Ballard Elementary School is inviting anyone leaving town for the winter to leave their plants at the school.
The second-graders will be watering the plants as part of this year’s Senior Snowbird Service Project created by Ballard Elementary resource teacher Karen Melvoin.
The school is asking people to bring the houseplants to Ballard from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday. The school’s more than 120 second-graders will take care of the plants for free until the owners return, or spring, whichever comes first.
Melvoin came up with the idea while thinking about her parents, who go to Florida for the winter and leave their plants with her.
“The second-graders are studying plants so I thought this would be a great way to connect with the elders in the community,” she said.
Melvoin asks that the plants be labeled with the name of the owner and watering instructions. Labels can be made at the school too.
“I just hope we are getting hearty plants, not fragile ones,” Melvoin said.