Leave a legacy at the Leach Teaching Gardens

Aggies choose to honor, celebrate and memorialize loved ones with an engraved brick in on-campus gardens

May 13, 2024 - by Susan Himes

If you’ve been lucky enough to spend time at The Gardens at Texas A&M University, you may have noticed engraved bricks on the path leading to the Leach Teaching Gardens.

An entry sign that says The Gardens Texas A&M University with greenery in front and a bricked path to the side — The Gardens, located on the West campus of Texas A&M University, strives to enrich lives by connecting people with the living world of horticulture. (Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife)

However, these special bricks represent more than what meets the eye. These bricks serve as expressions of everything from school spirit to honoring a loved one. From marking an academic milestone to an in-memoriam, each brick is a lasting legacy and a gift that supports The Gardens.

“The gift of an engraved brick helps us look after The Gardens and allows us to offer programs to the community,” said Michael Arnold, Ph.D., director of The Gardens at Texas A&M University and professor of landscape horticulture in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Bryan-College Station.

The Leach Teaching Gardens opened in 2018 and has remained a steadfast staple in the local community, attracting both on-campus and off-campus visitors. With over 7 acres transformed into both outdoor teaching and demonstrations, it is one of the nation’s premier teaching gardens, Arnold said.

Plan ahead for a great gift

Arnold said an engraved brick is a wonderful present to give commemorating a person receiving their degree from Texas A&M, acknowledging a specific graduating class or major, or honoring a family member.

“But if you’re considering using them as a graduation or a retirement gift, plan ahead,” Arnold said. “The bricks are only installed twice a year, in spring and fall.”

Not only is a brick a thoughtful gift for any Aggie, but it’s also a great idea for anyone with a passion for horticulture, such as a member of Master Gardeners, he said.

“What we do at The Gardens is to help create community and help develop people’s wonder for plants and nature,” Arnold said. “Those people who support us through bricks are a key part of that important mission.”

A closeup of an engraved bricks, the closest reads In Memory of Maggie Groom

A freestanding sign at Texas A&M that reads "Path to the Gardens" atop a brick pathway

How to support The Gardens with an engraved brick

The Gardens serve as a peaceful sanctuary on campus, a place where everyone at Texas A&M and in the community can relax, enjoy nature and learn. The engraved bricks are part of the main path that leads to The Gardens. To date, more than 120 bricks have been purchased.

You can purchase an 8-by-4-inch brick for $500. Bricks may be ordered online or by mail. A replica brick to keep may also be ordered at the same time for $150. Bricks may be engraved with any keyboard characters, and clover, star and heart characters are also available.

Gifts are tax-deductible, and all proceeds support the Path to The Gardens fund. Company matching funds may be available to purchase bricks; check with your company for specific guidelines and to ensure this gift is eligible for corporate matching.

“The money from the bricks are incredibly important flexible funds that allow us to address unexpected expenses or respond to educational program opportunities that do not have other funding sources,” Arnold said.