  Monarch Waystation #1544 "Plymouth Elementary School Gardens" Plymouth, CA 95669 U.S.A. Registrant: Plymouth Elementary School Gardens / Michael Spinetta Certified: 7/31/2007 Updated: 7/31/2007 Type: Suburban Location: Size: X-Large (1,000-4,999 sq ft)  View All ImagesComments: Effort from faculty, staff, and community is resulting in an ever expanding series of gardens. This ground was formerly a garden in the 1800's - and now this campus is a hub of local agricultural education. The heart of the project is a butterfly garden centered around the P.E.P. Club Shade Pavilion. There, kids eat lunch, and recreational activities are sheltered from the elements. Classes are offered on Tuesdays by representatives from the Farm Bureau's Agriculture in the Classroom, the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners, the Amador County Waste Management Department, and others. The unique thing about this project - it's not normally open to the general public - it belongs to the kids. The intent of the gardens is NOT to have "perfect" display. 40% of crop damage is due to butterflies and moths, so some plants will look ragged. The kids are being taught how to raise "pests" in one garden, while raising a food garden on one side and a bird garden nearby. Even the pavilion is home to birds. Kids choose where plants go, and some plants will have to be transplanted! The garden is for many lessons - like composting, pruning, deadheading, native and introduced plants, multilingual education, pest and weed i.d., etc., and to slow the hectic world down in general. PLANTING DETAIL
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