MANATEE -- Waterfalls, butterfly gardens, a wildlife habitat flanked by an artistic mural.

They are all part of Haile Middle School’s campus, thanks to the creative efforts of local business owners, artists and the students themselves.

Dave and Lisa Burns of Backyard Getaway, which offers water features and gardens, were honored Tuesday for their efforts at the 21st annual Business/Education Partnership Awards Breakfast.

More than 260 businesses partner with the Manatee School District to provide everything from pizza and gift cards to learning opportunities like designing a book cover and field trips to farms. Of those, 150 were nominated for 12 awards.

After getting a call in the spring from local artist Brenda Smoak, the Burns decided to get involved in creating a nature focal point in Haile’s courtyard.

“We talked to students and got their ideas,” Lisa Burns said. “We donated our time and got our suppliers to donate the materials.”

The result was a waterfall and stream with plantings alongside the school butterfly garden, and a 10-foot by 40-foot mural depicting a large banyan tree with attached clay leaves crafted by students with messages like “hope” and “love.”

It was not only a way to give back to nature by providing a habitat for butterflies, birds and other wildlife, but it had some amazing impact on students.

“They did most of the work,” noted Burns.

Some of the students targeted as high risk for dropping out got so involved in the project that they showed up at school early each day to water the plants, she said.

“It was so educational, they learned math, science and history, it was all tied together,” she said. “The students helping with the mural did algebra equations to come up with a grid.”

Nancy Goux, assistant principal at Blackburn Elementary, said business partnerships with schools are essential in this time of reduced budgets.

“It used to be that businesses provided the fluff, the icing on the cake,” she said. “But now they provide the ingredients for the recipe. Without them we would be having a tough time.”

The partnerships are two-way streets, said business owners as they talked about the students they’ve worked with and what they’ve learned.

“Kids today have a lot of knowledge and dedication to learn and they are willing to give up their time. That really took me by surprise,” said Mark Russo of Dovetail Installations.