In June 2016, a teacher at The da Vinci Academy in Colorado Springs put up a flyer with a sketch to generate ideas for a garden at the school. Dan Rhodes, ASLA, of DRAW Landscape Studio, whose three children all attend the school, saw it and offered his services.

"It was initially a traditional vegetable garden," said Rhodes. "It then blossomed into a 1.5 acre learning garden that was previously unusable space."

The garden is arranged according to the ecological life zones of Colorado and the Pikes Peak region, and is further organized by grade levels. Smaller enclosures create an opportunity for the intimate space required for reflection, learning and exploration.

The kindergarten sensory garden (moonshine yarrow, royal purple smokebush, lamb's ear) encourages interaction. A solar garden draws on natural systems such as wind, light and water. A butterfly garden (butterfly bush, salvia, black eyed Susan) makes use of native Colorado plants to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Native grasses mimic the Colorado prairie with the use of short, medium and tall grasses, including blue grama, switch grass, and Western wheatgrass.

In addition to the design being pro bono, the garden has been installed entirely by volunteers from the school and community. "It has given the project a DIY feel and look, rather than a professional finished appearance," said Rhodes, adding, "I feel confident that we're progressing in the right direction."