What began as a patch of dirt and a handful of inspired students and staff has grown into one of Old Bonhomme (OB) Elementary’s proudest features: a vibrant sensory garden designed, planted, and nurtured by students, families, and community partners.

The Old Bonhomme community rallied around a new vision after the original school garden was removed during the Prop L construction project, which created space for new classrooms. “Our community came together, with the help of OB parent Whitney Tucker and funding from SEED St. Louis, to develop a vegetable garden,” said Tammy MacLean, Gifted Specialist at Old Bonhomme and the driving force behind the garden. That initial success planted the seeds—literally and figuratively—for a bigger dream.

The inspiration for the current sensory garden started in an unexpected way—through student voice and creativity. “I teach an architecture unit to fourth-grade students,” MacLean explained. “When two of my students, Audrey Tang and Angela Wang, asked if they could do a landscape design for the west side of the garden, I said, ‘Of course!’”

That simple idea led to a multi-grade, cross-curricular collaboration. First-grade students took the original designs and built a 3D scale model, researching sensory gardens, biodiversity, and plant selection. They even created plant keys with QR codes and produced a stop-motion video sharing their vision for the space.

In spring 2024, MacLean, with support from Whitney Tucker, secured a grant from the Ladue Education Foundation (LEF), turning student designs into reality. “Without the support of the LEF and SEED St. Louis, we would not have made our vision a reality,” said MacLean. 

With design plans in hand, students worked alongside district staff and Matt LeBon from Custom Foodscaping to adjust the layout to accommodate a new drainage system. “It was truly a real-world learning experience,” MacLean said. “The kids were open to adapting our original plans to what was best for the school.”

By fall, the garden began to take shape, including hexagon-shaped raised beds—each representing a sensory element: sight, smell, touch, and hearing. Olivette in Bloom donated money for perennials, and the Old Bonhomme PTO purchased tools, a shed, and other supplies needed to launch the space.

The momentum didn’t stop there, as the 2024–25 school year began, a new group of first graders focused their Green Schools project on creating lesson plans for teachers and garden update videos for the school’s OB News.

“Seeing the students' excitement when something they’ve planted is growing and thriving is priceless,” MacLean exclaimed. “Strawberries are a real hot commodity! Whether it’s lettuce, tomatoes, or even the popcorn we grow, harvest, and pop—they’re always amazed at how much better it tastes from the garden over the store.”

She added, “One of the most heartwarming reactions is when I get a little shout-out note in my mailbox from a student or teacher thanking me for helping with the garden.”

The garden has also become a gathering place for the OB community. “I love seeing families walk through the garden on their way to and from school,” MacLean said. “Everyone loves to see what’s new, and kids love to show their parents what they’ve been working on.”

That community spirit has been on full display this spring and summer through the “Adopt the OB Garden” program. “I was blown away by the response,” said MacLean. “I sent out a Parent Square message asking for volunteers to adopt the garden for a week at a time over the summer, and the sign-up sheet was filled that day!”

Looking ahead, MacLean envisions the garden continuing to grow—literally and figuratively. “My vision is to see more community garden events, a robust compost program, and possibly even harvesting fruits and vegetables for the school cafeteria or community,” she said. 

For MacLean, an Old Bonhomme and Ladue Schools alum, this is more than a school project—it’s a legacy. “I received an extraordinary education and career, and I still feel a strong connection to Old Bonhomme. I wanted to create something with my students that would be a legacy garden for everyone to enjoy—a space that represents education, community, health, beauty, and love.”

The garden’s success, she says, is thanks to many. “I’m grateful to our OB Garden Committee, Green Team, OB PTO, and our parent Garden Lead, Nicole Hepner. Estefanie Castle, my co-lead, has helped build systems that will sustain the garden. Ali Herzog, our art teacher and Green Team Lead, helps run after-school art classes to create sustainable art for the garden. It truly is a community effort.”

In a world that often moves too fast, Old Bonhomme’s sensory garden stands as a living reminder of what happens when we slow down, dig deep, and grow something together. Thanks to Tammy MacLean's vision, her students' passion, and the OB community's unwavering support, the garden has become a symbol of what education should be: rooted in purpose, nurtured by collaboration, and blossoming with love.

Check out photos from the Ladue Education Foundation (LEF) and SEED St. Louis' visit to Old Bonhomme on our Facebook page.