Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Monday, April 27, 2009

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Kids at Mary Todd Elementary dedicated their new rain garden by planting flowers on Earth Day.

The sun shone brightly on Earth Day as students shoveled soil, toted rocks and set out plants in two brand-new rain gardens at Tates Creek Middle and Mary Todd Elementary. Kids at both schools were excited about the prospects of helping the environment and beautifying their grounds. 

“You plant it and you water it every day, and you give it lots of air and sunlight, and it grows!” said 6-year-old Dylan Friend, who steadily dug small holes for the fledgling plants. 

Kara Benge, the rain garden coordinator for Bluegrass PRIDE, lent Dylan a hand as Mary Todd students, staff and parents dedicated their project on April 22. In the previous few weeks, Benge led hour-long lessons for the two dozen children in the YMCA’s after-school program as they learned about rain gardens and how they work, and studied native plants and habitat-building. 

“When you plant a garden, it makes the world clean. And when you make gardens, it’s good because you can grow great flowers and your ground won’t be so messy,” said 8-year-old Alana Williams. 

A rain garden has a shallow depression that captures runoff from impervious surfaces, such as rooftops, patios, driveways and parking lots. Rain gardens improve water quality by filtering pollutants and reducing the amount of storm-water runoff. The water easily seeps into the soil because of the native plants’ deep roots, replenishing the groundwater supply. 

“It’s a good learning opportunity for those kids who get to participate hands-on with life science,” said Principal Margetta McFarland. “It’s also a source of pride.” 

Mary Todd Elementary welcomed a few special guests for its Earth Day event, including the mayor, the Legends’ mascot and a generous benefactor. 

“Part of our mission is to work with the community to help the environment and to conserve. The children are our future, so we want them involved,” said Elizabeth Pattengill, president of the Lexington Council Garden Clubs, which provided a $1,200 grant. 

The PTA spearheaded the project at Mary Todd, where volunteers prepped the site earlier this month. The 800-square-foot, kidney bean-shaped garden is tucked behind the school, close to the building, where it can catch storm water running off the roof. 

Black-eyed Susans, iris, coneflowers and cardinal plants dot the garden. It’s in a visible location between the primary and intermediary wings, near the cafeteria. Car riders and kids on the nearby playground will also enjoy it, as will teachers. 

“The hope is they’ll be able to come out and use it as a resource,” said PTA president Debbie Forker. 

At Tates Creek Middle School, Cindy Zeller’s environmental art class has already talked about storm-water runoff and researched plants suitable for a rain garden. “Now we’re going to keep a record of the growth and effects,” she said.

Students learning English as a Second Language and members of the Beta Club have also participated in the project. 

Zeller’s students were outside last Wednesday getting their hands dirty as they moved wheelbarrows of soil and arranged a load of rocks to help with drainage. Nearby, small pots of willow aster, autumn sneezeweed, mistflower and elm-leaved goldenrod waited their turn. 

The garden, which will catch storm water from the slanted parking lot, is built on a slope, so the native plants will be placed accordingly. “Some of the more aquatic plants will get more water,” eighth-grader Garrett Meyers explained. 

The Bluegrass Rain Garden Alliance provided a $500 grant for this garden, which sits in the triangular median between the elementary and middle schools. “It’s right up front where the kids can see and appreciate it,” Zeller said. 

On April 11, United Landscape Services led an educators’ workshop at the middle school, stressing the importance of resource conservation. And on Earth Day, the local company provided the manpower and equipment to install the garden. Folks at both Tates Creek and Mary Todd are also grateful to the Salato Wildlife Center in Frankfort, which donated some plants. 

The Tates Creek kids are certain their efforts will pay off. “It’ll help our environment so we don’t have dirty water running all over the streets,” Garrett said. 

“It’ll bring more animals and wildlife that we can come out and study, like butterflies and birds,” added sixth-grader Brianna Johnson.