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002_The garden has a lot of colorful plants, bird houses painted by the kids, and imaginative sculptures to interest all ages.
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003_Everyone enjoys the conifer garden. Part of the educational value of the garden is in illustrating plant taxonomy, shown in part by planting like plants together, as we have done here with the conifers. Texture is at least as important as color in this garden, especially since the children are in school all winter when flower color is scarce.
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004_ A glimpse of the pathway and its textural plantings on either side lead the eye into the distance. The canopy is formed by a white-flowering redbud and a yellow deciduous magnolia, both spectacular in bloom.
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005_The garden also concludes four large raised beds where students grow plants from seed or potted seedlings. The science teacher reports that many children learn here in this garden that food comes from plants!
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006_The garden is rich in color, light, and texture; the orange flower in this view is the native Butterfly Weed.
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007_Everyone enjoys, and remembers, the colors.
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008_The rainwater infiltration system terminates in two ponds that allow large volumes of water to percolate into the soil, incrementally reducing the load on the municipal stormwater system. The Bald Cypresses pictured here are now 25 to 30 feet high.
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009_The Infiltration ponds and swales are planted with Iris, Bald Cypress, Carex, and other plants that enjoy getting their feet wet.
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010_The mature plantings now conceal most of the stormwater management system, but this progress photograph shows some of its principal elements. The roof water is directed into above-ground tanks. When full, they overflow into a rock-lined swale, which slows the stormwater, encourages percolation, and leads the excess to infiltration ponds.
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011_The seven tanks, four below ground and three above, will store approximately 10,000 gallons, which is more than enough for the entire garden. We have not used any city water in years.
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012_A pump house with a green roof can be seen from the street and, like the Smartville Water Authority water tower in the front of the school, is another visible statement of the theme of the garden.
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013_A view from above shows parts of the path system, enclosed by lush foliage, textures, and a myriad of shades of green.
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014_A wide place in the path provides opportunities for groups to gather.
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015_A low-key path takes the visitor around the garden with gentle curves that limit sight distance and encourage focusing on the details, such as the flowers of Clethra, Anisacanthus, and Hybiscus coccineus in this view.
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016_Students pass through the garden daily, including parts of the garden that are only partially completed, as in this view. Those students who were on campus when the garden was being built have a better understanding of the garden (and plant life in general) than those who have only known it as a mostly completed garden. The emblematic Smartville Water Authority water tower is visible in the background.
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Smartville Garden Plan