Silver City - Silva Creek Botanical Gardens, once a little used and rather unsightly patch of ground bordering Silva Creek behind Jose Barrios Elementary School, is now a beautiful, thriving example of civic engagement and public-private partnership.

Though the land is owned by the Town of Silver City, it's Gila Native Plant Society volunteers who've been lovingly working the gravel-packed earth to create a demonstration garden of more than 100 species of plants native to southern New Mexico. They've been helped by Aldo Leopold youth conservationists, private funders, community organizations and neighborhood residents who volunteer for various projects. The seed of the project was planted more than a decade ago when interested community members first launched the idea, but real development of the garden began with a donation by a Native Plant Society member, which prompted an informal agreement with the Town to develop and maintain the garden.

Development continued with private foundation funds, including PNM, which paid for hardscape materials, including the amphitheater and colorful metal panels, explained Elroy Limmer, president of the Gila Native Plant Society.

"We're still working away, trying to make it a real garden with more and more species, says Limmer, a long-time member of the Plant Society. "We want this to be a wonderful demonstration garden to help educate people about what species are native to this region, and what thrives here."

Plant Society volunteers are largely responsible for the steady progress that has resulted in numerous improvements to this public space, including new fencing and signage, walkways and continuous expansion of the garden space. Aldo Leopold students created a butterfly garden in honor of Aldo Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) students Ella Jaz Kirk, Ella Sala Myers and Michael Sebastian Mahl who were killed three years ago this week in the tragic airplane crash.

YCC members continue to work near the gardens, clearing and cleaning up along the creek bed behind the gardens, and a Western Institute for Lifelong Learning (WILL) class built the new archway. Without the stewardship of the Plant Society and involvement of the numerous other community groups and volunteers, what is now a well-used public space, replete with little lending library, beautiful native plants and a safe school crossing zone would still be just an unsightly, empty lot, said Town Council Lynda Aiman-Smith, whose district includes the gardens.

"Given our ongoing budget challenges and limited staff here in Silver City, projects like this can only happen when local civic groups and private citizens step up to work together with the Town. Silva Creek is a beautiful example of what we can do when we work together."

Parents whose children attend Jose Barrios Elementary School appreciate the convenient, safe location to pick up their children after school. "It's really great to be able to come here, see friends and pick up our children from school," said Silver City resident Chala Werber, whose daughter Dara attends Jose Barrios Elementary. "It's a beautiful space that lots of people use."

Parent Rachel Bighley enthusiastically concurs. "It's such a wonderful place and such a pleasure to be able to drop off and pick up my son at school without dealing with all of the car traffic in front. I so appreciate all the people that do the work there to give us this outdoor classroom to learn about plants that thrive here. I've even collected seeds there to start my own garden. It's an awesome resource that took a lot of teamwork to bring it to where it is today."

Keeping the gardens growing and thriving is the number one priority of the Native Plant Society, said Limmer, a priority which requires money and volunteer time. "We can always use more volunteers, and there's always something that we need to purchase. We appreciate all the help that we get from the many people in the community who've volunteered their time and talent to this effort."

To volunteer or donate to the Silva Creek Botanical Garden, contact the Gila Native Plant Society at www.gilanps.org.