The Design

 from Donna Marquet:
I get tongue tied when I start to describe this garden. There are so many elements to talk about… So I will just start with the beginning. I walked around with a list of elements I found via different websites, outing with my kids and just random thoughts in aisle seven of the grocery store. Without censorship I just keep adding to the list until we got back to school and then the list was put out in front of the committee- What things did they like, what other ideas did they want to add… And while the list was getting fine tuned I sat several times in the space we were about to convert discovering how the classes flow past, what the sun was doing during the school day as well as who’s classroom windows overlook the space, taking measurements and what the space felt like. To me if felt like an afterthought, abandoned but it has the potential to be a focused space (shielding on three sides by the school) where a learning environment has real potential- it feels safe and the scale is perfect- about 80’ x 50’. 

Here are the things from the list that made the cut.

The first thing is the “gazebo”. The area needs shade- there are no trees and it is bombarded with sun during the day. We also wrote our original grant proposal with a gazebo in it. We have a midcentury modern school with graceful angled roofs at the entrance.  So instead of building a typical
“Victorian” inspired hexagon we are taking a cue from the angles of the entrance as well as the noonday sun to maximize shade with a slatted roof. Under the roof we will have a few straight benches, a circle area with decomposed granite and some “percussion instruments” various sized pipes cemented and when tapped create different tones as well as a version of steel drums.

In the center of the space is a circular cement area that will have a maze dyed in the concrete. The mazes has had versions in cultures all over the world as well as long as people have created there have been existence of mazes and labyrinths. I felt this was an important thing to include in the garden as a place where kids can play (its just fun to wander a maze) as well as tap into the cultural and historical elements for a lesson. Also, mazes tend to draw one into a focused contemplation- meditative in a way. I also find it to be such a wonderful illustration of discovery- you will go down wrong paths and have to learn from your mistakes in order to get to your goal.

There are three areas that will have trees with benches under them. These trees were chosen for their variety. The Chinese Pistachio tree will be fast growing and provide shade to the space. A muti-trunk river birch with its wonderful bark and delicate leaves. An ornamental redbud with its changing seasonal foliage. The trees are at the corners of the garden and form a triangle so the benches are also triangles as well each one a different type: isosceles, equilateral, and scalene. We wanted as many things as possible to serve an educational purpose as well as a practical function and these benches are a perfect example- sitting on math.

As a designer in my real life I have always been drawn to curves- if someone ever mapped my design process it is full of curves- flowing back on themselves and being pulled in a variety of directions as I work. I have two boys and I have also never seen them walk in a straight line. Kids flow. For these reasons I wanted to include curved paths in the garden… But as with other elements I didn’t want them to be just curves. (Well initially I did but again the committee pushed me to go further) And I re-stumbled upon the Fibonacci number (http://plus.maths.org/content/life-and-numbers-fibonacci). This concept has always intrigued me and I am so excited to include it in the garden as our three paths.  We are using the Fibonacci spiral a wonderful graceful way that math and nature intersect. Someone said that maybe these kids are too young to understand this concept but I think introducing these sort of things early on simply serves to help familiarize and then when the concept is really delved into. Later the child can say “Hey I know- that’s what those crazy paths were at my school.” Also- once a mind is opened you cant close it-13 year old harnesses the power of the sun with Fibonacci.

Trellis Easel. There are, as there are on most campuses some physical plant elements outside of the building- ours are some pipes that lead to the boiler.  We decided to block them by creating a trellis with purple passion vine growing on it as it blooms twice a year when the kids are in school.  The trellis will also serve as an easel for teachers to put the provided boards on to display things to their class or for the art teacher to allow the kids to sketch standing up outside.

There are several stepping “stones” throughout the garden. These will be made of tree trunks that have been sliced and treated. They will be at a variety of heights as well for kids to step from one to the next as well as to sit on. Among these “stones” will also be some concrete stones engraved with quotes from out retired teachers. A fun way to remember them and inspire our students.

Along the building we will be building some raised beds that will include the neediest (water wise) of our plants (even though they are still low maintenance)- our butterfly and herb garden. We are hoping to of course attract butterflies but also present an array of plants that the kids can touch, smell and maybe even taste. We will also be providing living quarters for our winged friends in the form of birdhouses and butterfly houses.  

Three of our areas will be planted with different grasses that will show the variation within species for our older students as well as different heights and textures to explore. These were chosen since they are relatively low maintenance. One of our goals with the Discovery Garden is to have a space that the groundskeepers will not have to tend to or mow. We decided against typical grasses as there are plenty of areas around our school with that (including the playground a few steps away). We are also planting a few bushes that do well here – Turks caps- they are water wise and have beautiful red blooms and rosemary as the children pass back into the classroom. The rest of the ground cover will consist of decomposed granite, concrete and rubber mulch. Again we are always aware of maintenance as well as longevity of the space.

Well, that is the idea anyway. As the days progress and I show the plans to more and more people excitement is growing and the team and I hope that it will serve the students of our school in a way that will encourage them to wonder, wander and discover.