A Bridgeport teacher is revealing how a simple request for a bush to plant outside her school blossomed into a landscaping makeover.

When students at Waltersville School in Bridgeport return on Thursday, they will be greeted by four lush, landscaped garden beds, courtesy of the Westport Garden Club and a Bridgeport ministry for men looking to turn their lives around.

It all started when teacher Diane Isaac called the Westport Garden Club to request a simple butterfly bush to tie in with a lesson she was planning.

Ellen Greenberg, of the Westport Garden Club, says that she noticed there were four natural spots to place garden beds when she surveyed the school.

The club then reached out to Pivot Ministries, and the two groups gathered more than 20 people to plant the gardens.

Garden Club members say there is a sense of satisfaction to be felt after seeing plants left over from their spring sale being put to good use.

Pivot Ministries Executive Director Tony Kiniry says that if residents chipped in a few hours to improve their own neighborhoods, all of southwestern Connecticut would be better.