When special education teacher Indira C. Jimenez and her students created an outdoor garden and mural at Poly High School, they envisioned a place of safety for students with different sensory needs, and last month they were able to showcase their creation during the Long Beach Unified School District’s annual Wellness Week.

Jimenez and her students hosted their first Festival of Gardening and Butterflies with help from Poly teachers and local businesses who all donated time and equipment so students who attended could receive free gardening equipment, advice and more.

Everything at the Festival of Gardening and Butterflies was donated by local companies such as Golden Garden, Lakewood Nursery, Plantiitas, Artemisia Nursery, All Time Plants, Allen’s Flower’s and more. Photo courtesy Indira C. Jimenez.

“I thought it would be cool if I could offer a festival for the students to give them awareness that gardening can help with depression, anxiety and address mental health issues that they don’t even know about,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez was able to get 10 Poly teachers to help her students put together information tables about indoor gardening, native plants, butterflies, compost and other gardening topics.

“A lot of our kids don’t have backyards or front yards because they live in apartments,” Jimenez said. “So I was thinking of possibilities of gardening within their own budget and own home environment.”

The new mural in the gardening area on campus is titled “The Tree of Life” and was funded by donations. Photo courtesy Indira C. Jimenez.

Long Beach Recycles, Long Beach Water and other local organizations also had tables at the event alongside local nurseries including All Time Plants, and Artemisia Nursery. Both of those are also owned by Poly alums.

Jimenez said the plan is to host another Festival of Gardening and Butterflies next year.

Long Beach Poly is raising money for a new mural that’s all about inclusion