Co-Designing a
Pollinator Garden

A South Jersey Schoolyard Transformed into a Living Classroom for Young Ecological Designers

About this Project

Spring–Summer 2025

This community-driven project transformed a grassy corner of a South Jersey charter school into a pollinator-rich, student-designed outdoor classroom. Guided by their teacher and supported by our team, a class of fifth-grade students led the way, from early site analysis to hand-planting native species.

The design emerged from a collaborative process that combined playful imagination with ecological intent. Native perennials were selected to support pollinators year-round, and the layout blends winding paths with quiet spaces for learning, observing, and care.

Built over several months with help from volunteers and local partners, the garden now hosts Monarchs, bees, birds, and dozens of young stewards who continue to maintain and learn from the space they helped create.

Field Journal Blog Post

featured plant
Giant Purple Hyssop
Agastache scrophulariifolia

Project Facts

Native Plant Count: 254+

Planted Area: ~3500 sqft

Repurposed: Stones to line path, stumps for sitting

Plant Palette: Purple Giant Hyssop, Swamp & Butterfly Milkweed, Little Bluestem, Cardinal Flower, False Blue Indigo, Bigleaf Aster ‘Twilight’, Wild Bergamot, Golden Ragwort, Pink Tickseed, Sweet Pepperbush

Ecosystem Services: Pollinator habitat, seasonal food sources for butterflies and birds, stormwater uptake, carbon sequestration, student-engaged land stewardship

Elements: Solar-powered bird bath, picnic tables for outdoor classroom, hand-made signage, bird and bug hotels

Seasonal Interest: Spring columbine, phlox, and blue star; summer coneflower, lobelia, and blazing star; fall goldenrod, black-eyed Susan, and aster; winter texture from grasses and seedheads

Wide view of the pollinator garden with blooming plants, mulch paths, and white umbrellas shading blue picnic tables.
Handwritten garden rules sign decorated with hearts and flowers, reminding visitors to respect plants and pollinators
Closer shot of a mulched garden path lined with colorful painted rocks and student signage.
Wide view of the garden, showing young plants in the ground and an informational sign near the entry.
Close-up of a bright yellow flower (Coreopsis lanceolata) against a green blurred background.
Students seated at picnic tables in the garden, surrounded by native plantings and decorations.
Painted insect hotels and bug houses sitting on a blue metal table in the garden.
Close-up of a painted rock labeled “butterfly” with a drawing of wings and colorful designs.
Cluster of faded purple seedheads of a native plant (Monarda) standing tall in a meadow area of the garden.
Drone image of plant placement over mushroom soil.
Group of students and adults walking toward the school garden site along a paved path on a chilly day.
Conceptual site plan drawing showing a meandering path and planting zones for the pollinator garden.
Close-up of a student’s hand sketching a garden layout with pencil and crayons on tracing paper.
Dozens of native plants staged in pots along a schoolyard path, ready for installation.
Close-up of potted native plants with orange survey flags, awaiting placement in the planting area.
Student sketch with a miniature 3D-printed figure and picnic table placed on top to visualize the garden’s scale.
Wide view of the planting area marked out with potted plants, white flags, and labeled zones.
Line of clear soil jars showing sediment layers from student-led soil texture testing.

Client Testimonial
★★★★★ Google Review

“Dean and Tom took all the student input and wove it together into one unified garden design that reflected the students’ vision. The kids were thrilled to see their ideas come to life, and many shared how much they enjoyed the process of designing their garden.

I would absolutely recommend Dean and Tom to other educators. They’re not only knowledgeable and professional, but also responsive, kind, and great with kids. They made the experience meaningful and memorable for everyone involved.”