What started out as a basic, green field has blossomed into an outdoor learning experience for Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy students.

Thanks to the efforts of various community members, students soon will have the opportunity to put their indoor taxonomy lessons to work in the school’s new outdoor garden.

Taxonomy is the science of naming, classifying and describing plants, animals and microorganisms.

Enota is an elementary school whose curriculum is based on eight basic intelligences that were identified by a Harvard professor to bring out the best in every student.

The school garden falls under the "naturalist" category. This category of intelligence includes "recognizing and classifying plants, animals and minerals including a mastery of taxonomies."

Sprinkled throughout the garden are various colorfully painted birdhouses and a host of plants including a palm tree and cactus.

"We wanted to use this space to teach the students about the different types of plants and wildlife," said Sally Meadors, former Enota principal and current school volunteer.

"There are conifers, evergreens, a bog and at least 1,000 daffodils."

Although the students currently are on spring break, when they return to school Monday they will notice something different about the garden classroom — a shiny, silver 550-gallon water tower.

The new water tower, plus the existing above- and below-ground cisterns will be used to collect and store more than 5,000 gallons of rainwater that will be used to irrigate the garden.

"The garden is also a tool to teach the students conservation techniques," said Mark Fockele, an Enota parent volunteer.

"When you see all of the environmental problems that we are having, we all could do better to conserve resources, and it’s important to teach children these skills early on."