Teen volunteers gathered on Feb. 23 to prep the flower bed of the iris garden along the Three Creeks Trail in Willow Glen. Local youth removed old leaves, trimmed invasive ivy and pulled weed sprouts. The willingness of volunteers to spend their weekend gardening allows trail users and neighbors to enjoy the brilliantly colored yellow, purple and white iris flowers, set to bloom in spring. The City of San José is grateful for their hard work. Volunteers are essential to the energy that drives the beautification of our neighborhoods, and preserving monumental public spaces such as the iris garden. The iris garden honors pioneering San José botanist Ruth Rees who cultivated the “Snow Flurry” iris in the property adjacent to the trail. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services provides a diverse set of volunteer opportunities to invest in neighborhoods and strengthen community ties.

For more information, contact Avi Yotam, PRNS Acting Deputy Director, at 408-535-3573.