A large group of students, teachers, parents and volunteers got a head start on Earth Day when they met April 13 at Bettie Weaver Elementary School to refurbish a large butterfly garden near the entrance.
The school’s Landscape Committee created a proposal to revitalize the 20-by-40-foot garden in a meaningful and lasting way. The proposal received a $5,000 grant from the PTA to purchase plants and gardening equipment. Justin Woodruff, father of a Bettie Weaver Elementary student, provided the landscape design pro bono. Many members of the local community provided support for the landscaping project.
Under the guidance of co-chairs Teresa Ilnicki and Aimee Zepnick, the goal was to make the campus an inviting, environmentally friendly and educationally rich setting for the entire community. The committee focused on low-maintenance beautification with hardy native and nativar plants that didn’t require excessive watering, along with enhancing the aesthetic and emotional appeal of the setting. As an added bonus, plants were chosen that would offer nectar for pollinators, provide habitats and support local ecosystems.
Judging by the enthusiasm of the 50+ volunteers of all ages who showed up for the spring planting event, everyone enjoyed digging in the dirt to spruce up the entrance to the school with a gorgeous new butterfly garden.
“We wanted to celebrate the school’s 30th anniversary and also honor the namesake and former CCPS educator, Bettie Woodson Weaver, who loved gardens, birds and butterflies,” said Ilnicki, who completed the Master Gardener course through the Virginia Cooperative Extension in 2022.
Zepnick, a Master Naturalist, concluded, “We are committed to revitalizing Bettie Weaver Elementary’s outdoor spaces, as well as creating beautiful, purposeful areas that honor Mrs. Weaver’s founding ideals and enrich the community.”