When the Annunciation Orthodox School, a private elementary and middle school in Houston, Texas, was in need of a new landscape and irrigation system, Moss Landscaping stepped up to the challenge. The company donated all work hours and materials in order to provide the school with everything it needed for its outdoor environment. However, one special part of the project was several years in the making.

In 2014, a group of students and the principal of Annunciation Orthodox School toured another local institution, Berry Elementary School, and marveled at the building's green roof, on which fruits and vegetables were grown. The administration began planning for a similar feature that would allow students to gain knowledge and practical skills. Four years later, Moss Landscaping installed a rooftop herb garden for Annunciation Orthodox School. According to Ashley Olmstead, marketing director at Moss Landscaping, "Gardens provide an amazing opportunity for education, and we were so happy to be a part of this wonderful project!"

Moss built the garden to provide an outdoor classroom for the school's Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Education program. The chef-inspired program teaches children how to grow, harvest and cook their own food. This experience helps students learn cooking techniques, nutrition awareness and skills that will serve them for a lifetime, and empowers them to prepare healthy meals and snacks for themselves. The herbs, fruits and vegetables planted in the garden include parsley, thyme, basil, lavender, squash, garlic, spinach and so many more edible plants.

Additionally, Moss incorporated a butterfly garden for the students to learn about pollinators as well. The plants included in this section, Mexican Butterfly Weed, Rudbeckia, Milkweed and varieties of Salvias, blend in beautifully with the edible plants in the garden.


The garden was completed in August, just in time for students to return to school for a new year of learning about food and nutrition in their new rooftop garden.