Adrian, MI – When visitors walk up the steps of the Lenawee County Historical Museum, they are greeted by more than artifacts and archives. The landscape surrounding the building is now part of a living history lesson, thanks to the LISD TECH Center Horticulture Program.
This ongoing partnership, which began in the fall of 2023, brings together students led by instructor Johanna Lentz and the Lenawee Historical Society to reimagine and revitalize the museum grounds. It is hands-on learning at its finest, where education meets community impact.
The project began with conversations. Students met with museum staff and board members to assess landscaping needs, carefully taking notes, snapping photos, and even studying the 1979 blueprints of the building to understand the original vision. With that foundation, they began measuring, mapping, and sketching ideas for a refreshed outdoor space.
Two second-year horticulture students, Mason Tuberville and Riley Mosley, brought those ideas to life digitally. Using RealTime Landscape Architect CAD software, they imported photos of the grounds and created a professional-grade landscape plan. By spring of 2024, students were not only working on computer screens but also on the museum grounds. They completed a spring clean-up of the property and Mason presented his design to museum staff for feedback.
In the fall, students returned for another clean-up and design review. Students Cera LaRatta and Lillian Helinski stepped into leadership roles, refining the plant choices and making small adjustments to ensure the design matched both the building’s architecture and the museum’s needs. At the same time, the project became a true classroom laboratory. Students learned to prepare professional cost estimates by calculating materials, sourcing brands, comparing prices, and compiling a comprehensive budget. Second-year students then presented the final estimate to the museum, giving the Historical Society the ability to pursue sponsorships and funding to move the project forward.
By spring 2025, the plan was closer to reality. Students double-checked their measurements, confirmed availability of plants with local nurseries, and prepared for installation. In the fall, the real work began. Students pulled weeds, edged beds, trenched, laid landscape fabric, installed aluminum edging, and spread rock. The museum grounds were transformed piece by piece, not by contractors but by high school horticulture students building both skills and pride.
For Johanna Lentz, the project is about more than plants. It is about cultivating responsibility, collaboration, and a sense of community service in her students. “They aren’t just learning landscaping,” she explained. “They’re learning how to work with clients, manage budgets, and see a project through from concept to completion.”
The LISD is proud to be part of each learner's story, exploring, supporting, and inspiring every step of the way.