By Eliza PARTIKA

Parents and students at Monte Vista Elementary helped weed and plant flowers at the Crescenta Commons, located adjacent to the school at the corner of Rosemont and Orange avenues. They replaced old plants with yarrow plants and mulch. Master gardeners from Creative Concepts, a local landscaping company, and staff from the Crescenta Valley Water District helped students as they learned about the impact of the plants on the environment and on water.

The renovated garden will be dedicated to Girls on the Run Montrose, an organization at Monte Vista Elementary that funded the garden for two consecutive years.

Robbyn Battles, a parent organizer of the cleanup event, said the funds raised by the Common’s GoFundMe page on Facebook and by Girls on the Run were used for this renovation; however, to achieve the expansion the community indicated it wants for the garden, much more money is needed.

Battles said as funds allow, volunteers will work section by section to add new plants and colors to the garden. She and Michael, head gardener at Creative Concepts, worked together to build the garden when it was established in 2014 and are working on a new plant list to gather input from the community on what it wants to see installed. The group also plans to partner with Creative Concepts and Crescenta Valley Water District on having educational events at the the Crescenta Commons.

Battles said she’s excited to see the garden grow.

“We changed a place that was vacant into something pleasant for families,” said Battles. “Moms sit here and chat waiting for their kids to get out [of school]; they connect.”

Ines Chessum, one of the founding members of the Commons, said the garden has become a safe place for the neighborhood, a place for families to gather even after school hours and on weekends.

“It kind of reminds me of growing up [when] everybody’s parents took care of everybody else’s kid. That’s how you can describe this,” she said.

James Lee, general manager of the Crescenta Valley Water District, said it’s nice to be with a partner that revitalizes the community.

“There’s a big emphasis on the hometown feel. You have people who have been here for generations. You don’t find that as much in Southern California so it’s cool to be part of it,” Lee said.

The water district has also had conversations about partnering with the Rosemont Preserve about doing events about stormwater capture and nature education.

“We’re all in the same community, so the more we can preserve these relationships and teach kids, the better,” he said.

As volunteers shuffled from planting to pulling weeds, Creative Concepts gardener Michael taught the volunteers how to properly space flowers for the best growth and how to pull weeds without damaging the surrounding soil or plants. As the kids patted down moss, he demonstrated how essential extra watering was for the first layer of dense, wet moss to hydrate the parched top soil underneath.

Monte Vista teacher Kristin Pardo said the philosophy of Girls on the Run is to teach young girls confidence through running a 5K and also helping their community. The Commons, she said, is a large part of that.

“I think it’s amazing. These guys [at Creative Concepts] have been so great with them and they’re learning all these things about the nature in their community,” she said.

Pardo and other teachers at the school have hopes for how they might be able to use the space after renovations and expansions are complete.

“Hopefully, when the renovations are finished, we won’t have to drive for field trips,” she said. “We can just walk right outside.”

Ellery Edwards, a sixth grader at Monte Vista, said she noticed that she and other girls were more confident and self-reliant in their time with Girls on the Run. Edwards also said learning to help others with the Commons project taught balance and how to be kind. She enjoyed the Commons space because of the flowers she plants to beautify the area for her and her friends, who often gather there.

“A lot of the kids meet here and it’s a safe place for them to just be able to meet their friends without having to worry about, ‘Oh, is this safe?’” she said.

Creative Concepts gardener Michael said the revitalization and planned education projects will bring back science and botany when teaching about the natural world.

“I really enjoy being involved with the community,” he said.

Battles said the community can contribute to the gardens by mailing checks to 2629 Foothill Blvd #386, or visit Facebook to contribute to the park’s GoFundMe page.