Master Gardeners have a chance to “beautify the community” with their own garden at Bridge View.

The hope is that the flowers and vegetables that have been carefully planted will be in full bloom by July when the expo is under way.

Schulte said young people will be tending to the garden throughout the summer. They will then harvest the goods and donate the food to local food pantries.