Bettie Weaver Elementary School brings in spring with annual garden clean-up

Apr 14, 2025 - 14:25

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Bettie Weaver Elementary School brings in spring with annual garden clean-up

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Bettie Weaver Elementary School gave its garden a fresh new spring cleaning Sunday as students worked to revamp its existing butterfly garden.

On Sunday, April 13, Bettie Weaver Elementary asked the community to join them as they planted, weeded and cleaned up the school's garden, which was planted in honor of Weaver 30 years ago.

Photo courtesy of: 8News Nikkita Tyler

The planting and cleanup event was announced via the school's Facebook page and was from 1-4 p.m. at the school's garden.

8News photojournalist Nikkita Tyler, spoke to two members of the Landscaping Committee at Bettie Weaver Elementary Teresa Ilnicki, Aimee Zepnick.

"We have a good turnouts of students and some teachers, lots of adults and we also have some middle schoolers who come here for community service hours as well, so it's been a pretty nice community event," Zepnick shard.

When Ilnicki and Zepnick started the garden there was originally no plants in front of the school, just mulched beds.

"So we started out planting and then each time we've come back we've maintained those and added on a little bit," Ilnick said.

Zepnick also adds that this is the biggest undertaking they've done yet and is about triple the size of the beds they have worked on in the past.

"Now with this garden we've committed to mostly doing native plants and native hybrids that will need very little maintenance once established and not only attract butterflies, bees and birds but also be host plants for beneficial insects," Ilnick said.

8News also caught up with some students from the school who shared some of their favorite parts from the garden clean up.

"I think its nice being in a community and helping your community grow and like help your community see the beauty in all living things," said one student.

Photo courtesy of: 8News Nikkita Tyler

"I like planting all the flowers in the garden and helping out with the stand border," another student said."

Although it was one of the students' last year helping due to graduating to middle school, he said he and his brother will be back next year to help out with the garden.