CARSON, Calif.—Leapwood Elementary School has won a garden that will grow something much more precious than vegetables or flowers. It is a garden where minds grow, and it’s called a Reading Garden.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, gets a taste of what it’s like to hit the books during his recent tour of Stella Middle Charter Academy. L.A.’s top politician and Congresswoman Karen Bass took Environmental Protection Administrator Lisa Jackson to the West Adams-area school to discuss Stella’s implementation of CA/EPA's first-in-the-nation environmental studies program. Stella serves students in grades fifth to 12 on two campuses./OW photo by Nash Baker.