Sayre School opens pollinator garden on downtown Lexington campus

Sayre School has turned an Upper School green space in downtown Lexington into a new pollinator garden designed by Jon Carloftis Fine Gardens and funded by a parent gift. The project gives students a place to learn outdoors, gather and connect with nature while supporting bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.

Why it matters: - The garden turns a campus green space into an outdoor learning and gathering area for Sayre School students. - The planting also creates habitat for pollinators in downtown Lexington, where green space is limited. - School leaders say the project adds a new place for students to read, study, eat lunch and spend time outside.

What happened: - Sayre School unveiled a new pollinator garden behind the Upper School at 240 N. Limestone Street in Lexington, Kentucky. - Jon Carloftis of Jon Carloftis Fine Gardens designed and planted the garden. - Current Sayre parent Jennie Garlington and her family funded the project through a donation. - The school said the space was previously known as the Upper School green space.

The details: - The garden includes Acorus, Japanese Anemone, Pugster Butterfly Bush, Iris tectorum, Hosta, Solomon’s seal, ferns and other complementary plants. - The planting was chosen to provide color and seasonal interest while supporting bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. - Carloftis said the garden’s layers of color, texture and movement are meant to work as a habitat as well as a visual feature. - Sayre plans to use the garden as an extension of the classroom and as a setting for school events and community gatherings. - Students are expected to use the area for lessons, reading, outdoor study and informal time with classmates. - The garden also offers a place for relaxation, play and school-wide use.

Between the lines: - The project reflects a broader push to make urban school campuses feel more connected to nature. - In a downtown setting, a small green space can carry more weight as both a learning tool and a communal gathering spot. - Jennie Garlington said the garden will be a calm place where children can connect with nature and continue being shaped by the school community. - Head of School Stephen Manella framed the garden as a metaphor for the school itself, with shared effort helping both communities and gardens thrive.

What's next: - Sayre School will use the new garden throughout the school year for classroom activities, student downtime and campus events. - The space is set to become part of everyday life on campus rather than a standalone landscaping feature. - The school is likely to highlight the garden as a visible example of how donor support can shape student experience.

The bottom line: - A parent-funded garden has given Sayre School a new outdoor space that blends ecology, education and community on its downtown Lexington campus.