Woodford County Master Gardener Projects

103 Warrior Way, Germantown Hills, IL

Germantown Hills School is home to a "hidden treasure". Once the site of a bare courtyard, even neglected by the weeds, it is now the site of a standout garden, blooming most brilliantly in spring and summer. 

Designed as a memorial to staff and an outdoor education space, the project consists of eight individual garden spaces: Vegetable Garden, Herb Garden, Shade Garden, Prairie Garden, Bird Garden, Blue and White Garden (school colors), Bulb Garden, and Butterfly Garden.

The space also features a gazebo and an extensive water feature that includes a koi pond, a waterfall, and a bridge crossing a stream. All plantings were chosen to look best in spring and fall when students are present.

Truly a community effort, students, Master Gardeners and school staff engage with and maintain the garden year-round:

• SPRING: Seeds sown by 3rd-graders who return in fall as 4th-graders, discover a transformation... 
• SUMMER: Master Gardeners and custodial staff nurture each year's growth
• FALL: 4th-graders collect and pass on the seeds to a new class of 3rd-graders 

Other grades, from kindergarten to middle school, plant bulbs, release butterflies, or explore the garden through a scientific lens or literary work. Students also benefit from the space during sessions on personal development like speech therapy or consulting a counselor. Seventh and eighth graders have helped to haul in and spread mulch and compost, wheelbarrow after heavy wheelbarrow.

Whether seeking a space for personal development or hauling a load of mulch, students and staff are always welcomed by a croak, a buzz, or flutter from a friendly critter!