THOUSAND OAKS : Landscaping at School Serves Dual Purpose

A Thousand Oaks elementary school on Wednesday unveiled its new front yard. Gone are the dead pine tree, the trampled patch of grass, and the well-worn dirt paths.

Glenwood School’s new yard, a combination of plants that use little water and benches made from recycled materials, not only is prettier, but also will be used to teach students about environmentally safe landscaping, said Principal Pam Chasse.

The new array of plants--including juniper and Nandina bushes, gingko trees and society garlic blossoms, was donated by members of the California Landscape Contractors Assn. as part of its statewide education campaign on water and energy conservation.

The total cost of the landscaping, including a low-flow irrigation system, would have come to $7,000, said Mark Swink, president of the association’s Ventura chapter.

“By doing these community projects we are trying to let people know that there is a lot more to landscaping than throwing out a few sprinklers,” he said. “Last year, we had a lot of rain, so people have put water conservation out of their minds.”

The school’s Parent Teacher Assn. and Student Council each donated $500 for the benches, which are made from plastics such as gallon milk containers. Kip Edwards, a fifth-grader and vice president of the council, said the students raised the money by selling Popsicles, lollipops and popcorn after lunch and at special events.

Parents who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony said the new grounds, which include an 850-square-foot concrete meeting spot, will also make dropping off and picking up their children at school safer. Before the refurbishment, as many as 50 children congregated on a narrow sidewalk along the school’s driveway.