Back courtyard - before 
Click on photo to enlarge.

The back courtyard is more important than one might think at first glance.  It is located in the back of the elementary school.  It is also the main entrance used by all of the elementary school teachers and students.  So, no matter how beautiful things might be looking out front, this is what they see when entering and leaving the building every day.
We started gardening in this area in 2003.  One of the classes that used this area build a reading tunnel.  This area us used by the art teacher because of the sunflowers and it's proximity to her classroom. 

In 2005, Adam Gordon, built a work table, benches and a trellis in this area for his Eagle Scout project.  Thi area is now the site for three 4th grade class gardens and our new native plant gardens. 

This area is in the back of the elementary school.  It is important though, because it is the entrance where the elementary school teachers and students enter and leave the building every day. 

The back courtyard is home to three class gardens and a learning center.  It is also where the "Reading Tunnel" is located.  Though in back of the school, this area is the one seen most often by the students and staff of the elementary school.  They arrive and leave from this area each day.  We installed a flower bed along the drive way at the request of art teacher Sandy Mestancik.  This area is just outside of her classroom and will make it easy for her to bring classes out to sketch the flowers.

The children are very respectful of the gardens. Here a gourd is growing on the railing at the entry way where more than 600 3rd and 4th graders pass at least twice a day. 

2007 we began the process developing this area into a garden of native plants.