Volunteers planting on Earth Day 2017
Over the winter, I worked with a bunch of incredible people (from the PTA to the recess committee to teachers and the principal) of the South Mountain Annex Elementary School in South Orange, NJ to create a master plan for the entire property. The master plan was developed to do three things: address water issues onsite, create learning opportunities for the students and to bring nature back into the space.
Rainwater collecting in low area of the Annex's front yard.
One of the areas on the site that seemed to really want to be re-envisioned was the front yard of the school. The front yard has a low point in it where rainwater collects after any storm big or small. The space doesn’t have much vegetation either so with the water and the lack of plants, it current state makes it feel empty and wishing for something new.
Rainwater collecting in low area of the Annex's front yard.
I saw this as a great place to bring nature into the school. In nature, water is an asset. In fact, except for stormwater runoff, it seems all water is a benefit. For example, riverfront and ocean front properties are often the most desired places for hotels, urban redevelopment and residential homes. Lakes are actually created so that houses can be built around them and be advertised as “lakefront”.
In nature, places that are wet throughout the year offer unique ecological niches for an abundance of life from salamanders to dragonflies to specific types of butterflies and birds. At the Annex, the front yard offers a unique blend of wet soil, semi-canopied landscapes and is situated between the South Mountain Reservation and a designated wetlands in what is a former quarry.
In nature, places that are wet throughout the year offer unique ecological niches for an abundance of life from salamanders to dragonflies to specific types of butterflies and birds. At the Annex, the front yard offers a unique blend of wet soil, semi-canopied landscapes and is situated between the South Mountain Reservation and a designated wetlands in what is a former quarry.
The wetland near the Annex
The ecological value is tremendous, and if installed correctly, the Annex could have a robust, vibrant and healthy ecology where kids can have firsthand experiences with nature that is both enlivening and safe.
Kids Building Nature
During the master planning process, the team met with kindergarten and first grade teachers to talk about how we could integrate the actually building of the front yard into the curriculum for the students. The front yard design calls for lots of plants, so one way was to help students start some of the plants from seed, and then grow them until they are ready for planting into the yard. The spring of 2018 is when that process will likely start. Another suggestion that came up that we could do this year was to get lots of plants and install them with the kids. So that is what we did.
I created a planting plan for the space, and purchased nearly 1000 landscaping plugs for the front yard. These plants are specifically selected based on the natural conditions of the landscape. As mentioned, it gets lots of shade in the summer, has moist soils throughout the year and periodically has standing water in certain areas after rainstorms. The plan included Pycnanthemum muticum, Lobelia cardinalis, Lobelia siphilitica, Iris versicolor, Aster cordifolius as well as several types of carex.
Kids Building Nature
During the master planning process, the team met with kindergarten and first grade teachers to talk about how we could integrate the actually building of the front yard into the curriculum for the students. The front yard design calls for lots of plants, so one way was to help students start some of the plants from seed, and then grow them until they are ready for planting into the yard. The spring of 2018 is when that process will likely start. Another suggestion that came up that we could do this year was to get lots of plants and install them with the kids. So that is what we did.
I created a planting plan for the space, and purchased nearly 1000 landscaping plugs for the front yard. These plants are specifically selected based on the natural conditions of the landscape. As mentioned, it gets lots of shade in the summer, has moist soils throughout the year and periodically has standing water in certain areas after rainstorms. The plan included Pycnanthemum muticum, Lobelia cardinalis, Lobelia siphilitica, Iris versicolor, Aster cordifolius as well as several types of carex.
Trays of landscape plugs waiting to be planted during Earth Day 2017
I wanted plants and grasses to add to beauty to the space, and so that meant using perennials that flower in the spring and fall (because that’s when the school is most in use) as well as using species that would add lots of winter interest to the space. Though there are lots and lots of great plants that add color and texture during the summer, I kinda felt that few people would actually see the space from June to August.
Earth Day 2017
On Earth Day this year, we started rebuilding nature at the Annex. Earth Day was a rainy and slightly chilly day, but we had about 30 volunteers of parents and kids to help with the plants.
Earth Day 2017
On Earth Day this year, we started rebuilding nature at the Annex. Earth Day was a rainy and slightly chilly day, but we had about 30 volunteers of parents and kids to help with the plants.
Volunteers on Earth Day 2017 braving the elements to rebuild nature
Even as it lightly rained, everyone was bright with getting outside for a little gardening. We spent about 3 hours onsite and planted nearly half of all of the plugs.
Jose Garrido reading the planting plan on Earth Day 2017
Two Weeks Later
About two weeks later, we did a final planting. This time, we did it on a Friday so that all of the kids at the Annex could be involved. Around 150 students came outdoors and with the help of parents and teachers, we installed close to 600 plants. The students, literally, got their hands dirty with rebuilding nature. They got to learn a little Latin as I told them about the native plants we had. They found worms in the ground. Some of them would scream when they first saw the worms in the dirt…but quickly after, they would want to find other worms to show their friends.
About two weeks later, we did a final planting. This time, we did it on a Friday so that all of the kids at the Annex could be involved. Around 150 students came outdoors and with the help of parents and teachers, we installed close to 600 plants. The students, literally, got their hands dirty with rebuilding nature. They got to learn a little Latin as I told them about the native plants we had. They found worms in the ground. Some of them would scream when they first saw the worms in the dirt…but quickly after, they would want to find other worms to show their friends.
South Mountain Annex students helping install native plants
South Mountain Annex students helping install native plants
It was a ton of fun, and showed me that design can truly be about community. The master plan of the Annex strives to be contemporary in style yet practical in execution. I want projects like this to invite people of all ages, backgrounds and interests to the same place for a common goal. I can’t think of a better common goal that rebuilding nature with kids.
Big things start small: you can't see the plants yet, but just wait!
The image above shows what the space looked like right after we finished planting on Earth Day. The landscape plugs are still small, but will grow throughout the spring and summer. With more time, the plants will mature and transform the space.
Read more about the South Mountain Annex:
Designing Nature around Kids
Outdoor Classroom at South Mountain Annex
Kids and Outdoor Play
South Mountain Annex Master Plan
Designing Nature around Kids
Outdoor Classroom at South Mountain Annex
Kids and Outdoor Play
South Mountain Annex Master Plan
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